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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.
Serological survey of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in pigs from various regions of Poland
Testicular processing fluid as a useful matrix for the detection of porcine circovirus type 2 DNA and virus-specific antibodies
Introduction Testicular processing fluid (PF) obtained during boar castration may serve as a diagnostic matrix for monitoring porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) presence. Methods Anti- PCV2 antibodies in PF were detected using an indirect ELISA, and PCV2 DNA was detected by real-time PCR (qPCR), and the effects of sample pooling were evaluated. Paired sera and PF from boars and sera from gilts were tested with commercial ELISA and qPCR kits. PF-specific cut-offs were set by ROC (ELISA OD; qPCR Ct). Pooling was simulated by diluting positive PF samples with negative PF samples at predefined ratios. Results With manufacturers’ cut-offs, seropositivity was 89.94% (male sera), 87.43% (PF), and 92.81% (gilt sera); differences were observed only between gilt sera and PF. Using the ROC PF cut-off (OD ≥ 0.23), 88.82% PF were positive, and matrices did not differ; diagnostic agreement metrics for PF improved. In qPCR, positivity was 13.02% (boar sera), 16.90% (PF), and 9.36% (gilt sera). A ROC-specific PCR cut-off (Ct < 36.50) improved specificity, predictive values, and agreement without affecting sensitivity; serum and PF Ct values were moderately correlated ( ρ = 0.53). Pooling reduced detection of weak positives (most notably in qPCR) while high-positive PF remained detectable at higher dilutions. Discussion and conclusion These results demonstrate that PF provides a reliable, cost effective alternative to serum for PCV2 surveillance and monitoring when matrix-specific cut-offs are used; however, excessive pooling may lead to false-negative results. This approach may facilitate large-scale herd monitoring while reducing the need for invasive sampling.
Rhodotorula spp. in Laboratory and Veterinary Clinical Practice: Contamination or an Emerging Problem?
Rhodotorula spp. are ubiquitous red-pigmented yeasts increasingly reported as opportunistic animal pathogens. Recognition matters because underdiagnosis can misguide therapy, especially in companion-animal otitis externa. This review supports laboratory and clinical decisions by summarising taxonomy and ecology, host risk factors, diagnostics, virulence factors, antifungal susceptibility, and veterinary cases. This review addresses: (1) taxonomy and ecology; (2) clinical epidemiology and predisposing factors (immunomodulation, prior antibacterial therapy, chronic inflammation); (3) diagnostics—cytology, organism burden, repeat or pure culture, MALDI-TOF MS, ITS sequencing—with a brief comparison of feasibility in veterinary practice; (4) virulence factors—adhesion and biofilm on abiotic surfaces, hydrolytic enzymes, capsule in some strains, haemolysins, urease, and carotenoids that protect against oxidative stress; (5) antifungal susceptibility and therapy—intrinsic resistance to echinocandins, often high azole MICs, and the most consistent in vitro activity of amphotericin B ± flucytosine; and (6) a synthesis of veterinary case reports. Rhodotorula spp. should not be dismissed as contaminants when clinical signs match laboratory evidence; distinguishing infection from colonisation requires clinicomicrobiological correlation. This review highlights the need for standardised susceptibility testing and veterinary breakpoints, prospective data on burden and outcomes, better data on biofilm behaviour on clinical materials, environmental surveillance, and practical diagnostic and treatment guidance.
Assessing pig farm biosecurity measures for the control of Salmonella on European farms
Abstract Salmonella spp. is a common zoonotic pathogen, causing gastrointestinal infections in people. Pigs and pig meat are a major source of infection. Although farm biosecurity is believed to be important for controlling Salmonella transmission, robust evidence is lacking on which measures are most effective. This study enrolled 250 pig farms across nine European countries. From each farm, 20 pooled faecal samples (or similar information) were collected and analysed for Salmonella presence. Based on the proportion of positive results, farms were categorised as at higher or lower Salmonella risk, and associations with variables from a comprehensive questionnaire investigated. Multivariable analysis indicated that farms were less likely to be in the higher-risk category if they had ‘<400 sows’; used rodent baits close to pig enclosures; isolated stay-behind (sick) pigs; did not answer that the hygiene lock/ anteroom was easy to clean; did not have a full perimeter fence; did apply downtime of at least 3 days between farrowing batches; and had fully slatted flooring in all fattener buildings. A principal components analysis assessed the sources of variation between farms, and correlation between variables. The study results suggest simple control measures that could be prioritised on European pig farms to control Salmonella.
