ABSTRACT
The stillbirth, mummification, embryonic death, and infertility (SMEDI) syndrome is most commonly associated with porcine parvovirus 1 (PPV1) infections. Little is known about the occurrence of coinfections with SMEDI-associated pathogens and the associations among these pathogens. In our study, we included 40 SMEDI-affected litters from 18 different farms. In total, 158 out of 358 available fetuses from diagnostic transmittals were selected by systematic random sampling and examined for PCV2, PCV3, PPV1, and Leptospira spp. by q-PCR. Results from diagnostic materials showed the following results: in eleven farms, PCV2 was present; in nine farms, PPV1 was present; in five farms, PCV3 was present; and in two farms, Leptospira spp. was present. The detection of Leptospira spp. was significantly associated with a PCV2 coinfection (OR: 26.3; p < 0.001). PCV3 positivity resulted in a reduced probability of detecting PCV2 in the corresponding fetus (OR: 0.078; p = 0.008). Fetal maceration was associated with Leptospira spp. detection (OR: 8.6; p = 0.003), whereas mummification (p = 0.047), reduced crown-rump length (p < 0.001), and bodyweight (p = 0.001) of fetuses were significantly associated with PPV1 and PCV2 coinfection and thus, presumably, a shorter time to death after infection, indicating an enhanced negative effect on the development of fetuses with PCV2 + PPV1 coinfection.
ABSTRACT
Oral fluids (OFs) represent a cost effective and reliable tool for surveillance purposes, mostly regarding viruses. In the present study, we evaluated the suitability of OFs for surveillance purposes concerning Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae infections in fattening pigs under field conditions. OFs were examined with an Apx-toxin real-time PCR that detects the genes encoding for Apx I-, Apx III-, and Apx IV-toxin. For this purpose, we conducted a pen-wise collection of OFs over one fattening period from fattening pigs of two farms (farm A and B) with a known history of A. pleuropneumoniae infection. Lung lesions were determined at slaughter to estimate the extend of pulmonary lesions and pleural affection. Apx III- and Apx IV-toxin DNA were present in the OFs of both farms whereas Apx I-toxin DNA was present on farm A only. We were able to detect Apx I-, Apx III-, and Apx IV-toxin DNA in different patterns directly after introduction of the new pigs in the farms and over the entire study period. In summary, or results indicate the suitability of OFS for the early detection and surveillance of A. pleuropneumoniae in fattening farms.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lawsonia intracellularis is one of the most economically important pathogens in swine production. This study tested the hypothesis that the composition of diets for pigs has an impact on the excretion of L. intracellularis in a natural infection model. RESULTS: Fifty boars (~ 90 kg BW) from a SPF-farm with a strict hygiene and management regime for reducing the spread of an L. intracellularis infection up to the beginning of the final fattening period were transported, regrouped and randomly allotted to groups of five animals each at the research facility. After a 1-week acclimatisation period groups were fed one of five diets 4 weeks before slaughter. These were either a finely ground pelleted diet (FP) or a coarsely ground meal diet (CM), both consisting of wheat (40.0%), barley (39.3%), soybean meal (16.0%), soybean oil (2.0%) and minor components. In the other meal diets parts of wheat, barley and soybean meal were substituted either with 22% cracked corn (CORN), 16.9% dried whey (WHEY) or 30% raw potato starch (RPS). The animals had a comparable serological status in a blocking-ELISA immediately before the start and at the end of the feeding experiment. Values increased significantly during the trial. In all subgroups (FP/CM/CORN/WHEY/RPS), shedding was detected in week 0 (genome equivalents = GE; log10 GE L. intracellularis/g faeces: 2.46 ± 2.64/3.58 ± 2.54/3.43 ± 2.37/2.30 ± 3.16/2.58 ± 2.73). The average number of L. intracellularis microbes in faeces during the trial period did not differ between the groups (log10 GE L. intracellularis/g faeces: 3.40 ± 1.53/3.01 ± 1.41/3.80 ± 1.71/3.98 ± 2.20/4.08 ± 2.13). In animals fed the WHEY-diet, significantly lower counts of L. intracellularis were found in the caecal content. The acetate content in the caecum was negatively correlated with the serological results at the end of the trial (r = - 0.36; P = 0.010). Butyrate concentrations in the caecal content were negatively correlated with the number of L. intracellularis in the caecum (r = - 0.32; P = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Therefore, this study provides preliminary evidence that there might be specific dietary effects on the course of a L. intracellularis infection.
