Articles - Pig health

The classification system for PRRSV status of herds is based upon a set of definitions reflecting the biology and ecology of PRRSV.

The tissue damage is the consequence of direct apoptosis (and necrosis) of alveolar macrophage and their neighboring cells due to the release of apoptotigenic cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide.

The rate and sequence of mucosal immune maturity from birth to an ‘adult-type’ pig is an important determinant of subsequent performance, health and survival, and hence impacts on the efficiency and profitability of pork production.

Senecavirus A (SVA) has been suggested as a causative agent of idiopathic vesicular disease in pigs. Additionally, a neonatal losses syndrome, affecting piglets of 0-7 days of age, associated with SVA has recently been reported.

A series of unsuccessful measures are taken until the problem is finally solved.

If we back away from the specifics of E. coli and consider the big picture of infectious disease we can gain some broader insights on control methods.

Currently, no single RT-PCR assay could be recommended as a universal method allowing for detection of all PRRSV strains with optimal sensitivity.

This article deals with the factors to be considered for deciding the optimal time of vaccination against PCV2  and shows the results of a study that evaluates the efficacy of different vaccination programs in PCV2 subclinically infected piglets.

Infection with swine influenza virus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome during the suckling period was associated with an increase in post-weaning mortality (more limited in the case of SIV and of larger magnitude for PRRSV).

In Korea, it is common to vaccinate sows as a whole-herd mass vaccination program, where all sows are vaccinated quarterly with a type 2 PRRSV vaccine. Therefore, it is recommended to vaccinate breeding females quarterly with additional type 1 PRRSV vaccine to control type 1 PRRSV infection.

The article suggests measuring external risks in order to compare swine farms based on a numerical figure, and thus initiate corrective measures to improve and numerically verify the improvements achieved.

Understanding potential causes of lameness can help reduce the levels of lameness in the breeding herd and thus improve farm productivity and sow welfare.

Type 1 PRRSV is highly prevalent in Korean swine herds and currently reproductive failure is more important consequence of infection with type 1 PRRSV, than is respiratory diseases in growing pigs.

All sequenced PEDV isolates that were found recently within European countries were most closely related to so called S INDEL PEDV, which was originally described in the US in January 2014.

The aim of the main nutritional strategies is to ensure a beneficial effect on the digestive flora of piglets and their intestinal health after weaning, thus reducing the risk of colibacillosis.

This article describes a new syndrome in pigs that causes external and internal birth defects, especially in the liver and heart.

This type of investment may not be crazy when it comes to protecting farms with high genetic value (others are dependent on) or insemination centres.

How much has disease changed from its first introduction? Currently, we can find a new variant that appears to be a much milder form of PEDv, there are sow herds with chronic PEDv ( ~10% of breeding herds), a few sow herds with re-breaks (~ 3-5% of herds), ….

According to the present status and the experiences obtained during the previous one and a half year, Hungary will get free of PRRS by 2020.

Interactions between nutritional strategies and prevalence / severity of GI clinical pictures caused by E. coli after weaning.

Recently, PED outbreaks caused by viruses with high sequence identity to those in US but with rather low impact have recently been reported in several European countries.

Pigs can act as a source of new influenza strains with zoonotic potential, but the increase of the genetic diversity of the swine influenza viruses is largely due to the introduction of influenza strains of human origin. Therefore, it is highly recommended that all staff that has frequent contact with pigs should be vaccinated against influenza.

Diagnosis in oral fluids is indicated for the control of replacements on arrival and after the adaptation process, and of the different production batches, especially risk subpopulations such as animals with a slow growth rate.

Genetic and antigenic diversity of influenza virus should be understood as something dynamic and constantly evolving. So, it is crucial to encourage active surveillance of SIV in order to improve our knowledge of the SIV strains present in the European pig and their particular prevalence and impact in swine production.