Porcine Health Management

Introduction: Previous research showed that urinary tract infections (UTI) in sows are associated with poor reproductive performance. Parameters such as farrow rate, risk of rebreed, and weaned piglets per litter has been associated with the presence of...

Introduction: Especially after birth, the colostrum supply of newborn piglets is of particular importance for the survival and further development of the piglets. The aim of this study was to investigate in what way the farrowing system and thus the...

Aware of our responsibility as veterinarians, the increasing importance of animal welfare let us consider the effect of tracheobronchial-swabbing on the welfare of pigs. Aim of the present study was to evaluate distress caused by...

Chlortetracycline (CTC) and zinc oxide (ZnO) at pharmacological dosage are commonly supplemented in piglet diets in order to improve growth performance, through adjusting gut health and reducing diarrhea during the post-weaning period....

A newly build finishing pig unit experienced problems with high mortality rates of 6% . Finishers were kept in large groups of 450 animals and fed liquid feed with several by-products. Flooring surface and feeding space was according to...

Runt pigs are intrauterine growth retarded animals characterized by low birth weights (BW). They have higher mortality rates, reduced daily gain and pork quality and increased feed conversion rate. Colostrum intake (CI) is negatively correlated with BW and litter size. For current breeds, a minimum BW of 1.13 kg is needed for normal survival chances. The objective of this study was to investigate the relation between low BW, CI, mortality and development.

Increasing fatness and avoiding puberty are desirable in gilts intended for Teruel dry-cured ham. This study was conducted to assess the impact of Vacsincel® (Zoetis), vaccine indicated for temporary oestrus suppression, on gilt genital organs and carcass fat, relative to time of second dose before slaughter.

New neonatal porcine diarrhea syndrome (NNPDS) frequently occurs in pig herds. The exact pathogenesis remains unknown, but the intestinal tract microbiota of neonatal piglets likely plays an important role. Management ways to control NNPDS outbreaks have not been widely described so far.  

Understanding duration of M. hyopneumoniae (Mhp) shedding in swine populations determines the the duration of herd closure for elimination and gilt exosure timing for Mhp acclimation strategies. Although shedding duration in experimentally infected pigs is known, epidemiology of natural Mhp infection remains unknown. This study describes the pattern of natrual Mhp infection and persistence in a gilt population.  

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) diagnostic tools, such as Multiple Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA) and P146 sequencing have been used to characterize this microorganism at the molecular level. Multiple variants have been identified by MLVA; however, the extent of genetic variability within production stages in swine flows has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic variability of Mhp within swine production flows in USA.

S. suis is a significant zoonotic pathogen affecting pigs and humans. Quick and correct antimicrobial treatment implementation increases recovery chances. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can be predicted by the presence of certain genes conferring resistance. The dynamics of horizontal gene transfer often mean that AMR genes are found within the same mobile elements such as transposons.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) is a common respiratory pathogen, but the incidence is generally unknown. This study aimed to screen the presence of APP in Swedish multiplying herds.

The use of PCR analysis to detect Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) in live pigs provides information about the infection dynamics and it may allow the identification of infected pigs before seroconversion, observation of clinical signs and lung lesions. Besides, laryngeal swabs tested by PCR have proved to be a reliable diagnostic sample for Mhp detection in vivo during early-stage infection. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential association between early detection of Mhp in laryngeal swabs and lung lesions in pigs experimentally infected with Mhp.

A total of 16 serotypes of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) have been reported so far; nevertheless, data indicating which serotypes are more virulent is still lacking for most countries. Thus, updated information related to a particular geographical area might be precious.          Current techniques of APP serotyping present certain methodological limitations; cross reactions when using serological tests and inaccurate identification through Apx genes.  The aim of this work was to develop a complete set of APP typing qPCR reactions to conduct a preliminary survey regarding the current situation of APP in Spain.

Leptospirosis is presumed to be the most widespread zoonosis worldwide; it is a cause of reproductive loss in swine breeding herds and has been reported in swine from all parts of the world. Unfortunately, current data about the prevalence of leptospiral infection in swine are rare.