Epidemiology and control of Menangle virus in pigs

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology and eradication of Menangle virus infection in pigs. DESIGN: Field observations and interventions, structured and unstructured serological surveys, prospective and cross-sectional serological studies and laboratory investigations. PROCEDURE: Serum samples were collected from pigs at a 2600-sow intensive piggery in New South Wales that experienced an outbreak of reproductive disease in 1997. Serum samples were also collected from piggeries that received pigs from or supplied pigs to the affected piggery and from other piggeries in Australia. Serum and tissue samples were collected from pigs at piggeries experiencing reproductive disease in New South Wales. Sera and faeces were collected from grey-headed flying foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) in the region of the affected piggery. Serum samples were tested for neutralising antibodies against Menangle virus. Virus isolation was attempted from faeces. RESULTS: Following the outbreak of reproductive disease, sera from 96% of adult pigs at the affected piggery, including sows that produced affected litters, contained neutralising antibodies against Menangle virus. Neutralising antibodies were also detected in sera from 88% of finisher pigs at two piggeries receiving weaned pigs from the affected piggery. No evidence of Menangle virus infection was found in other piggeries in Australia. In cross-sectional studies at the affected piggery, colostral antibodies were undetectable in most pigs by 14 to 15 weeks of age. By slaughter age or entry to the breeding herd, 95% of pigs developed high antibody titres (> or = 128) against Menangle virus in the virus neutralisation test. Menangle virus was eradicated from the affected piggery following a program of serological testing and segregation. Neutralising antibodies against Menangle virus were also detected in P poliocephalus from two colonies in the vicinity of the affected piggery. Two piggery workers were infected with Menangle virus. There was no evidence of infection in cattle, sheep, birds, rodents, feral cats and a dog at the affected piggery. CONCLUSIONS: Serological evidence of infection with Menangle virus was detected in pigs at a piggery that had experienced reproductive disease, in pigs at two associated piggeries and in fruit bats in the region of the piggery. Two humans were infected. The mode of transmission between pigs is unknown, but spread by faecal or urinary excretion is postulated. This virus can be eradicated by the segregation of pigs into discrete age groups.     

金属硫蛋白对应激猪血清中某些酶活性的影响

金属硫蛋白是一类低分子量、富含半胱氨酸的金属结合蛋白。它与应激及应激性疾病有关。本文试探讨金属硫蛋白对应激猪血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、乳酸脱氢酶、超氧化物歧化酶活性的影响，以便为金属硫蛋白在畜牧业生产中的应用提供一定的理论依据。     

Transmission of classical swine fever virus within herds during the 1997-1998 epidemic in The Netherlands

In this paper, we describe the transmission of Classical Swine Fever virus (CSF virus) within herds during the 1997–1998 epidemic in the Netherlands. In seven herds where the infection started among individually housed breeding stock, all breeding pigs had been tested for antibodies to CSF virus shortly before depopulation. Based upon these data, the transmission of CSF virus between pigs was described as exponential growth in time with a parameter r, that was estimated at 0.108 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.060–0.156). The accompanying per-generation transmission (expressed as the basic reproduction ratio, R₀) was estimated at 2.9. Based upon this characterisation, a calculation method was derived with which serological findings at depopulation can be used to calculate the period in which the virus was with a certain probability introduced into that breeding stock. This model was used to estimate the period when the virus had been introduced into 34 herds where the infection started in the breeding section. Of these herds, only a single contact with a herd previously infected had been traced. However, in contrast with the seven previously mentioned herds, only a sample of the breeding pigs had been tested before depopulation (as was the common procedure during the epidemic). The observed number of days between the single contact with an infected herd and the day of sampling of these 34 herds fitted well in the model. Thus, we concluded that the model and transmission parameter was in agreement with the transmission between breeding pigs in these herds.

Because of the limited sample size and because it was usually unknown in which specific pen the infection started, we were unable to estimate transmission parameters for weaned piglets and finishing pigs from the data collected during the epidemic. However, from the results of controlled experiments in which R₀ was estimated as 81 between weaned piglets and 14 between heavy finishing pigs (Laevens et al., 1998a. Vet. Quart. 20, 41–45; Laevens et al., 1999. Ph.D. Thesis), we constructed a simple model to describe the transmission of CSF virus in compartments (rooms) housing finishing pigs and weaned piglets. From the number of pens per compartment, the number of pigs per pen, the numbers of pigs tested for antibodies to CSF virus and the distribution of the seropositive pigs in the compartment, this model gives again a period in which the virus most probably entered the herd. Using the findings in 41 herds where the infection started in the section of the finishers or weaned piglets of the age of 8 weeks or older, and of which only a single contact with a herd previously infected was known, there was no reason to reject the model. Thus, we concluded that the transmission between weaned piglets and finishing pigs during the epidemic was not significantly different from the transmission observed in the experiments.     

Neutrophil Phagocytosis Following Inoculation of Salmonella choleraesuis into Swine

Neutrophils are an important mediator of host defence, especially in early stages of infection. A major function of neutrophils is the uptake and killing of invading microbes. Little is known about the effect of neutrophil activity on the pathogenesis and development of the carrier state in swine following infection with Salmonella choleraesuis. A human whole-blood microassay using flow cytometry was modified to measure the effect of S. choleraesuis infection in vivo on the rate of ingestion, or rate of uptake, of homologous bacteria by porcine neutrophils. Pigs were inoculated intranasally with 5–8×10⁸ CFU S. choleraesuis and blood was collected in heparinized tubes at –5, 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 days post inoculation (PI). Heat-killed S. choleraesuis were labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate and incubated for various times with diluted whole blood. Red blood cells were lysed, external non-phagocytized bacteria were quenched with a commercially available lysing solution, and fluorescence from internalized bacteria labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate was detected by flow cytometry. The rate of uptake by neutrophils did not increase until 2 days PI and then remained elevated to 4 days PI. The minimal uptake of S. choleraesuis early after exposure to these organisms may provide an opportunity for the pathogen to colonize and/or replicate to levels that facilitate establishment of a carrier state or clinical infection in swine.     

Prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) in pig faeces from slaughterhouses in Spain

A study to estimate the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in faecal samples from pigs at slaughterhouses in Spain was carried out between November 1998 and January 1999 with 900 samples taken from four abattoirs representing 9.7% of all pig slaughtered in 1998. Using a selective enrichment broth with vancomycin (8 μg/ml), 64 samples (7.1%; 95% CI: 5.5, 9.0%) had E. faecium vancomycin-resistant strains that showed minimal inhibitory concentrations of 256 μg/ml (62 strains) and 512 μg/ml (two strains). Results by farm showed that 43 of the 240 pig farms represented in the sampling had at least one faecal sample with vancomycin-resistant E. faecium.     

日粮色氨酸水平对生长猪的氮利用效率、血浆类胰岛素生长因子-I、生长激素及胰岛素的影响

本试验旨在研究日粮色氨酸水平对生长猪的氮利用率以及对血浆类胰岛素生长因子-I(IGF-I)、生长激素(GH)、胰岛素浓度的影响。试验以4头大白去势公猪作为试验动物,以色氨酸含量分别为1.2、1.7、2.2和2.7g/kg的4种日粮为试验处理,按照4×4拉丁方进行试验设计。结果表明,色氨酸水平对干物质消化率、有机物消化率和氮消化率没有显著性影响(P>0.05)。氮沉积和氮的生物学利用率随着日粮色氨酸水平由1.2提高到1.7、2.2和2.7g/kg而显著提高(P<0.05),但是试验处理1.7、2.2和2.7g/kg之间的氮沉积和氮的生物学价值没有显著差异(P>0.05)。不同处理之间的血浆IGF-I、GH和胰岛素浓度没有显著差异(P>0.05)。日粮色氨酸水平和血浆IGF-I、GH或胰岛素浓度之间以及氮沉积和血浆IGF-I、GH或胰岛素浓度之间均无显著的相关关系(P>0.05)。综合以上结果,日粮色氨酸水平对生长猪的氮沉积具有显著影响,而对血浆IGF-I、GH和胰岛素没有显著影响。     

滇南小耳猪与巴马小型猪SLA-DQA基因多态分析

对滇南小耳猪和巴马小型猪的SLA-DQA基因的部分内含子1、完整的外显子2和部分内含子2共341bp片段进行了PCR-RFLP酶切分型,结果表明：2品种经EcoR Ⅰ酶切后BB基因型频率（0.468 8）高于AB型（0.375 0）,AA型最低（0.156 3）,B为优势基因（0.656 3）,A为劣势基因（0.343 7）.经AluⅠ酶切后,滇南小耳猪MM基因型频率（0.500 0）高于MN型（0.321 4）和NN型（0.178 6）;而巴马猪则以MN基因型频率（0.485 3）高于MM型（0.338 2）和NN型（0.176 5）;2个品种中M等位基因（0.604 2）频率高于N等位基因（0.395 8）.经分析表明,2猪种在两酶切位点上各分型已达Hardy-Weinberg平衡.巴马小型猪和滇南小耳猪中分别存在9种和7种PCR-RFLP组合基因型,其中BBMN为优势组合基因型,AAMN为劣势组合基因型;AAMM组合基因型在2品种间差异显著（P＜0.05）.遗传多态参数分析表明：SLA-DQA基因外显子2的两酶切位点在2猪种间均表现为中度多态,AluⅠ的基因多样性略高于EcoRⅠ,巴马小型猪杂合性略高于滇南小耳猪,2品种间遗传距离为0.000 4.     

氨基酸络合铁对生长猪生长性能及有关指标的影响

为了比较评估氨基酸络合铁对生长猪生长性能、铁表观消化率、肤色和血液指标的影响,试验选择70日龄初始体重(27.34±2.55)kg的杜×长×大生长猪108头,分为6个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复3头猪。试验用玉米-豆粕型基础日粮。在基础日粮中添加100 mg/kg无机铁(一水硫酸亚铁)构成对照组。在对照组基础上分别添加40、80、120、160 mg/kg氨基酸络合铁构成4个试验组,在对照组基础上添加160 mg/kg无机铁(一水硫酸亚铁)构成正对照组,试验期5周。结果表明:试验0~2周、3~5周及全期,随着日粮中氨基酸铁添加量由40 mg/kg增加到160 mg/kg,生长猪日增重和饲料转化效率均得到改善,并呈极显著的线性关系(P<0.01)。与无机铁日粮组相比,添加160 mg/kg氨基酸络合铁试验组极显著地改善了平均日增重(P<0.01)和饲料转化效率(P<0.05);试验第14天和第35天,随着日粮中氨基酸络合铁添加水平的增加,生长猪对日粮中铁元素的表观消化率均呈显著的线性增加关系(P<0.05),添加160 mg/kg氨基酸络合铁试验组铁元素的表观消化率极显著高于对照组和正对照组(P<0.01);试验第14天和第35天,随着日粮中氨基酸络合铁添加水平的提高,红细胞压积、血红蛋白浓度、血清铁和血清铁与总铁结合力之比都呈显著的线性增加关系(P<0.05),并高于无机铁日粮组(P<0.01),而血清总铁结合力呈显著的线性降低关系(P<0.05);在试验期末,160 mg/kg氨基酸络合铁日粮组显著改善生长猪的肤色状况(P<0.05)。与添加硫酸亚铁相比,在生长猪日粮中添加氨基酸铁络合物可提高生长猪的生长性能和铁表观消化率,改善皮肤红度及血液生化指标。     

饲粮短期高剂量添加天冬氨酸镁对猪肉品质的影响

本试验研究了在基础日粮中短期添加不同水平的天冬氨酸镁对猪肉品质的影响。试验共分4个处理,每个处理6头猪。处理组镁(天冬氨酸镁)的添加水平分别为0、1 500、2 500和3 500 mg/kg。结果表明:屠宰前7 d饲粮添加天冬氨酸镁提高了猪肉品质,背最长肌肉中镁的含量分别比对照组提高了10.35%(P<0.05)、16.83%和18.61%(P<0.01),血清中镁的浓度分别比对照组增加了14.29%、27.14%和34.29%(P<0.01);显著提高了猪肉的初始pH(6.16~6.50)和最终pH(5.61~5.75)(P<0.05);对肉色评分改善显著(P<0.05);显著降低了滴水损失(P<0.05);但对猪的屠宰率、瘦肉率、背膘厚、眼肌厚度和肌肉中胶原蛋白含量等无显著影响(P>0.05)。回归分析结果表明:当镁的添加量在2 500~3 200 mg/kg时,对pH、滴水损失和肉色的改善作用达到最大,此时血清和肌肉中镁的含量约为0.90 mmol/L和241 mg/kg。     

Changes in hormones, growth factor and lipid metabolism in finishing pigs fed betaine

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary betaine supplementation on carcass characteristics, hormones, growth factor and lipid metabolism in finishing pigs. Forty-eight crossbred barrows and gilts (Seghers × Seghers × Duroc) weighing about 55 kg were divided into two groups, each with three replicates of eight pigs (four barrows and four gilts) per replicate, and fed corn–soybean meal basal diets supplemented with 0 and 0.125% betaine for 42 days. At trial termination, two pigs (one barrow and one gilt) weighing about 90 kg were selected from each replicate and slaughtered for analyses. The results showed that betaine increased carcass lean percentage and longissimus muscle area by 5.19% (P < 0.01) and 17.85% (P < 0.01), respectively, and decreased carcass fat percentage and average backfat thickness by 13.07% (P < 0.01) and 10.30% (P < 0.05), respectively. Serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine and insulin levels in pigs fed betaine were elevated by 45.61% (P < 0.01), 55.50% (P < 0.01), 57.95% (P < 0.01), 51.80% (P < 0.01) and 42.34% (P < 0.05), respectively. Fatty acid synthase activity in the 10th rib subcutaneous adipose tissue was decreased by 24.35% (P < 0.05) with betaine supplementation, whereas hormone-sensitive lipase activity was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, serum free fatty acids concentration in betaine-fed pigs was 25.75% higher compared to controls (P < 0.01). The study suggested that betaine could induce changes in hormones and growth factor in finishing pigs, and therefore could inhibit fat synthesis through reducing lipogenic enzymes activities and promote fat degradation by increasing hormone-sensitive lipase activity, with a resultant decrease in adipose tissue mass and improvement in carcass characteristics.