ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Actinobaculum suis is a bacterium known to cause infections of the urogenital tract of sows. Infection can occur through close contact to boars, who frequently carry the pathogen in their preputial diverticulum but do not become clinically diseased themselves. In the current case, Actinobaculum suis was isolated from pyogranuloma of inflamed epididymis in a boar with poor fertility. CASE PRESENTATION: Increased return to oestrus rate, which worsened after the purchase of a new boar, was reported in an organic farm in Switzerland. During herd examination, azoospermia of the boar was diagnosed, and slaughter, followed by examination of its urogenital tract, was carried out. Pathologically, pyogranuloma formation and epididymitis were diagnosed. Bacteriology of the pyogranulomas showed growth of Actinobaculum suis and mixed flora. After the boar was replaced, the return to oestrus rate improved tremendously. CONCLUSION: A close relative of Actinobaculum suis, namely Actinotignum schaalii, has already been associated with epididymitis in humans. Considering the present case and the parallels in human medicine, Actinobaculum suis should be included in the list of differentials of boars with poor fertility.
Subject(s)
Actinomycetaceae , Actinomycetales Infections/veterinary , Azoospermia/veterinary , Epididymitis/veterinary , Granuloma/veterinary , Swine Diseases/microbiology , Swine Diseases/pathology , Actinomycetales Infections/pathology , Animals , Azoospermia/microbiology , Azoospermia/pathology , Epididymitis/microbiology , Epididymitis/pathology , Granuloma/diagnosis , Granuloma/microbiology , Male , SwineABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Reproductive failure in sow herds due to infection with influenza A viruses has been described in the literature, but only a few studies have focused on the pathogenesis and the clinical signs of the infection. Case reports indicate an association between infections with influenza A viruses and reduced reproductive performance, although it has been difficult to experimentally reproduce the clinical outcome of poor reproductive performance. The aim of the present longitudinal field study was to compare the reproductive performance parameters before and after the implementation of vaccination against the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus in sow herds infected with pandemic influenza A virus. Therefore, farm-specific data of 137 sow herds in Germany, including 60,153 sows, as well as the clinical presentation of the infection were surveyed via questionnaire. Furthermore, average performance parameters (return to oestrus rate, abortion rate, stillbirth rate, number of piglets born alive per litter, preweaning mortality rate and number of piglets weaned per sow per year) were recorded for 6 months before vaccination and 6 months after completion of primary vaccination. RESULTS: In 79.8% of the farms, the clinical presentation of the infection was characterised by a reduced reproductive performance. These findings were confirmed by analysis of the performance parameters, which revealed a significant decline in the return to oestrus rate (p < 0.001), abortion rate (p < 0.001) and preweaning mortality rate (p = 0.023) and a significant increase of the number in piglets born alive (p = 0.001) and piglets weaned per sow per year (p < 0.001) after immunisation. The stillbirth rate did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: The present study represents the first attempt to demonstrate the association of influenza A virus infection, vaccination and the alteration in reproductive performance parameters, investigating a large number of cases. The results show that by vaccinating against the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus, an improvement in reproductive performance can be achieved in sow herds infected with pandemic influenza A virus. Additionally, the large number of herds that were affected by poor reproductive performance after infection with the aforementioned virus confirms the assumption of an association between pandemic influenza A virus and reproductive losses.
ABSTRACT
El virus de parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) se reconoce como parte del síndrome complejo respiratorio bovino, en compañía de otras entidades, como el virus respiratorio sincitial bovino. El presente trabajo se realizó en Montería (Colombia), en bovinos de 28 fincas equidistantes en las coordenadas geográficas, con el fin de establecer la prevalencia serológica del virus PI-3. Se recolectaron 137 muestras de sangre, de hembras con antecedentes de infertilidad. Adicionalmente, se obtuvieron muestras al azar de 26 toros, pertenecientes a las mismas fincas. Para el diagnóstico serológico se empleó la prueba de Elisa. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo, tabulando la información con datos de seropositividad y seronegatividad, obtenidos de cada animal. Se utilizó la prueba del chi-cuadrado para establecer posibles asociaciones entre las variables sexo, edad, estado reproductivo y tipo de explotación, con la reactividad serológica al virus PI-3. La prevalencia obtenida fue de 13,5%; solo se encontró significancia para el grupo etario y no se halló asociación para las otras variables consideradas en el estudio. Se concluyó que existe circulación del virus PI-3 en bovinos del municipio de Montería. Se puede pensar que parte del problema reproductivo observado en las ganaderías de la región puede ser debido al virus PI-3. Se recomienda la realización de estudios más extensos sobre la prevalencia de este virus en el país, incluyendo el impacto económico que el PI-3 pueda tener sobre la ganadería naciona.
The virus of the bovine Parainfluenza 3 is known to be a part of the bovine respiratory complex, along with another infectious agents as the bovine sincitial respiratory virus, which has not as yet been diagnosed at the geographical area of this study. This work was carried out at Monteria, Colombia, in bovines from 28 farms, with the aim of finding the serological prevalence of the PI-3 virus. Blood samples were collected from 137 females, with a history of reproductive failure, and from 26 bulls from the same farms. The serological test used was the ELISA test. A descriptive analysis was carried out, recording data from positives and from negatives sera. A Chi-square test was used to test for association between the variables: sex, age, reproductive condition and type of production system, with serological reactivity to the PI-3 virus. Concerning the results of the study, the point prevalence for the PI-3 virus found was 13,5%, and under statistical bases, statistical significance was found between age groups and association was not found for the others variables taken in account for the study. According to the results, it was concluded that the PI-3 virus is present in bovines of Montería, and that a part of the reproductive failure in females of the region, mostly the return to oestrus and abortions, is due to the effect of that pathological entity. Finally, the authors recommend more extensive studies on PI-3 Infection, at the different cattle raising areas of Colombia, a country of 24 million heads.
