Porcine Health Management

Diseases of the respiratory tract are often summarized as the “porcine respiratory disease complex” (PRDC). PRDC shows a high variability in the field. Because of a wide spectrum of etiological factors, diagnosis needs to combine clinical examination, dissection and the isolation of pathogens. Impulse oscillometry (IOS) might be a new, non-invasive method that could add valuable information from living pigs. The aim of the present study was to validate IOS in pigs with respiratory diseases based on their associated histopathology.  

One of the pillars of the prevention, control and eradication of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is the biosecurity. Boehringer Ingelheim has developed COMBAT (Comprehensive Online Management and Biosecurity Assessment Tool) that allows pig producers to identify areas of improvement and to correct high risk practices .   Materials and Methods COMBAT is based on a set of 58 questions. The relative risks are calculated in 4 categories: Internal risks, External risks, Location risks and management risks. 21 Spanish farms completed COMBAT on-line between August 17th and November 17th.  

The introduction and management of replacement gilts is an important topic with regard to the control of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in the farm. Improper acclimation may result in colonization of the suckling piglets and increased M. hyo related respiratory disease in growing pigs. This survey is the second part of a previous one on the same subject in the Spanish swine farms.     Materials and Methods   The survey included 16 questions designed to identify which gilt acclimation methods for M. hyo are currently used in Spanish farms nowadays.

The detection in bioaerosols of three pathogens involved in the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), namely swine influenza A virus (swIAV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp), was evaluated in six pig herds affected by PRDC.   Material & methods The herds were previously known to be affected by swIAV, PRRSV and Mhp. Bioaerosols were collected using a wet cyclone technology (Coriolis®µ air Sampler). In all herds, air samples were taken in rooms housing pigs. The loading area with pigs waiting for the slaughterhouse delivery was sampled in two herds.

Oral fluids (OF) are used extensively for PRRSV surveillance: qRT-PCR detects active infection and antibody ELISA is useful for establishing prior exposure.  However, in weaned pig populations originating from PRRSV infected and/or vaccinated sow herds, colostral IgG cannot be differentiated from IgG produced by the pigs in response to infection.  To address this problem, we developed and evaluated IgM- and/or IgA-specific oral fluid ELISAs as a means to detect PRRSV infection in weaned pig populations with circulating colostral antibody.   

Spatial autocorrelation is based on Tobler’s 1st law of geography:  “everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related then distant things.”  This simple concept has huge implications for the way we conduct disease surveillance.  In a recent study, spatial patterns associated with the spread of PRRSV were explored using oral fluid sampling data. Materials & Methods</strong> Oral fluids were collected from every occupied pen (108 pens; ~25 pigs per pen) in 3 commercial wean-to-finish barns on one finishing site for 8 weeks for a total of 972 OF samples. 

Bordetella bronchiseptica (BB) causes Non Progressive Atrophic Rhinitis (NPAR) with reversible atrophy of the nasal turbinates in young piglets, causing sneezing, coughing, and  secondary respiratory infections (Brockmeier, 2008). To evaluate the results of 3 different vaccination strategies against BB, we performed necropsies of piglets to score the nasal turbinates atrophy, collected oral fluids for PCR (BB), and correlated the results with nursery mortality.   Materials and methods 4 pig farms were selected for this study based on similar nursery facilities, same genetics and feed source. V

Edema disease (ED) in pigs is caused by verotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli producing Vt2e. Currently, a bacteriology test is the gold standard to confirm Vt2e infection, which is a resource-intensive process. The aim of this study was to test an alternative diagnostic method for ED surveillance, based on the detection of bacterial shedding in growing pigs. Material & Methods A descriptive longitudinal study was conducted in the nursery and fattening units of 5 farms. Individual rectal swabs (RS, n=30-50/cohort) and pen oral fluids (OF, n=3-7/cohort) were collected at the entrance in the nursery, at 6-7 weeks of age, at the entrance in fattening unit, at 15-16 weeks of age and at the end of the fattening unit. Samples were assessed for Vt2e by real-time PCR.

<strong>Introduction: </strong>Pork production has experienced tremendous genetic progress, which has been achieved an increase in litter size and survival of young piglets; this resulting in an increase of piglets at farrowing and negative consequences as higher variability in weight and higher percentage of weak piglets that compromise his vitality and require intensive care. Thinkinpig studied heritability of colostrum since colostrum is the first food for piglets at birth being essential the intake to reduce mortality pre-weaning. The aim of this study is to analyze colostrum heritability and assess this parameter to include in selection programs.

Strategic medication of piglets in the first week of life is common to prevent umbilical hernias, arthritis, and other infections. In Denmark, the drugs used can roughly be grouped into penicillins/amoxycillins and long-term acting macrolides. Due to the public debate about antibiotic resistance, some farmers are reluctant to use macrolides, but in some cases the clinical problems cannot be handled by administration of penicillins or amoxycillin.   Materials & methods This study was set up in a Danish 800 sow herd with high prevalence of umbilical hernias despite strategic medication of all piglets on day 1 after birth.

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.