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Effect of Vaccination Against E. coli, C. perfringens Type A/C on Piglet Productive and Clinical Parameters Under Field Conditions
Background: One of the main strategies to control neonatal porcine diarrhoea (NPD) is through vaccination of the sows. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two commercial vaccination schemes under field conditions on a farm where a C. perfringens type A cpb2-positive strain was implicated in NPD. Methods: This study was performed in a farrow-to-wean herd with 5500 sows, already using an E. coli and C. perfringens vaccine but still suffering NPD. Where the presence of a C. perfringens type A cpb2-positive strain was confirmed, Enteroporc Coli AC® (Ceva) was administrated to the sows in group A according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Sows in group B were vaccinated using two other combined commercial vaccines. In each group, piglets from 10 litters were ear-tagged and individually weighed at birth and at 8 and 22 days of age. The incidence of diarrhoea, general piglet body condition, and antimicrobial treatment were recorded within 10 consecutive days after birth. Results: A total of 234 piglets (119 in group A and 115 in group B) were included. The mean weight gain of piglets from birth to 22 days of age was significantly higher in group A (4.99 kg) than in group B (4.66 kg) (p = 0.039). The rest of the recorded parameters such as the presence of diarrhoea, the piglet’s body condition score, and the number of days with antimicrobial treatment did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: This study confirmed the efficiency of the Enteroporc Coli AC® vaccine in reducing clinical symptoms of diarrhoea in piglets, which was comparable with the other vaccines used in the study. The positive effect on piglets’ productive performance during the lactation phase was observed.
Immune status of piglets during the first week of life: Current knowledge, significance and assessment – a review
Abstract The immune system of neonate piglets differs from adult pigs in structure and competence. Although piglets are born immunocompetent, they are genuinely immunologically defenseless. To survive in the environment, piglets need passive protection provided by sow’s colostrum and milk when constantly exposed to numerous pathogens. Early assessment of piglets’ immune status may enable rapid intervention in case of detection of any deficiencies or disorders. Moreover, awareness of the piglets’ immunocompetence and the level of maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) may allow the creation of a proper vaccine schedule. Hence, extending knowledge of prenatal ontogeny of the porcine immune system, the immune status of neonate piglets’ and the immunological components of porcine colostrum is crucial. Since animal welfare has become a more critical element of animal production, new, non-invasive sampling methodologies are highly desirable for the evaluation of piglets’ immune status.
Concentrations of selected immunological parameters in the serum and processing fluid of suckling piglets and the serum and colostrum of their mothers
Abstract Background Blood sampling from neonatal piglets is related to multiple disadvantages. Therefore, a new, alternative matrix is required to assess piglets’ early immune status efficiently. The present study aimed to assess the usefulness of processing fluid for determining selected piglets’ immune parameters. 264 pigs − 31 sows, 146 male piglets, and 87 female piglets from commercial indoor farrow-to-finish pig herd were included in this study. 264 serum, 31 colostrum, and 146 processing fluid samples were collected. Serum was collected from all animals, colostrum was collected from sows, and processing fluid was collected from male piglets only. Using commercial ELISA tests, the concentration of various immunoglobulins, cytokines, and acute phase proteins was assessed in each matrix. Statistical analyses were employed to determine differences in the concentration of measured indices between piglets’ serum and processing fluid and correlations in the concentration of tested indices between particular sets of matrices. Results Statistical analyses did not reveal significant differences in the IgG, IgA, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-γ concentration between piglets’ serum and processing fluid (p > 0.05). A positive correlation (p < 0.05) regarding the concentration of some indices between processing fluid and samples collected from sows was also observed. Conclusions Processing fluid can be considered a promising alternative to blood for assessing some immunological indices in piglets, such as IgG, IgA, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-γ, and, possibly, in the indirect assessment of some indices in lactating sows, including IgA, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, or Pig-MAP.
Criteria for evaluation of kidneys by B-mode ultrasound in dogs and cats: A current state of knowledge
Ultrasound is an important part of the diagnostic management of patients with suspected kidney disease. Although it does not provide a measurable functional assessment of the kidney, it does provide a detailed assessment of its structure, which may reflect its function. Knowledge of the use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of renal disease is growing, and new publications seek to make this examination more informative in diagnosing acute and chronic diseases of this organ. This review discusses selected criteria for the evaluation of the kidney on grey-scale (B-mode) ultrasound and presents the current knowledge in this field.
Field study on the utility of fluid obtained from testicles as a sample for detecting antibodies to selected swine pathogens
Abstract Processing fluid is a promising alternative to blood for monitoring porcine diseases, although certain aspects of its routine use remain unclear. This study evaluated serum from females and males, along with corresponding testicular only processing fluid, for antibodies against Actionbacillus pleuropneumonie, hepatitis E virus, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, influenza A virus, Erysipetothrix rhusiopathie and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, using commercial ELISAs (ID Screen APP, Hepatitis E, PEDV, Influenza A from ID Vet, France; Civtest suis SE/MR from Hipra, Spain; and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae from Idexx, USA). Differences in the proportion of positive results across sample types were analysed to assess the utility of testis-derived processing fluid for litter-level health monitoring. ROC analysis was used to establish optimal cut-offs for processing fluid, followed by evaluation of diagnostic performance using both manufacturer-recommended and ROC-derived thresholds. A pooling simulation was also performed. Results indicate that processing fluid collected exclusively from testes can detect antibodies against selected pathogens effectively. Some ELISA kits validated for serum may be applicable to processing fluid, provided that appropriate cut-off values are determined for this sample type. However, pooling processing fluid samples may reduce sensitivity and increase the risk of false-negative results. These findings highlight the potential of testis-derived processing fluid for large-scale serological surveillance while underscoring the need for test-specific validation.