Porcine Health Management

Health problems often occur after weaning, a time when iron deficiency is commonly present. The objective of this research trial was to determine if iron deficient pigs were less capable of combating a challenge of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) than pigs with adequate iron status. Material and Methods: Ten pigs given 100mg (low-iron) and 10 pigs given 200mg of iron dextran (Uniferon®, Pharmacosmos) at Day 3 (medium-iron), and 10 pigs receiving 200 mg of iron at Day 3 and 14 (high-iron) were experimentally challenged with ETEC at 3 weeks of age. In addition an unchallenged control group with 2 pigs from each iron treatment group was included in the trial.  

The introduction of gilts into a breeding herd requires an effective method to synchronize estrus. Gilt oestrus synchronization by altrenogest (Altresyn®, Ceva) improves the farm performance minimizing the number of days for gilts insemination, planning of mating program and increasing fertility and prolificacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Altresyn® synchronization on fertility of treated gilts in comparison with gilts treated with another commercial progesterone-based product. <strong>Material and Methods.</strong> A total of 198 sexually mature gilts of two consecutive batches were investigated in a commercial farrow to finish farm with a weekly batch management.

Observational studies have reported the cost of IAV-S in swine production systems to range from approximately US$3-10 per growing pig. At this time there is no standard method to assess the impact of interventions targeted against IAV-S. Here we propose key parameters which, when collected in the growing phase, provide insight into the association of pathogens and disease presence with key performance indicators (KPI). Materials and Methods: The measurable unit of growing pigs is defined as a group of pigs that starts and markets together, resulting in a single closeout. Collecting routine measurements in multiple groups, over time is necessary for assessment.

The objective of this study was to develop a seeder pig model that simulates transmission of influenza A virus in growing pigs, to evaluate strategies to control influenza under field conditions.   Materials and Methods 554 weaned pigs from a known IAV-S PCR negative source were placed in a Pipestone Applied Research (PAR) barn. These pigs served as direct contacts and were distributed in 21 pens alternating with empty pens. Seventeen weaned pigs from a known IAV-S positive source served as seeder pigs. These pigs tested IAV-S positive by nasal swabs (NS) using BD Veritor™ System Flu A+B (Becton Dixon) and IAV screening PCR assays.

Palatoschisis are oronasal fistulas, and often supposed to be inherited resulting in death. Material & Methods In a satellite farrowing farm of a sow pool system, piglets with palatoschisis were noticed in six out of thirty litters. A DNA-based examination was conducted, revealing that all affected litters were progeny of the same Pietrain boar. Thirteen affected piglets, males and females, had a unilaterale or bilaterale palatoschisis. All sows were from the same origin and had received the same feed. All littermates and their parents were sampled and the affected piglets were finally euthanized.

The highest mortality rate in sows is during the lactation period and several causes are known. Material & Methods Sudden death of two sows occurred after birth in a batch of 16 sows. In addition, one sow was found to be in bad general health condition. The sows were submitted for clinical examination and necropsy. The moribund sow was euthanized after collecting blood samples. <strong>Results</strong> A lymphopenia, > 10% of immature neutrophils and azotaemia were detected. The necropsy of all three sows revealed multifocal hyperaemia and acute haemorrhage in the skin over the whole body. In one sow also petechial bleedings on the epiglottis were present.

Pigs raised for the Parma ham production in Italy are slaughtered at approximately 170kg body weight. Typical late infections like <i>M.hyopneumoniae</i> represent a severe challenge in those farms. The efficient prevention of infection and its impact on growth performance requires a long lasting immunity and protection, which can be evaluated by scoring lungs at slaughter and by recording pigs’ growth rate. Therefore, the aim of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a single shot vaccine, Hyogen®, in comparison with a two shot vaccine (A), on protection against Enzootic Pneumonia (EP) in Parma ham-pigs.

The recent EU ban on therapeutic levels of zinc in animal diets has led to concern regarding potential performance losses and animal welfare. The aim of this trial was to evaluate a eubiotic in replacement for therapeutic zinc oxide in an E. coli challenge piglet study. Material & methods Thirty six piglets (PIC (Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc)) were allocated to treatment diets at weaning (21 days) for 28 days in a random block design (2 pigs per pen, 6 replicates).  All diets were formulated in excess of recommendations in NRC (2012) and were fed in a mash form. Treatments were; Control (CON), basal diet no additive; Eubiotic (EUB), organic acid blend on a mineral carrier (Anpario plc, Worksop, UK) 4g/kg; Zinc oxide (ZnO) commercially available 3g/kg.

Respiratory diseases are identified as a priority issue in raising weaners. One approach to reduce the application of antibiotics for treatment of such respiratory diseases is to improve assessment of early disease development to maintain a good health status of the pigs after weaning. Therefore in this study the subjective respiratory disease assessing by the farmers was evaluated by comparing their individual estimation with an objective respiratory health score.   Material/Methods 30 piglet producer farms with preceding recurring respiratory diseases in weaner units were visited twice. The first visit (day1) took place when according to the farmer the health status of the weaners was not affected; the second visit (day2) when the farmer recognized a respiratory disease outbreak requiring antibiotic treatment.

The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of E.coli, C.perfringens and Rotavirus strains isolated in pre-weaning diarrhea cases in Spain, and to compare them to historical results.   Material and Methods. From 2015 to 2017, 164 samples of fresh feces from suckling-piglets suffering diarrhea were processed at the Laboratori Veterinari de Diagnosi de Malalties Infeccioses (UAB). E.coli isolation and typing was done on all samples with a PCR for the fimbriae K88ab (F4ab), K88ac (F4ac), K99 (F5), 987P (F6), F41, F18 and EAE and the toxins Sta, STb, LT, EAST1, VT1 and VT2.

For biosecurity to be effective, employees must follow all protocols.  For employees to follow all protocols, they must have good knowledge, compliance and attitudes of the protocols.The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, compliance, and attitudes of English and Spanish speaking farm employees towards biosecurity Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Materials and Methods 14 sow farms in the Carthage System having a minimum of 3 English speaking employees and 3 Spanish speaking employees were selected. A survey was given to each employee in English or Spanish according to the employee’s first language. The survey contained 8 knowledge based questions about farm biosecurity SOPs.

Infectious diseases are of great economic importance in swine production, causing both clinical and subclinical disease influencing welfare, productivity and antibiotic use. The course of diseases is often multifactorial and laboratory diagnostics are not routinely performed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the benefit of monthly health monitoring in nursery and finisher pigs using fecal sock samples and oral fluid samples on a high-throughput qPCR platform, able to detect up to 48 pathogens, combined with serology. Materials and methods Three monthly sampling rounds were conducted in 6 nursery and 4 finisher herds.

Scoring of lung lesions in slaughter pigs provides very important information about the respiratory health in the pig population. Lesions suggestive for previous M.hyo or A.p. infections and their scoring were described before. Scoring of those lesions allows quantifying the problems with enzootic pneumonia end pleuropneumonia. The aim of this survey was to collect the results of major swine producing European countries in 2017. Materials and methods Ceva Lung Program scoring methodology was implemented to score the lesions at the slaughterhouse.

In order to update data concerning the different practices and perception for antimicrobial usage in pig farms, a study has been conducted to compare antimicrobial usage, technical performances, management practices, farmers’ perception of their antimicrobial usage and farmers’ attitudes toward antimicrobial resistance.   Materials and Methods The survey was carried out in 20 selected pig farms located in the West region in France among the 156 monitored since 2015 for their antimicrobial usage (based on vet prescriptions). A questionnaire has been filled during an interview with farmers.

Introduction Edema disease (ED) is a disease due to an enteric bacteria, E. coli producing Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e). Since October 2013, Ecoporc SHIGA®, a vaccine against Stx2e is available in France. The vaccine reduces mortality and clinical signs due to ED, but users observed that vaccinated pigs were in general healthier and showed better performance. This study was conducted to scientifically verify these observations.   Material and Methods Inclusion criteria of the farms (n = 5) were: Clinical ED post weaning and implementation of Ecoporc SHIGA® for over 1.5 year Performances registered every trimester and piglets weighted when entering fattening No significant changes in genetics or animal management, and no concomitant disease incident The comparison was made between 1 year before vaccination (trimester T-4 to T-1) and 1 full year after vaccination (T2-T5). The trimester when vaccination had been implemented (T0) and the following (T1) were excluded; therefore the effect of the ED crisis itself was not evaluated.