Development of Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant (LA-MRSA) Loads in Pigs and Pig Stables During the Fattening Period.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant (LA-MRSA) is widespread in European pig production and poses an occupational hazard to farm workers and their household members. Farm workers are exposed to LA-MRSA through direct contact with pigs and airborne transmission, enabling bacteria to be carried home in the nose or on the skin. Consequently, it is important to consider LA-MRSA in a one-health context, studying human exposure by examining LA-MRSA levels in pigs, air, and dust in the farm environment.

A Virus-like Particle-Based F4 Enterotoxigenic Vaccine Is Inhibited by Maternally Derived Antibodies in Piglets but Generates Robust Responses in Sows.

F4-positive enterotoxigenic is associated with diarrhea and poor growth outcomes in neonatal and newly weaned piglets and is thus a major economic and welfare burden in the swine industry. Vaccination of sows with F4 fimbriae protects against the neonatal disease via passive transfer of maternal immunity. However, this strategy does not protect against infection post-weaning.

Umbilical Outpouchings in two Danish herds raising pigs with minimal use of antibiotics - Results from a field trial evaluating the efficacy of autogenous vaccines and iodine application.

In Denmark, a Pure Pork concept for raising pigs without antibiotics was initiated in 2015 by the Danish Crown slaughterhouse cooperative. Pure Pork herds are characterised by minimal use of antibiotics and pigs are mainly treated individually. An increased prevalence of pigs suffering from umbilical outpouchings (UO) is a considerable challenge for Pure Pork producers.

Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome in sows: effects on behavior of sows and piglets.

Background: To investigate if specific sow and piglet behavioral characteristics could be used diagnostically, this case-cohort study of the behavior of sows and piglets during the periparturient period (from 24 h before the birth of first piglet to 24 h after the birth of last piglet) was conducted. Data included 32 sows diagnosed with PDS (PDS+) vs. 37 healthy matched controls (PDS-) and their litters.

Lack of evidence of mastitis as a causal factor for postpartum dysgalactia syndrome in sows.

To investigate the prevalence of mastitis in sows suffering from postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (), we examined milk constituents and concentrations of lipopolysaccharides () obtained from the udder vein (v. epigastrica). As part of a case-cohort study, 109 sows were monitored daily from 60 h antepartum () to 36 h postpartum ().

Controlling Transmission of MRSA to Humans During Short-Term Visits to Swine Farms Using Dust Masks.

The aim of the investigation was to determine the protective effect of wearing dust masks to prevent Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) contamination during a short-term visit in a MRSA-positive swine farm. A total of 118 human volunteers were randomly allocated to a group wearing masks and to the control group. On average, 9% of the participants wearing masks were MRSA-positive when leaving the farm compared to 62% of the participants not wearing masks.

Hormonal and metabolic indicators before and after farrowing in sows affected with postpartum dysgalactia syndrome.

Background: Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) in sows is difficult to diagnose and the pathogenesis is obscure. Hormonal changes related to the disease are often difficult to distinguish from those found in the normal transition period from gestation to lactation. The study aimed to investigate metabolic and hormonal changes related to PDS with the goal of identifying potential biomarkers in sows suffering from PDS (PDS+).

Diarrhoea in neonatal piglets: a case control study on microbiological findings.

Background: Many factors can influence the occurrence of neonatal diarrhoea in piglets. Currently, well-known pathogens such as enterotoxigenic and type C appear to play a minor role in development of disease. Other infectious pathogens may be involved.

Correction to: Inflammatory markers before and after farrowing in healthy sows and in sows affected with postpartum dysgalactia syndrome.

The original article [1] contains an error whereby the caption in Figure 8 is incorrect; the correct caption can be seen ahead alongside its respective image.

Inflammatory markers before and after farrowing in healthy sows and in sows affected with postpartum dysgalactia syndrome.

Background: The pathogenesis of postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) in sows is not fully elucidated and affected sows often present vague clinical signs. Accurate and timely diagnosis is difficult, and PDS is often recognized with a delay once piglets begin to starve. Increased rectal temperature of the sow is an important diagnostic parameter, but it may also be influenced by a number of other parameters and is thus difficult to interpret.

Clinical utility and performance of sock sampling in weaner pig diarrhoea.

Low pathogen diarrhoea is a group-level diagnosis, characterised by non-haemorrhagic diarrhoea. In the current study, the apparent prevalence of low pathogen diarrhoea outbreaks in Danish herds was investigated along with the clinical utility of a laboratory examination for intestinal disease, agreement between three consecutive herd examinations from the same herd and agreement between quantitative PCR results from pooled faecal samples and sock samples. Twenty-four veterinarians submitted faecal and sock samples for quantitative PCR testing from outbreaks of diarrhoea in nursery pigs (n=38 herds) where the farmer or veterinarian had decided that antimicrobial treatment was necessary.

Herd diagnosis of low pathogen diarrhoea in growing pigs - a pilot study.

Background: The major indication for antibiotic use in Danish pigs is treatment of intestinal diseases post weaning. Clinical decisions on antibiotic batch medication are often based on inspection of diarrhoeic pools on the pen floor. In some of these treated diarrhoea outbreaks, intestinal pathogens can only be demonstrated in a small number of pigs within the treated group (low pathogen diarrhoea).

A field evaluation of two vaccines against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection in pigs.

Background: A field trial was carried out with two Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccines in order to investigate the benefit of vaccination under field conditions in modern Danish pig production facilities with pigs being positive for M. hyopneumoniae. The M.

Pooling of porcine fecal samples for quantification of Lawsonia intracellularis by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Procedures in which biological specimens are mixed and tested as 1 sample (pooling) have been applied for various biological specimens and laboratory examinations. The objective of the current study was to investigate agreement between laboratory testing of fecal pools and theoretical values obtained by averaging test results from individual fecal samples in relation to a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test for Lawsonia intracellularis. Ten diarrheic and 10 normal fecal samples were submitted from each of 43 Danish swine herds (n = 860 fecal samples).

Experimental airborne transmission of porcine postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome.

The objective of these studies was to investigate if porcine postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) could be induced in healthy pigs following contact with air from pigs with clinical signs of PMWS. The pigs were housed in different units. Either 31 (study I) or 25 (study II) pigs with clinical symptoms of PMWS from a PMWS-affected herd and 25 healthy pigs from a PMWS-free, but PCV2-positive, herd were housed in unit A.

Treatment of shoulder ulcers in sows - rubber mats and zinc ointment compared to chlortetracycline spray.

Background: Shoulder ulcers can have a significant impact on the welfare of sows. In Denmark, rubber mats are used for treatment of shoulder ulcers. The objective of the study was to compare a treatment consisting of a combination of rubber mats and zinc ointment with the effect of local antibiotic spray (chlortetracycline) on shoulder ulcers.

Infectious risk factors for individual postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) development in pigs from affected farms in Spain and Denmark.

Two prospective longitudinal studies in 13 postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS)-affected farms from Spain (n=3) and Denmark (n=10) were performed. Blood samples from pigs were longitudinally collected from 1st week until the occurrence of the PMWS outbreak. Wasted and healthy age-matched pigs were euthanized, necropsied and histopathologically characterised.

Investigation of the association of growth rate in grower-finishing pigs with the quantification of Lawsonia intracellularis and porcine circovirus type 2.

As a part of a prospective cohort study in four herds, a nested case control study was carried out. Five slow growing pigs (cases) and five fast growing pigs (controls) out of 60 pigs were selected for euthanasia and laboratory examination at the end of the study in each herd. A total of 238 pigs, all approximately 12 weeks old, were included in the study during the first week in the grower-finisher barn.

Porcine circovirus diseases: a review of PMWS.

This article is a review on post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), the first described disease among the porcine circovirus diseases (PCVD). Post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome has, since its appearance in Canada in 1991, been seen in all major pig producing countries. To diagnose PMWS at herd level typical clinical appearance consisting of wasting and increased mortality must be combined with finding at autopsy of diseased pigs, where typical microscopic findings in the lymphatic tissue must be present.

Transmission of different variants of PCV2 and viral dynamics in a research facility with pigs mingled from PMWS-affected herds and non-affected herds.

Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) has been identified in most swine-producing countries worldwide. The disease has resulted in significant health challenges and economic damage to the swine industry. The aim of this study was to determine horizontal transmission of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and to examine viral dynamics in pigs in a controlled PMWS transmission study.

Induction of porcine post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs from PMWS unaffected herds following mingling with pigs from PMWS-affected herds.

In this paper we present the results from two experimental studies (I and II) investigating whether post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) can be induced in pigs from PMWS unaffected herds by mingling with pigs from PMWS-affected herds and to observe whether transportation and/or mingling of healthy pigs from unaffected herds could induce PMWS. The studies comprised pigs from 12 different herds. Eight herds had PMWS while four were unaffected.

Infection, excretion and seroconversion dynamics of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in pigs from post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) affected farms in Spain and Denmark.

Longitudinal case-control studies were performed in post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) affected farms from Denmark and Spain using similar designs. Fourteen independent batches of 100-154 pigs per batch were monitored from birth to PMWS outbreak occurrence. Pigs displaying PMWS-like signs and matched healthy cohorts were euthanized during the clinical outbreak.

Effect of tulathromycin on the carrier status of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 in the tonsils of pigs.

The effect of a single or double dose of tulathromycin was evaluated in pigs carrying Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 in their tonsils. Twenty-nine pigs from a reinfected specific pathogen-free-herd were selected from animals testing positive in an A pleuropneumoniae serotype 2-specific pcr test on tonsil scrapings and they were divided into three groups. The pigs in group 1 were treated subcutaneously with 2.