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Pig Journal Volume: 64
Publication date: February 2011

General Section

UK – FUTURE VET NEEDS
M.WIJNBERG
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Short Communications

BIOSECURITY OBSERVATIONS ON PIG FARMS WITH HIGH SALMONELLA SEROPREVALENCE IN ENGLAND AND WALES
D.F. TWOMEY, A.J. MILLER, L.C. SNOW, A.J.C. COOK, R.H. DAVIES, S.M.WILLIAMSON, R. REICHEL, C.A. FEATHERSTONE, .D.ARMSTRONG

Abstract
Following the introduction of a national abattoir basedmonitoring programme for salmonella in pigs, advisory visits were offered to pig farms in England andWales with highmeat juice seroprevalence.Analysis of data from219 farms visited under this programme between October 2003 andMay 2007 indicated variable application of biosecurity practices.Visits were distributed throughout England andWales,withmost in Yorkshire and Humberside (40%) and East Anglia (37%). Data was analysed in relation to the salmonella pen prevalence, based on pooled pen floor faeces samples collected at the visits. There was a significant difference in themean isolation rates between farms, and several associations between biosecurity practices and pen prevalence on farms were noted. There was a significant geographical effect,with herds in Yorkshire and Humberside having a highermean within-farmpen prevalence than those in East Anglia (OR=3.6). Specialist finishing farms had a higher risk of pens being positive (OR=2.4),while pens on farms that operated all-in, all-out pen systems had a significantly lower risk (OR=0.3). This short communication acts as a point of reference for biosecurity practices on pig farms targeted for high salmonella seroprevalence.

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AN UPDATE ON ANTIMICROBIAL SENSITIVITY TESTING FOR PORCINE E. COLI AND SALMONELLA ISOLATES INCLUDING RESULTS FROM THE UK ARCHIVE WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON COLISTIN (POLYMIXIN E)
B.W. STRUGNELL

Abstract
Concerns that antimicrobial resistance in bacterial isolates of animal originmay lead to similar resistance in bacterial isolates of human health significance have been raised for several years (de Jong et al.,2009).Thiswas highlighted by a recent intervention of the ChiefMedicalOfficer,who stated that fluoroquinolones and third/fourth generation cephalosporins should bewithdrawn fromuse in animals (Donaldson, 2008).Attention often focuses on the pig and poultry industries in this regard as high throughputs and relatively intensive production sometimesmeans that levels of antimicrobial use exceed those for other sectors.A recent British VeterinaryAssociation (BVA) poster sets out the practical guidelines for dealingwith these concerns (Anon, 2009).

Enterobacteriacae are among the bacterial species commonly reported as showing antimicrobial resistance, and twomembers of this group, Escherichia coli and salmonella, are frequently targeted for therapeutic use of antimicrobials on UK pig units. This paper was, therefore, intended to give an update on the position, based on a review of literature and results of antimicrobial sensitivity testing on a sample of E. coli isolates associated with porcine enteric disease.

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COMPARTMENTS – A NEWWAY TO EXPORT
R. KYLE
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INFLUENCE OF SAMPLE SIZE ON THE ASSESSMENT OF LUNG LESIONS IN SLAUGHTER PIGS
C. FABLET, N. ROSE, S. BOUGEARD F. MADEC

Abstract
The study is aimed at assessing the influence of sample size on the estimation of pneumonia and pleuritis in pig batches at the slaughterhouse. Data fromlung examinations of 700 pigs were randomly selected from10 herds. The frequency of pleuritis, pneumonia and extended pneumonia, and themean andmedian pneumonia scores of the initial sample of 70 pigs,were calculated for each herd. These five parameters were calculated for 12 sub-samples of 10 to 65 pigs randomly selected fromthe initial sample of 70 pigs. Randomsamplings of these sub-samples were simulated 500 times and all five parameters were calculated for each simulation. Themean percentage relative discrepancy between each parameter of the initial sample and the estimated parameter of the sub-samples was calculated. Themean level of discrepancy increased as the sample size decreased, whatever the parameter.A sample size of 30 pigs should be sufficient to obtain a reliable and accurate estimate of the frequency and severity of pneumonia fromthemean ormedian scores.A sample size of at least 60 pigs would be required to reliably estimate the prevalence of pleuritis and of pigs with high pneumonia scores.

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Case Studies

PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009 INFLUENZA: AN INFECTION IN PIGS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
J. BOROBIA-BELSUÉ

Abstract
In October 2009 a 120 sow unit experienced an increase of abdominal breathing, coughing and inappetance in the breeding herd and sucking piglets.Morbidity was around 60%andmortality was below 1%.

An investigation was carried out involving clinical examination, post-mortemexamination and laboratory investigations.

A diagnosis of Pandemic (H1N1) Influenza A virus with possible secondary bacterial (Pasteurellamultocida and/or Streptococcus suis type 2) complications wasmade based on the history and consistent clinical and laboratory investigation.

A control programme consisting of nursing care,with warmth and good ventilation, andmedicating sow diets with tylvalosin tartrate for 10 days was implemented. This resulted in the complete recovery of the animals after the treatment was withdrawn.

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WEANING WEIGHT IMPROVEMENTS FOLLOWING PCV2 SOW VACCINATION
N. BRONS, R. NETO, V. THIAS, F. JOISEL, S. LONGO(

Abstract
Exposure to Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) occurs very early in the life of a pig andmay compromise the pig’s ability to respond to infectious agents (viral and bacterial) when exposed to PCV2 without the presence of protectivematernally derived immunity.

The transmission and persistence ofmaternal antibodies following colostrumintake fromCircovac® vaccinated sows by their progeny has been demonstrated, conferring protection against PCV2, subsequently reducing clinical signs, lymphoid tissue lesions and reduced viral load.

The vaccination of sows with an inactivated PCV2 sow vaccine has been reported to improve performance andmortality rates. To evaluate the impact of PCV2 sow vaccination on the piglets weaning weights, those piglets born fromboth non-vaccinated and vaccinated sowswereweighed atweaning and the data produced by these two groupswas statistically analysed.

A significant improvement in themean weaning weight of 0.93kg on the progeny of PCV2 vaccinated sows was observed, and the results are in agreement with previous reports.Weight at weaning influences the post-weaning performance,with heavier pigs at weaning performing better fromweaning to slaughter.

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ASPHALT POISONING IN YOUNG PIGS
J.H. PAYNE, A.M. MURPHY, R.J. HIGGINS

Abstract
Asphalts are bituminousmaterials which occur naturally, or are derived from, non-destructive fractions of petroleumchemicals (Irwin 1997). They are a complexmixture of chemicals, the exact composition varying on the source. Coal tar poisoning in pigs is well documented (Grahamet al., 1940, Luke 1954 andMacLean 1969).Asphalt contains aliphatic hydrocarbons in addition to themononuclear aromatics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonmixtures found in both asphalts and tars. This communication describes the clinical, laboratory,macroscopic and histopathological findings of fatal asphalt toxicity in young pigs.

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Research Papers

EXPERIENCES WITH PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS TYPE 2 (PCV2) VACCINATION IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE
P. MAASS, D. STRACHAN

Abstract
Herd breakdowns with Porcine Circovirus Disease (PCVD) appeared to escalate to epizootic proportions in North America from 2004, following a similar pattern to that seen in Europe and the rest of the world since 1996. Fortunately, great advances had beenmade during this time in the understanding of the disease and the role of Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) which led to the development of different vaccine candidates against this devastating disease. The capsid protein encoded by the open reading frame two (ORF2) of PCV2 had been identified as the key immunogenic part of PCV2 inducing a protective immune response (Blanchard et al., 2003,Nawagitgul et al., 2000).A one-shot PCV2 piglet vaccine using the ORF2 protein as antigen and an aqueous polymer in a buffered solution as adjuvant has been developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. Between its first introduction in North America in 2006 and August 2008, approximately 100million pigs have been successfully vaccinated with Ingelvac CircoFLEX®. The efficacy and safety has been documented in numerous field trials in different pig producing areas of the world. This paper reviews four North American trials and compares themto four European studies. In total,more than 30,000 pigs were included in these trials. Totalmortality was reduced by up to 75%in finishing barns,while PCVD relatedmortality was decreased in up to 89%in cases of severe Post-weaningMultisystemicWasting Syndrome (PMWS). Cull pigs or runts were reduced at a similar level.Wherever reported, a significant increase in weight gain was achieved, even in subclinical situations. Differences in weight gain,where reported, ranged between + 2.4kg and + 6.8kg in favour of vaccinates. The average daily gain (ADG) in grow-finishing was improved in vaccinated groups by + 27 to + 32g/day in subclinical ormild forms of the diseases,whereas improvement reached + 44 to + 86g/day in clinical PMWS situations. There were no reports of adverse reactions with the vaccine in these trials.Overall, both the closely controlled studies and themuch larger field experiences in Europe and North America confirmthe safety and, in particular, the excellent efficacy of this PCV2 vaccine in protecting piglets against themajor health and economic losses associated with PCVD when vaccinated fromtwo to three weeks of age onwards.

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AN ANALYSIS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ZOONOSES ACTION PLAN DATA FROM PIG HERDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
R.P SMITH, M.J. SÁNCHEZ-VÁZQUEZ, A.J.C. COOK, H.E. CLOUGH, S.A. EDWARDS(

Abstract
The Zoonoses Action Plan required thatmeat juice (MJ) samples fromslaughtered pigs weremonitored for antibodies against salmonella in amix-ELISA. These results were linked to data, routinely collected by quality assurance schemes to create a dataset, representingmore than 1,500 pig holdings with an average of 30MJ ELISA results per farm. The data was analysed to identify factors associated with salmonella infection, and to indicate potential analytical approaches.Multivariable analysis showed that samples fromfarms in Yorkshire and the Humber, and those that housed finisher pigs on solid flooring,were associated with positive ELISA results.Univariable analysis showed significant regional differences in pigmanagement, and spatial analysis showed high prevalence holdings in Yorkshire and the Humber weremore clustered in space than low prevalence holdings.However, poor data quality precluded analysis ofmany variables, and recording errors in identifiers (e.g. slapmark) caused problems inmatching samples to holdings. If the quality and range of data collected in the schemes could be improved, then the large sample size would ensure sufficient statistical power to identify even weak associations between a broad set of variables andMJ ELISA status,which could help target on-farmcontrolmeasures relevant for the UK pig population.

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Clinical Practice

QUALITY CONTROL AT THE BOAR STUD MAY IMPROVE SPERM FERTILITY
P.O. HOFMO

Abstract
Themain goal for a boar stud is to produce semen without a health risk for the recipient (safe semen), semen with a high fertilising potential (good semen) and for a low cost (cheap semen). These three goalsmay often be contradictory, as health precautions and extensive quality control implies extra costs and/or extra personnel.However, buyer confidence in the product is vital for the trust of the company (boar stud) andmay, in longer terms, be decisive for the existence of the company.

Processing boar semen fromcollection through dilution, packaging, storage and transport to the final destination at the farms implies several critical steps thatmay influence semen quality and, thus, the semen fertility. Strict hygiene control, correct dilution, and quality evaluation in addition to control of temperature through the whole process are some of the factors that are vital to preserve the fertilising capacity of the processed semen. Even if these factors are optimised, the final fertility result will still be highly dependent on oestrus control of the sow, the right timing of insemination, the correct insemination procedure and the condition of the sow. These important factors, however,will not be covered in this presentation.

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A FARM STUDY TO EVALUATE PRODUCTIVITY PARAMETERS FOLLOWING ROUTINE IRON INJECTION IN OUTDOOR PIGLETS
R. PEARSON

Abstract
It is routine practice on the vastmajority of indoor units to administer supplementary iron to piglets in the first few days of life. This is done in order to prevent iron deficiency anaemia,which is characterised by hypochromicmicrocytic anaemia. Supplementary iron is usually provided in the formof 200mg of elemental iron as iron dextran delivered by intramuscular injection. In contrast, it is quite rare for outdoor born piglets to receive routine iron supplementation, as it is widely believed that access to the outdoor environment allows piglets sufficient soil intake to prevent iron deficiency. The results of this study suggest that piglets on this outdoor unit benefited in terms of average weaning weight by 0.26kg fromroutine iron injection over the period of the sixmonth study.A strong seasonal effect was also noted,with early batches born in the colder weather of winter-spring showing themost pronounced difference in weaning weight. During the coldermonths of the year,many outdoor piglets remain within their ark and fender, so access to soil is limited and these pigletsmay be at risk of iron deficiency anaemia. The improvement in weaning weight noted appeared to bemediated through improved blood parameters, especially Hb,MCH, MCV and PCV.With a large percentage of the UK national sow herd now outdoors, routine iron injectionmay well be worth investigatingmore widely.

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KYPHOSIS AND LORDOSIS: POSSIBLE LINK TO NUTRITION
J. BOROBIA-BELSUÉ

Abstract
Two 600 sow birth to bacon units reported an increase of lameness, Kyphosis and Lordosis in pigs fromsix to eight weeks of age. This represented 5%of the pigs in the units.Moremales than females were affected and some of themost severely affected pigs had developed paresis of the hind legs.

An investigation was carried out involving clinical, post-mortem, histological, bacteriological, immunofluorescence, biochemical and nutritional examinations.

A diagnosis of Kyphosis and Lordosis with a nutritional involvement wasmade, based on these investigations. The early onset of the problemled to the suspicion that it could have started during foetal life.

A control programme consisting of the re-formulation of calcium, phosphorous and vitamins A and D3 levels in the diets was implemented. This resulted in no further cases in the subsequent farrowed litters.

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LESSONS WE MUST LEARN FROM THE SWINE DYSENTERY OUTBREAK IN EAST ANGLIA
J.WADDILOVE

Abstract
The swine dysentery outbreak in East Anglia lasted fromsummer 2006 until the early part of 2009. It led to the slaughter of nearly 3,000 sows and affected a total of 29 units. There aremany lessons the pig industry needs to learn fromthe way this outbreak was spread and how we could have prevented it.

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