Porcine Health Management

PRRS infections increase susceptibility for secondary bacterial infections like Streptococcus suis (Ss), which in many Dutch farms leads to high antibiotic use in weaners. This case describes how on a multiplier site PRRS and Ss were controlled using the 5 Step Process.   Material and Methods A multiplier farm - 1600 sows - in the Netherlands produces and sells 25 KG piglets. ‘Before’ sows were vaccinated PRRS-MLV using the post-farrow pre-breed program. Piglets were vaccinated 3 times before weaning: PCV2, Mhp and PRRS-MLV. In the two quarters ‘before’ the antibiotic use in weaning piglets was considered high, primarily due to oral treatment of Ss meningitis.

Blastocystis sp. often is found as a ubiquitous protozoan parasite in the intestine of humans and animals, such as pigs. Although this protozoan was first described in 1911, pathogenesis and pathogenicity are still not clarified. Moreover its role in diarrheic processes in swine is not yet fully understood.  Material & Methods: In March 2015, a piglet producing farm in Lower Austria struggled with profuse diarrhea in weaners. Except fulminant diarrhea and wasting, no other clinical symptoms could be observed. Therapy with common antimicrobials was unsuccessful and therefore one piglet was euthanized to perform necropsy and further diagnostics.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) in the feed of weaned pigs has been shown to reduce the incidence of post-weaning diarrhoea and to improve growth performance. After the statement of the European Medicines Agency that the environmental risks outweigh the benefits of ZnO to prevent diarrhoea in pigs it is scheduled a ban on its prescription in the pig's diets. Along with this, the need for restrictive use of antibiotics puts the swine production business out of the routine strategy for preventing the post-weaning diarrhoea and in a difficult position to find a solution to raise pigs without compromising their health, welfare and economic viability. 

Lung scoring at the slaughter house is an effective way how to evaluate respiratory health status, economic impact and efficiency of vaccination on the swine farms. Ceva Lung program (CLP) is tool allowing for rapid scoring and was successfully used for evaluation of real prevalence of EP and A.p like lesions on national level. The aim of the study is to evaluate prevalence and severity of lesions caused by EP and A.p  in the Russia (RU), Ukraine (UA) and Belarus (BY) and compare main parameters with status on 2016. Materials & Methods In the period of 2017 a total number of 151 batches and 10968 lungs were scored.

The growth-promoting effect of certain antibiotics may be mediated by an anti-inflammatory mode of action. Numerous plants and phytochemicals are known for their anti-inflammatory activities and might therefore be utilised as growth promoters without having the undesirable side-effects of antibiotics. The phytogenic (plant-derived) feed additive (PFA) Digestarom® DC (BIOMIN Holding GmbH, Austria) has demonstrated a beneficial influence on piglet production parameters. In order to identify potential anti-inflammatory effects, the product and its components have been studied <i>in vitro </i>in cell-based assays and <i>in vivo </i>in a metabolic study.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an essential factor for developing Post weaning Mulitisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in weaned piglets. Not all cases of PCV2 infections develop into PMWS, and in sows, it may cause reproductive failure and weak newborn piglets. After 2004 vaccines have been developed, both for sows and piglets, and now PMWS is practically non-existing in Danish herds. However, PCV2 is expected to be present in most of the Danish herds today. Vaccination could therefore be important to prevent PVC2 related problems in the herds. Hence, this study conducted by SEGES Pig Research Center investigated the vaccination strategies in Danish sow herds.

The impact of PRRS on reproduction in sows can be reduced by the use of vaccination. This study aimed to investigate sow performance after implementation of a whole herd vaccination programme on a farm in Serbia.   <strong>Material & Methods</strong> The study was conducted on a one-site farm with 1600 sows. Sows showed an increased rate of irregular returns to oestrus and other reproductive problems. Serological testing revealed antibodies against PRRSV in all stages of production and PRRSV was detected by PCR in aborted foetuses. PRRS vaccination was not implemented prior to the start of this study.

Antimicrobial use in pigs (AMU) has led to an increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This has prompted measures to reduce AMU, which has been associated with AMR reduction on national level. However, it remains unclear how on-farm dynamics of AMU and its effects on AMR are exactly related. Moreover, it is challenging to influence farmers’ behavior towards increased infection prevention and AMU reduction. In this project we use specific coaching skills to reduce AMU and in addition evaluate the effects on AMR.

Introduction PRDC is one of the major swine disease complex and is economically important. Since it is a complex of multiple pathogens, diagnosis of PRDC is not always easy. PCR’s have become a common tool in diagnostics, both for clinical diagnosis and monitoring program. This paper is describing the developments of a full respiratory PCR panel.   Methods and materials Pathogens: PPRSV, PCV2, SIV, Mycoplasma’s, APP, Hps. Design of specific primers and probes: literature search, GenBank and unique in house post-blast software. Set up: pathogen specific PCR’s and multiplex PCR’s.

Swine dysentery (SD) caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae (B. hyo) is an important intestinal disease with clinical signs typically consisting of mucohaemorrhagic diarrhea. Economic losses are due to mortality, diminished growth rates and cost of medical treatment. Diagnosis is performed using pooled faecal samples (microbial culture, PCR test). The objective was eradicate B. hyo from a large fattening unit through a cleaning and disinfection (C&D) protocol, including rodent and fly control, manure management and improved external and internal biosecurity rules.

Dedicated programs to monitor for freedom of several economically important diseases are present within most breeding companies currently delivering high health breeding animals to their end customers. Serology is the preferential approach in order to screen for most of these diseases, such as Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M.hyo). However, in case of positive serology, further decisions on farm health status and related consequences are based on detection of the pathogen. The objective was to detect M. hyo using trachea-bronchial swab (TBS) sampling following dubious M. hyo-seropositivity.

Monitoring of respiratory disease by lung scoring is beneficial to assess the farm health status. Correlation between lung lesions, the economic impact of the disease and the efficiency of vaccination has been reported. Ceva Lung Program (CLP) was confirmed as a valuable tool to establish the prevalence and severity of Enzootic Pneumonia (EP) and pleuropneumonia. The aim of this study is to evaluate level of EP and A.p- like lesions on Czech pig farms in the period of 2015-2017. Material & Methods The survey was conducted on conventional pig farms excluding those with M.hyo and A.p. SPF status.

The Dr. Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project (MSHMP) is a voluntary program managed by the University of Minnesota in which U.S. producers and veterinarians share sow farm PRRS status weekly. Currently, the project participants account for 50 % of the U.S. sow population. One of the MSHMP’s main goals is to contribute to the understanding of PRRS epidemiological features and, ultimately, to build a nationwide system should a foreign animal disease enter the country. Material and methods The dataset has been analyzed through different approaches, including time series, spatial, phylogenetic and ecological analysis.

Swine dysentery (SD) induce animal ill-thrift and financial losses. One way to control the disease is to eradicate it, but farmers may hesitate for costs.   Materials & methods</strong> A two-sited integrated pig herd with 300 sows and growers on one site and fatteners 1 km away. Every third week, 40 sows farrowed. Piglets were weaned at 33 days of age. Intestinal disorders had frequently been recorded in growers/fatteners since years, and occasionally also in gilts/sows. <i>Brachyspira hyodysenteriae</i> (BH), sensitive to tiamulin and tylosin, had been demonstrated in diseased pigs.

It has previously been established that pigs with severe gastric ulcers have a reduced daily weight gain (DWG). But the association between gastric ulcers and feed conversion rate (FCR) is unknown. A common cause of diarrhoea is <i>L. intracellularis</i>, and high excreting pigs have a reduced daily weight gain. Furthermore, it has been reported that pigs with unspecific diarrhoea have a poorer FCR. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between gastric ulcers, diarrhoea, DWG, and FCR in finisher pigs. A total of 526 pigs (Danish LYxD, females/castrates) were followed from 30 kg live weight until slaughter.