A study of air quality and respiratory infections in pigs raised in confinement

Air quality, respiratory disease, and growth rate were followed in four different farrowing and nursery systems. Ammonia levels varied with ambient air temperature, but were within normally accepted levels (25 ppm). These levels of ammonia did not appear to affect the health or performance of the pigs raised in these units. Hydrogen sulfide levels were consistently low. Counts of bacterial colony forming particles (BCFP) varied and the organisms identified were predominantly micrococci. Bordetella bronchiseptica was isolated from nasal cavities of pigs from 3 out of 4 farms. Three of the farms did not have evidence of atrophic rhinitis; pigs farrowed in the last quarter of the test year on one farm from which B. bronchiseptica was isolated developed lesions of atrophic rhinitis. The B. bronchiseptica isolates from the 3 farms were virulent for gnotobiotic piglets. Groups of pigs for slaughter inspection from one farm had lungs with 11–28% pneumonic lesions; these lesions were not typical of mycoplasmal pneumonia.     

山羊海藻百伯史坦菌分离鉴定与药敏试验

为了对陕西省某羊场羊群发生呼吸道疾病进行确诊,取病死羊肺脏进行细菌培养、分离、纯化、生化试验、16S rRNA测序、动物致病性试验以及药敏试验.结果表明,分离株的培养特性与生化试验结果与山羊海藻百伯史坦菌符合;16S rRNA比对结果显示分离细菌与山羊海藻百伯史坦菌同源性为98％;致病性试验表明山羊海藻百伯史坦菌对小鼠...     

Isolation,Identification and Drug Sensitive Tests of Porcine Contagious Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

In order to provide a scientific prevention and treatment of porcine contagious pleuropneumia (PCP) disease in a pig farm of Tianjin,pigs with suspected PCP were carried on clinical comprehensive diagnosis and histopathological observations.A systematic analysis of isolated strain were conducted by laboratory diagnostic methods included bacterial isolation and culture,microscopic examination,biochemical tests,satellite phenomenon examination,PCR detection,animal pathogenicity experiments and drug sensitive tests.The most sick pigs were dyspnea,and the typical results of pathological anatomy and histopathological observations were fibrinous pneumonia.The gram-negative and polymorphous bacilli could be seen under the microscopy,its biochemical characteristics and satellite phenomenon were consistent with those of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae(APP).The amplified result of APP APX Ⅳ A gene was positive by specific primers.The isolated strain could be lethal to mice and it was highly sensitive to cefotaxime and florfenicol.Combined with the results of laboratory detection and the clinical comprehensive diagnosis,it was confirmed the isolated strain was APP.     

Health and performance of commingled feeder pigs as affected by lincomycin and carbadox

Purchased feeder pigs from 12 farms were commingled and divided into three treatment groups of carbadox, lincomycin and controls. Health and performance evaluations included serology, bacterial isolations, fecal examinations and post-mortem examinations at slaughter, weight gain, and feed efficiency.Serological tests for influenza, Aujeszky's disease and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were negative throughout the study. Bordetella bronchiseptica was isolated from 14% of the pigs on arrival and from 42% of the pigs 30 days after commingling. No Salmonella spp. were isolated from fecal swabs on arrival; Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from 2.5% of the pigs on Day 30, but no Salmonella was isolated on Day 90. Fecal examination on arrival revealed that 12.5% were infected with gastrointestinal parasites (5.0% Trichuris suis, 5.0% Ascaris suum and 2.5% Strongyloides ransomi).During the 30-day treatment period immediately following purchase and commingling, carbadox and lincomycin improved growth rate by 7.6% and 10.2%, respectively. The treatments also improved feed efficiency, by 9.9% and 5.7%, respectively, and uniformity of growth. Growth rate and feed efficiency were not affected by treatment from Days 30 to 90 following removal of the feed additives from the diet.Growth rate varied greatly, depending on the farm of origin. Although the reasons for the differences in performance were not well established, results suggested that transmission of B. bronchiseptica between pigs resulted in decreased growth rate following infection. Carbadox was significantly more effective than lincomycin in preventing transmission of B. bronchiseptica between commingled pigs.Post-mortem examination at slaughter revealed turbinate atrophy in 5.8% of the noses and pneumonia in 18% of the lungs. One liver exhibited evidence of ascarid larval migration. Treatments produced no significant effect (P>0.05) on post-mortem examination results.     

Pathogenicity of a recently isolated strain of Tritrichomonas foetus in mice

The pathogenicity of a recently isolated strain of T. foetus in mice was studied. The parasite produced local abscesses 3 days post subcutaneous inoculation (p.i.) in albino mice. The abscesses in mice, inoculated with large numbers (4 × 10⁶) of organisms, continued increasing in size until the 14th day. Some absceses ruptured between day 11 to 14 p.i., while others formed a point. Secondary abscesses were also found in some mice. the abscesses in mice, inoculated with small numbers (1 × 10⁶) of organisms reached their maximum on the 5th day and decreased thereafter. All the abscesses had motile trichomonads with no bacterial contamination. The trichomonads, inoculated intraperitoneally in mice, persisted in that cavity till day 5 or 6 p.i., but did not multiply. Subcutaneous inoculations appear to be more reliable than the intraperitoneal ones for studies on pathogenicity. The comparison of present observations with those using a similar model and T. foetus or other trichomonads, suggests that the strain of T. foetus employed was of low pathogenicity.     

Serum C-reactive protein and immune responses in dogs inoculated withBordetella bronchiseptica (phase I cells)

Eight Beagle dogs were inoculated intrabronchially with 5×10⁹ live, avirulent cells ofBordetella bronchiseptica L-414 strain (phase I cells) (B. bronchiseptica) to investigate the serum levels of their C-reactive protein, the white blood cell counts, the antibody responses toB. bronchiseptica in the sera and tracheal secretions, and the effects of prednisolone given to four of the dogs on C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC) and immune responses. In two Beagle dogs inoculated intrabronchially with sterile physiological saline, the concentrations of CRP and the WBC counts did not increase. CRP was markedly increased one day after inoculation in the dogs inoculated withB. bronchiseptica to 385.0–720.0 µg/ml (mean 498±132 µg/ml) in the group given theB. bronchiseptica inoculation only, and to 372.0–649.0 µg/ml (mean 551±106 µg/ml) in the group treated with prednisolone following inoculation ofB. bronchiseptica, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CRP levels were 23–95 times the pre-inoculation values, which indicated that prednisolone had no effect on the production of CRP. In the prednisolone-treated group, the WBC count increased and stayed at an increased level for approximately 12 days. An indirect fluorescent antibody test led to the detection of anti-B. bronchiseptica IgM and IgG antibodies in the sera from 5 days afterB. bronchiseptica inoculation and S-IgA and IgG anti-B. bronchiseptica antibodies in the tracheal secretions on the day after the challenge exposure toB. bronchiseptica. The increase in CRP after challenge exposure toB. bronchiseptica was significantly (p<0.05) smaller than that found after the first inoculation ofB. bronchiseptica.Abbreviations CRP C-reactive protein - ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - FHA filamentous haemagglutinin - IFA indirect fluorescent antibody - WBC white blood cell(s)     

ISOLATION OF MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PNEUMONIA OF PIGS IN AUSTRALIA

Nine strains of mycoplasmas were isolated from the lungs of 5 pigs with clinical signs of naturally acquired enzootic pneumonia. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae was isolated from the lungs of 1 pig and M. hyorhinis from the lungs of 4. An unidentified mycoplasma, which utilized arginine, grew rapidly in broth culture and produced centred colonies on solid medium, was isolated from the lungs of 4 pigs. The pathogenicity of the isolated strain of M. hyopneumoniae was determined by inoculation of pigs from an enzootic pneumonia-free herd. Enzootic pneumonia was produced in the lungs of all 5 pigs inoculated intranasally and intratracheally with broth cultures of the organism isolatied by limit dilution techniques. Enzootic pneumonia was produced in 3 of 6 pigs inoculated intranasally and intratracheally with M. hyopneumoniae purified by the passage of colonies on agar blocks. M. hyopneumoniae was isolated in pure culture from the lungs of all pigs with induced pneumonic lesions.     

Experimental aerosol transmission of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae to pigs.

In order to demonstrate the possible role of aerosol in the transmission of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, an experiment including 18 specific pathogen-free (SPF), 10-week-old piglets, randomly distributed into 2 adjacent units, was carried out. In these facilities, air was forced through absolute filters to prevent any contact with infectious agents. During the first 6 d post inoculation, the 2 units were connected by a rectangular opening and the air circulation was forced by the ventilation system from unit A (inoculated pigs) to unit B (non-inoculated pigs). The A. pleuropneumoniae strain (biovar 1 serovar 9) was isolated in France from an outbreak of porcine pleuropneumonia. Two different infecting doses, 10(7) cfu/animal and 10(8) cfu/animal, were inoculated by intranasal route in 6 pigs of unit A. The infection spread quickly from the inoculated pigs to the non-inoculated pigs. Clinical signs were acute during the 4 d post inoculation: hyperthermia, respiratory distress and, sometimes, death (6 pigs of the unit A and 2 pigs of the unit B). All pigs seroconverted against A. pleuropneumoniae serovar 9 within 2 weeks. Lung lesions were severe: fibrinous pleurisy and lung hemorrhages in the acute stage, pleural adherences and focal pulmonary necrosis in the chronic stage. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae was isolated from the tonsils and/or lungs in 16 animals. It could be also isolated from the air of the experimental unit. This study showed that A. pleuropneumoniae was readily transmitted through aerosol over a distance of at least 2.5 m.     

Pathological,ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical changes caused by Lelystad virus in experimentally induced infections of mystery swine disease (synonym: Porcine epidemic abortion and respiratory syndrome (PEARS))

Summary

The pathogenicity and pathogenesis of Lelystad virus was studied in six 6‐day‐old SPF piglets. A third passage of the agent was propagated on porcine alveolar macrophages and intranasally inoculated into pigs. Pigs were killed at hours 24, 48, 60, and 72, and on days 6 and 8 after inoculation. From day 2 on pigs developed diffuse interstitial pneumonia with focal areas of catarrhal pneumonia, and from this day on splenic red pulp macrophages were enlarged and vacuolated. Lelystad virus was re‐isolated from the lungs of infected pigs from day 2 after inoculation. Lelystad virus antigens were detected by immunohistochemical techniques in bronchiolar epithelium and alveolar cells, and in spleen cells of infected pigs from day 2 after inoculation. Ultrastructural examination of tissues by electron microscopy revealed degenerating alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells in lungs and nasal mucosa, with excessive vacuolation of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Although the respiratory tract seems to be the target organ for this virus, macrophages in other organs, such as the spleen, can also be infected. This preference for macrophages may impair immunological defences.     

Pulmonary lesions in guinea pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A.p.) serovar 1

Pathological studies were carried out on the lungs of guinea pigs intratracheally inoculated with 4.6 x 10(6-8) colony forming units (CFU)/head of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serovar 1. All animals in the highest dose group died within 24 hr post inoculation (hpi) and showed pulmonary lesions being hemorrhagic in nature while all animals in the lowest dose group were killed as scheduled at 11 days post inoculation (dpi) and showed only hyperplasia of peribronchial lymphoid tissues. In the middle dose group, two died within 24 hpi, two died at 9 dpi, and the remaining one was killed at 11 dpi. Two guinea pigs which died at 9 dpi showed fibrinonecrotic pleuropneumonia which is the most characteristic acute pulmonary lesion in swine, and has not yet been reproduced in laboratory animals up to the present time. This suggests that guinea pigs may be a useful laboratory animal for studying the pathogenesis of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection in swine.     

Mouse model of haemorrhagic septicaemia: dissemination and multiplication of Pasteurella multocida B:2 in vital organs after intranasal and subcutaneous challenge in mice

Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) is an endemic disease of bovines, occuring in most tropical regions of Asia and Africa. In the present study, the suitability of using mice to study pathogenesis of HS was assessed using mortality, mean death time and bacterial multiplication in vital organs after infection with live P multocida. Mice were infected with 10⁵, 10³ and 10¹?cfu of P. multocida B:2 via intranasal and subcutaneous routes along with control groups. Bacterial multiplication in lung, liver and spleen of mice were determined at 24 h interval after intranasal and subcutaneous challenge. More than 80 % of challenged mice died within 48 h of inoculation, irrespective of the dose and route of inoculation. A heavy bacterial load (up to 10⁸?cfu) was observed in lung, liver and spleen of mice titrated at 24 h and following death of mice. Results of the present study indicate that even ten bacteria are enough to cause mortality in mice and the organism multiplies rapidly in respiratory epithelium and disseminated to other vital organs viz liver and spleen suggesting the important role of mouse model in investigating the pathogenesis and challenge studies during vaccine development.     

EFFECTIVE SEDATION OF RABBITS, GUINEA PIGS, RATS AND MICE WITH A MIXTURE OF FENTANYL AND DROPERIDOL

SUMMARY A minimum effective dose rate for Innovar-vet^(R) was established for producing sedation of rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice. The level of sedation permitted a minimum of restraint and abolished painreactions. No special precautions were necessary and administration was by simple intra-muscular injection. Recovery occurred within 1–2 hours and was uneventful and without excitement. A single operator was able to carry out bleeding safely, and would be able to carry out other minor procedures with minimal stress to the animal.     

Uterus duplex bicollis,Vagina simplex in laboratory Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), rats (Rattus norvegicus forma domestica) and mice (Mus musculus forma domestica)

The female genital tract originates from the Müllerian ducts during embryological development. Fusion of the ducts occurs in different segments depending on the animal species, resulting in a variational number of the respective organ. Current literature on genital tract morphology of laboratory rodents is controversial. Therefore, the present study aimed at determining an anatomically correct definition of the uterus in laboratory guinea pigs, mice and rats. In all three rodent species, we found two separate cervical canals that communicate with an individual uterus via discrete ostia uteri interna. The correct anatomical definition should therefore be uterus duplex bicollis, vagina simplex.     

猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌的分离鉴定及药敏试验

为了给天津某规模猪场提供猪传染性胸膜肺炎(PCP)的科学防控和合理的用药方案,本试验对该猪场疑似患PCP的病猪进行临床综合诊断和病理组织学观察,无菌采集病料,通过细菌的分离与培养、镜检、生化试验、卫星试验、PCR检测、动物致病性试验及药敏试验等实验室方法对分离菌进行系统分析。结果发现,病猪呼吸困难,病理剖检和病理组织学观察可见有典型的纤维素性肺炎变化;显微镜下分离菌呈多形性的革兰氏阴性杆菌,且其生化试验、卫星试验结果与传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌(APP)特性一致;用APP APX ⅣA毒素基因特异性引物扩增结果为阳性;该APP分离菌对小鼠具有致病性,且对头孢噻肟、氟苯尼考等药物高度敏感。根据实验室检测结果并结合临床综合诊断,最终判定该细菌分离株为猪传染性APP。     

急性死亡猪中猪丹毒杆菌的分离鉴定

本试验从江西省南昌市某规模化猪场送检的2份疑似猪丹毒杆菌引起的急性死亡猪组织中分离出2株可疑菌株,经细菌分离培养、染色镜检、生化试验等实验室诊断,进一步以猪丹毒杆菌16S rRNA的特异性引物进行PCR鉴定,确定2株分离菌为猪丹毒杆菌.然后进行动物致病性试验及药敏试验,并对该厂常用的消毒药进行最小抑菌浓度(MIC)的测定.结果表明,1×10⁸ CFU的剂量可致死小白鼠;分离菌对β-内酰胺类抗菌药高度敏感,对多数抗菌药耐药;该厂常用消毒药的抑菌作用已明显下降.本试验结果对临床防制猪丹毒具有参考意义.     

贵州省某猪场体表脓肿病原菌的分离鉴定及药敏分析

为探明贵州省某猪场引起猪体表脓肿的原因,本研究对该猪场脓肿部位的脓汁进行细菌分离培养,并对分离所得的细菌进行革兰氏染色镜检、生化试验、药敏试验、16S rDNA序列分子分析及动物感染试验。结果显示,从脓汁中成功分离到了3株菌落形态不一的菌株,分别为金黄色葡萄球菌、化脓隐秘杆菌、停乳链球菌类马亚种,根据分离地点和时间将其分别命名为GZGP2018-1、GZGP2018-2和GZGP2018-3;GZGP2018-1菌株与NCBI上金黄色葡萄球菌的同源性高达99.9%,GZGP2018-2菌株与NCBI上化脓隐秘杆菌的同源性高达99.9%,GZGP2018-3菌株与NCBI上停乳链球菌类马亚种的同源性高达100%;3株分离菌株对头孢拉定、环丙沙星、磺胺间甲氧嘧啶和氟苯尼考较敏感,对青霉素类药物和红霉素耐药;3株分离菌株对试验小鼠均具有致死性。本研究为该猪场猪体表脓肿的发病原因、实验室诊断方法及日常防控提供了理论参考。     

猪变形杆菌感染症的调查研究

1986年以来,我县某些猪场发生一种以“体温升高、呕吐、腹泻、咳嗽、气喘”为主要症侯的猪病,猪群发病率从28.7％～52.3％不等,病猪平均致死率17.5％。剖检病死猪见肺、肺门淋巴结、气管和小肠呈明显的病理性变化。从17头病猪的肺、肺门淋巴结、脾和肝分离到12株变形杆菌。这些菌能产生不耐热的肠毒素,对小白鼠都有致死作用,回归健康猪能得与自然病例同样的病症,并在发病后4天死亡。康复猪的血清对本菌的凝集价高达1∶80～640,从而确诊为猪的变形杆菌感染症。     

Induction of seroconversion and persistence of Salmonella Typhimurium in pigs are strain dependent

Foodborne salmonellosis is one of the most important bacterial zoonotic diseases worldwide. Salmonella Typhimurium is the serovar most frequently isolated from persistently infected slaughter pigs in Europe. Salmonella Typhimurium pathogenesis is host species specific. In addition, differences in in vitro behaviour of Salmonella Typhimurium strains have also been described, which may be reflected by a different course of infection within a host species. We compared the course of a Salmonella Typhimurium infection in pigs, using two Salmonella Typhimurium strains that were able to interfere with MHC II expression on porcine macrophages to a different extent in vitro. After experimental inoculation, blood and faecal samples from all pigs were collected at regular time points. At 40 days post inoculation (pi), animals were euthanized and tissue samples were bacteriologically analysed. The proportion of serologically positive piglets at 33 days pi was significantly higher in pigs that were inoculated with the strain that did not downregulate MHC II expression in vitro. Furthermore, this strain was less frequently shed and isolated in lower numbers from tonsils and ileocaecal lymph nodes than the strain that was able to markedly downregulate MHC II expression in vitro. We thus found that the delayed onset of seroconversion after oral inoculation of piglets with a particular Salmonella Typhimurium strain coincided with higher faecal shedding and increased persistence. Strain specific differences in Salmonella pathogenesis might thus have repercussions on the serological detection of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in pigs.     

羊源肺炎克雷伯菌的分离鉴定及毒力基因检测

为了调查内蒙古通辽市某羊场发病羊死亡的原因,对疑似致病菌进行分离、鉴定及部分生物学特性研究.对病死羊进行剖检,无菌条件下采集心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏等组织脏器进行细菌分离培养;对分离菌进行小鼠致病性试验、细菌生化检测、16S rDNA基因扩增及同源性比对分析和药物纸片扩散法敏感性试验.结果显示,分离菌株符合肺炎克雷伯菌生...     

Experimental infection and abortion of pregnant guinea pigs with a unique spirillum-like bacterium isolated from aborted ovine fetuses

Study was made of the pathogenicity of a spirillum-like, anaerobic, gram-negative bacterium, originally isolated from aborted lambs, for pregnant guinea pigs. Reproducible conditions for propagation and preservation of the bacterium were determined as requisite for the preparation of cultures for animal inoculation. A preliminary experiment was done with 10 pregnant guinea pigs to test for an infective dose of organisms that would produce abortion. High-passage cultures (n = 50) were used to inoculate these guinea pigs intraperitoneally. Six of 10 guinea pigs aborted, and the organism was cultured from fetal tissues of 5 guinea pigs. Isolates from 3 of the 6 guinea pigs were propagated through 4 passages on blood agar and used to infect 3 groups, each of 5 guinea pigs. A 4th group of 5 guinea pigs was inoculated with the original culture. Three of 5 animals in the first 3 groups, which had been given the low-passage cultures from the preliminary trial, and 2 of 5 guinea pigs in the 4th group, which had been given the original culture, aborted. Antibody against the spirillum was detected in 19 of 30 inoculated guinea pigs. The major microscopic lesions were acute suppurative placentitis and splenitis. This bacterium retained pathogenic properties sufficient to cause infection, abortion, and microscopic lesions in two-thirds of the guinea pigs, in spite of high in vitro passage. The organism has unique ultrastructures, and its genus and species are yet to be determined.