Prospecting for pig single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human genome: have we struck gold?

Gene‐to‐gene variation in the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has been observed in humans, mice, rats, primates and pigs, but a relationship across species in this variation has not been described. Here, the frequency of porcine coding SNPs (cSNPs) identified by in silico methods, and the frequency of murine cSNPs, were compared with the frequency of human cSNPs across homologous genes. From 150 000 porcine expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences, a total of 452 SNP‐containing sequence clusters were found, totalling 1394 putative SNPs. All the clustered porcine EST annotations and SNP data have been made publicly available at http://sputnik.btk.fi/project?name=swine . Human and murine cSNPs were identified from dbSNP and were characterized as either validated or total number of cSNPs (validated plus non‐validated) for comparison purposes. The correlation between in silico pig cSNP and validated human cSNP densities was found to be 0.77 (p < 0.00001) for a set of 25 homologous genes, while a correlation of 0.48 (p < 0.0005) was found for a primarily random sample of 50 homologous human and mouse genes. This is the first evidence of conserved gene‐to‐gene variability in cSNP frequency across species and indicates that site‐directed screening of porcine genes that are homologous to cSNP‐rich human genes may rapidly advance cSNP discovery in pigs.     

Effects of microcin 24-producing Escherichia coli on shedding and multiple-antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium in pigs

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of an Escherichia that produced microcin 24 (Mcc24) on shedding of of Salmonella enterica serotypeTyphimurium in swine and evaluate evidence of in vivo activation of the Mcc24-mediated, multiple-antibiotic resistance (mar) operon. ANIMALS: 36 crossbred weaned pigs. PROCEDURE: 24 pigs were allocated to 2 groups (12 pigs/group). Pigs in 1 group received daily oral administration of an Mcc24-producing E coli, whereas the other group received a non-Mcc24-producing E coli. All pigs were challenge exposed with Salmonella Typhimurium chi4232. A third group of 6 pigs received Mcc24-producing E coli and was challenge exposed with an Mcc24-sensitive, marA-deleted strain of Salmonella Typhimurium 4232. After challenge exposure, fecal samples from all pigs were cultured to detect shedding of Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Typhimurium isolates were screened for resistance to ciprofloxacin. Fecal samples were collected throughout the study, and tissue samples were collected during necropsy. RESULTS: Differences in shedding of Salmonella Typhimurium were not detected between groups receiving Mcc24-producing or non-Mcc24-producing E coli. No significant differences were found in quantitative analysis between groups receiving Mcc24-producing and non-Mcc24-producing E coli. Evidence of mar activation was not detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Microcin-producing E coli did not exert an effect on shedding of SalmonellaTyphimurium or mar activation in pigs. It may be difficult or impractical to create the conditions required for Mcc24 to be an effective part of a food safety intervention to reduce shedding of Salmonella Typhimurium.     

Experimental rapid infection in market swine following exposure to a Salmonella contaminated environment

The objective of these experiments was to evaluate the possibility of swine becoming infected with Salmonella Typhimurium after a short time interval in a contaminated environment. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 consisted of five trials with eight market weight swine. Pigs were necropsied at 2 (n = 10), 3 (n = 10) and 6 (n = 5) hours after continuous exposure to an environment contaminated with feces shed by swine intranasally inoculated with nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium (chi 4232). In Experiment 2, pigs were necropsied after 30 minutes (n = 6), 60 minutes (n = 6), 2 hours (n = 6), and 6 hours (n = 3). In addition, control animals with no exposure were also necropsied in both experiments. At necropsy, the superficial inguinal, ileocecal, and mandibular lymph nodes, as well as cecal contents, distal ileum portion, and feces were evaluated. All samples were cultured for the presence of the nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella. Feces deposited on the floor by intranasally inoculated swine were mixed with water to form slurry with a resulting load of 10(3)-10(5) Salmonella Typhimurium CFU per gram. In Experiment 1, 80% percent of animals with a 2-hour, 60% of animals with a 3-hour, and 100% of animals with a 6-hour exposure to this slurry had at least one sample test positive for the marked Salmonella Typhimurium strain. In Experiment 2, 50% of the 30 minute, 50% of the 60 minute, and 33% of the 2-hour exposed pigs had at least one sample test positive. These experiments show that market swine can become infected during routine resting or holding periods when exposed to relatively low levels (10(3) CFU) of Salmonella in the simulated pre-slaughter environment, and that exposure times as short as 30 minutes are sufficient to produce contaminated gastrointestinal tracts. They also demonstrate the high risk of holding pigs longer than six hours. Intervention at this step in the swine production process may have a significant impact on the safety of pork products.     

Rapid infection in market-weight swine following exposure to a Salmonella typhimurium-contaminated environment

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possibility of swine becoming infected with Salmonella Typhimurium when housed for 2 to 6 hours in an environment contaminated with Salmonella, similar to a lairage situation prior to slaughter. ANIMALS: 40 crossbred market pigs with an approximate body weight of 92 kg. PROCEDURE: Five trials were conducted (8 pigs/trial) in simulated lairage conditions. Superficial inguinal, ileocecal, and mandibular lymph nodes, cecal contents, distal portion of the ileum, and fecal samples were obtained from each pig after 2 (n = 10), 3 (10), and 6 (5) hours of exposure to an environment contaminated with feces defecated by 10 pigs intranasally inoculated with nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium (chi4232). In addition, 5 control pigs that were not exposed were also evaluated in the same manner. RESULTS: Feces deposited on the floor by intranasally inoculated swine were mixed with water to form slurry with a resulting load of approximately 10(3) colony-forming units of Salmonella Typhimurium/g of material. Eight of 10, 6 of 10, and 6 of 6 pigs exposed to the slurry for 2, 3, or 6 hours, respectively, had positive results for at least 1 sample when tested for the specific strain of Salmonella Typhimurium. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pigs can become infected during routine resting or holding periods during marketing when exposed to relatively low amounts of Salmonella organisms in the preslaughter environment. Intervention at this step of the production process may have a major impact on the safety of pork products.     

利用全基因组选择信号方法鉴别影响猪肉滴水损失的候选基因

旨在鉴定影响猪群体滴水损失变异的相关候选基因,为猪肉质选育奠定基础。本研究利用478头体质健康,平均日龄为237.95 d的苏淮猪个体,其中阉公猪290头,母猪188头。采集所有个体的背最长肌样本后,采用吊袋法测定滴水损失(drip loss, DL)表型,计算群体滴水损失估计育种值(estimated breeding value, EBV),选择其中EBV极高(N=48)和极低(N=48)各10% 的个体进行猪80K芯片基因分型。借助群体分化指数(fixation index, Fst)和基于单倍型信息的单倍型积分值(integrated haplotype score, iHS)方法对苏淮猪进行全基因组选择信号检测,选择 iHS值在前5%,同时Fst值≥0.15的SNP位点作为受选择的位点,接着对受选择SNP上、下游各50 kb的区域进行基因注释,并对所有基因进行KEGG和GO富集分析,鉴别与猪滴水损失相关的候选基因。通过对芯片分型数据质控后,96个样本的51 705个有效SNPs用于后续分析。通过Fst和iHS选择信号合并分析,共筛选出175个受选择的SNPs,主要位于1、6、7、11号染色体上,其中仅有27个SNPs位于已报道的影响猪滴水损失的QTL区域上。对受选择SNP 位点附近区域进行基因注释显示,175个SNPs涉及到 73 个基因,其中多个基因被报道与肌肉发育以及细胞氧化应激等功能相关,包括PACRG、EZR、MRTFA、LCP1和VKORC1L1基因,这5个基因都是新发现的功能上与猪滴水损失有关的候选基因。选择3个位于功能候选基因上,同时又位于QTL区域内的SNPs进行苏淮猪全群分型,并与滴水损失进行关联性分析。结果发现,位于MRTFA 基因上的rs340037952位点与苏淮猪群体滴水损失存在显著关联(P<0.05),位于VKORC1L1基因上的rs320624660与苏淮猪群体滴水损失存在极显著关联(P<0.01)。本研究通过选择信号分析找到175个受选择的SNPs,基因功能注释鉴别到5个影响滴水损失的候选基因,还分别在MRTFA和VKORC1L1基因上鉴别到与苏淮猪群体的滴水损失存在显著关联的位点：rs340037952和rs320624660,为后续猪滴水损失性状的选育提供了前期基础。     

Coated fatty acids alter virulence properties of Salmonella Typhimurium and decrease intestinal colonization of pigs

Salmonella Typhimurium infections in pigs are a major source of human foodborne salmonellosis. To reduce the number of infected pigs, acidification of feed or drinking water is a common practice. The aim of the present study was to determine whether some frequently used short- (SCFA) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are able to alter virulence gene expression and to decrease Salmonella Typhimurium colonization and shedding in pigs using well established and controlled in vitro and in vivo assays. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 4 SCFA (formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid) and 2 MCFA (caproic and caprylic acid) were determined using 54 porcine Salmonella Typhimurium field strains. MIC values increased at increasing pH-values and were two to eight times lower for MCFA than for SCFA. Expression of virulence gene fimA was significantly lower when bacteria were grown in LB-broth supplemented with sub-MIC concentrations of caproic or caprylic acid (2 mM). Expression of hilA and invasion in porcine intestinal epithelial cells was significantly lower when bacteria were grown in LB-broth containing sub-MIC concentrations of butyric acid or propionic acid (10 mM) and caproic or caprylic acid (2 mM). When given as feed supplement to pigs experimentally infected with Salmonella Typhimurium, coated butyric acid decreased the levels of faecal shedding and intestinal colonization, but had no influence on the colonization of tonsils, spleen and liver. Uncoated fatty acids, however, did not influence fecal shedding, intestinal or tonsillar colonization in pigs. In conclusion, supplementing feed with certain coated fatty acids, such as butyric acid, may help to reduce the Salmonella load in pigs.     

The fibronectin binding protein ShdA is not a prerequisite for long term faecal shedding of Salmonella typhimurium in pigs

Porcine carcasses contaminated with Salmonella typhimurium pose significant public health problems. Prolonged faecal shedding of Salmonella in pigs contributes to the contamination level of carcasses. Although the mechanism of prolonged faecal shedding is not yet clarified, the CS54 Island, and more specifically the shdA gene encoding a fibronectin binding autotransporter protein, was identified as an important locus for intestinal colonization and persistence of Salmonella typhimurium in mice. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of ShdA in faecal shedding of Salmonella typhimurium in pigs. Pigs were orally inoculated with a Salmonella typhimurium wild type field strain or its isogenic shdA mutant strain. For the first few days after inoculation, the shdA mutant strain was excreted more, the diarrhoea was more pronounced and higher numbers of internal organs were infected. No effect on long-term shedding was found. In a porcine ileal loop model, the wild type strain and shdA mutant strain did not show any differences in the induction of neutrophil influx into the intestinal wall and lumen. In conclusion, we have shown that a Salmonella typhimurium deletion mutant in shdA is more virulent during the first days after inoculation and is not significantly impaired in persistence or prolonged shedding in pigs.     

A clinical field trial to evaluate the efficacy of vaccination in controlling Salmonella infection and the association of Salmonella-shedding and weight gain in pigs

A clinical field trial was performed to determine the effectiveness of an autogenous Salmonella Typhimurium bacterin compared with a commercial live S. Choleraesuis vaccine in pigs. The association between Salmonella shedding and weight gain was also investigated. Nine cohorts of weaned pigs, (330 to 350 pigs per cohort), were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups (injection with S. Typhimurium bacterin, vaccination via water with S. Choleraesuis vaccine, or a control group receiving no vaccine). In each cohort, the average daily gain was calculated for a selected pen throughout the production stage. Pen (pooled) fecal samples were collected bi-weekly and cultured. The odds of Salmonella shedding in both vaccinated groups was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). The prevalence of Salmonella shedding declined overall as pigs aged (P = 0.04). However, the control pigs showed the smallest decrease in Salmonella shedding over the entire production stage, while prevalence of Salmonella shedding in the vaccinated groups decreased twice as much as the control group over the entire production stage. Salmonella Typhimurium var. Copenhagen DT104, S. Cerro, and S. Agona, which had been isolated on the study farm previously, were recovered from pigs in this study. Shedding of S. Typhimurium var. Copenhagen decreased over time in both vaccine treatment groups. On the other hand, S. Cerro shedding rate was lower in the control pigs compared with vaccinated pigs and S. Agona could be recovered only from the samples collected from S. Choleraesuis vaccinated pigs. The pigs from pens with a higher Salmonella recovery rate experienced slower growth compared with pigs from pens where Salmonella was not isolated. This latter finding indicates that there might be an economic incentive for producers to try to control endemic salmonellosis if effective programs could be developed.     

Risk factors for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica shedding by market-age pigs in French farrow-to-finish herds

Fattening-pigs carriers of Salmonella enterica are believed to be a main source of carcass and pork contamination at the later steps of the meat process. We did a prospective study in 2000-2001 in 105 French farrow-to-finish pig farms. In each farm, a batch of contemporary fattening pigs housed in the same room was followed throughout the fattening period. Salmonella shedding was assessed on environmental samples of faecal material (taken by means of pairs of gauze socks) analysed by classical bacteriological methods. 36.2% of the batches studied had at least one contaminated environmental sample and therefore were classified as Salmonella-shedding batches. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between managerial and hygiene practices and health status and the shedding risk at the end of the finishing period. Emptying the pit below the slatted floor after the previous batch of sows was removed and frequent removal of sow dung during the lactation period were protective. Presence of residual Salmonella contamination of the floor and pen partitions in the fattening rooms before loading the growing pigs also was a risk factor. The risk for Salmonella shedding at the end of the fattening period was increased when dry feed (versus wet feed) was provided during the fattening period. Lastly, Lawsonia intracellularis seroconversion and PRRSV seropositivity during the fattening period also was a risk factor for Salmonella shedding.     

Host specific differences alter the requirement for certain Salmonella genes during swine colonization

The pathogenic potential of Salmonella is determined during the complex interaction between pathogen and host, requiring optimal regulation of multiple bacterial genetic systems within variable in vivo environments. The mouse model of systemic disease has been an extremely productive model to investigate the pathogenesis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). Although the mouse model is a widely used paradigm for studying the pathogenesis of systemic disease caused by Salmonella, investigations concerning food safety interventions should employ natural hosts to examine gastrointestinal colonization by Salmonella. Recent research has demonstrated specific differences in the attenuation of certain S. Typhimurium mutants in mice compared to swine. This variation in pathogenesis between the mouse model and pigs for the S. Typhimurium mutants is presumably dependent upon either the requirements for specific gene products during systemic disease (mouse) versus gastrointestinal colonization (pig) or host specific differences. In addition, host specific diversity in Salmonella colonization of swine has also been described in comparison to other food-producing animals, including cattle and chickens. Differences in Salmonella colonization and pathogenesis across diverse animal species highlight the importance of species-specific studies of gastrointestinal colonization for the development of Salmonella interventions to enhance pork safety.     

Effect of Polymorphisms in Four Candidate Genes for Fertility on Litter Size in a German Pig Line

We carried out an SNP discovery project in pigs for candidate genes playing potentially important roles in embryonic development. Using eight pigs one each from eight breeds (Meishan, Mangalitza, Duroc, Pietrain, German Landrace, Hampshire, Husum Red Pied, German Large White), 36 SNPs were identified in intronic sequences of 21 porcine candidate genes based on sequencing of PCR products. The primer pairs were designed using porcine EST sequences allowing amplification of introns. These SNPs were tested for their association with the number of piglets born alive in German Large White sows using a discordant approach. Significant effects (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively) of intronic SNPs on litter size were found for four genes: mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MAP3K3), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (KDR), erbb2 interacting protein (ERBB2IP) and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor delta (PPARD). These SNPs can be further tested in upcoming association studies for their influence on litter size in different breeds using larger sample sizes.     

Modelling Salmonella spread within a farrow-to-finish pig herd

Delivery of infected pigs to the slaughterhouse is a major source of pork meat contamination by bacterial hazards to humans. We propose a model of Salmonella spread within a farrow-to-finish pig herd, assuming the prevalence in infected delivered pigs depends on the whole pig life-time and growing process. This stochastic discrete-time model represents both the population dynamics in a farrow-to-finish pig herd using batch management, and Salmonella spread. Four mutually exclusive individual health states were considered: Salmonella-free, seronegative shedder, seropositive shedder and seropositive not shedding carrier, making the distinction between seropositive animals and shedders. Since indirect transmission is the main route of transmission, the probability of infection depends on the quantity of Salmonella in the pigs' environment (Q). A dose effect function is used with two thresholds, assuming saturation in exposure for high Q vs. a minimum exposure for low Q. Salmonella is introduced in an initially Salmonella-free 150-sow herd. Prevalence of shedders and seroprevalence are calculated over time in batches of sows and pigs, and in groups of delivered pigs, composed of pigs from different batches. The model shows very variable seroprevalence over time within a herd among delivered groups, as well as among replications. The mean seroprevalence and the mean shedding prevalence are 19.3% and 13.8% respectively. A sensitivity analysis shows that the Salmonella quantity shed and the maternal protective factor are the most influential parameters on Salmonella prevalence in delivered pigs.     

Biology of Cryptosporidium parvum in pigs: from weaning to market

Cryptosporidium parvum is commonly identified as infecting domestic livestock and humans. Prevalence of C. parvum in pigs has been reported, however, the duration and infection pattern of naturally acquired Cryptosporidium infections in pigs has not been reported. This study was undertaken to investigate the age of oocyst shedding and duration of natural Cryptosporidium parvum infections in pigs from weaning to market weight. Fecal samples were collected from weaned Yorkshire-Landrace piglets (n=33) twice per week until Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected. Upon oocyst detection, fecal samples were collected three times per week and pigs were monitored throughout the study for diarrhea and examined after concentration and immunofluroescent staining. Cryptosporidium isolates were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction to amplify the HSP70 gene which was subsequently sequence analyzed. All 33 pigs shed oocysts some time during the study. The mean age of initial oocyst detection was 45.2 days post-weaning with the mean duration of infection 28.7 days. Mean number of Cryptosporidium oocysts was low and declined to zero prior to study completion. Episodes of diarrhea were not associated with oocyst excretion. Genetic sequences were obtained for 10 of the pigs. All of the 10 isolates aligned as the Cryptosporidium parvum 'pig' genotype. This study demonstrates that the age and duration of oocyst shedding in pigs infected with C. parvum porcine genotype is different from other livestock species.     

屠宰猪肠道沙门氏菌的分离鉴定、耐药性分析及致病性试验

为了解广西南宁市猪源沙门氏菌的污染状况、耐药状况及致病力情况,在南宁市某生猪屠宰场随机直接从131头屠宰猪的肠道采集样品,采用鉴别培养基分离,生化鉴定的方法对样品中的沙门氏菌进行分离鉴定,并采用标准K-B纸片法对分离菌株进行25种抗生素敏感试验,最后对分离株进行小白鼠致病性试验。结果从131份屠宰猪的肠道中共分离到沙门氏菌45株,检出率为34.35%;其中鼠伤寒沙门氏菌14株,甲型副伤寒杆菌2株,肠炎沙门氏菌3株。45株分离菌株全部耐药,耐药率高达100%,其中44株为多重耐药菌株,占97.78%。45株沙门氏菌中有40株对小白鼠具有致病性,致病率达88.89%。这表明南宁市的屠宰猪存在一定程度的沙门氏菌污染,并且分离菌株存在较严重的耐药现象以及具有较强的致病性。应采取有效措施控制沙门氏菌在猪群中的污染和限制抗生素在养猪过程中的使用并严格遵守休药期,以减少细菌耐药性的产生,保障猪肉及猪肉制品的食品安全。     

Epidemiological survey of swine cysticercosis using ante-mortem and post-mortem examination tests in the southern highlands of Tanzania

Pig keeping is known to be popular in the regions of the southern highlands zone (Mbeya, Iringa and Ruvuma) of Tanzania where more than 60% of pigs under the small-scale production system are raised. However, no epidemiological surveys on porcine cysticercosis have been conducted in the zone in spite of unofficial reports indicating the disease to be a widespread problem. To estimate prevalence rates and risk factors for porcine cysticercosis in Chunya and Iringa Rural Districts and Ruvuma Region (Songea and Mbinga Districts), 722, 808 and 302 live pigs, respectively, were examined by lingually and the prevalence of swine cysticercosis was found to be 7.6%, 8.4% and 16.9% for Chunya and Iringa Rural Districts, and Ruvuma Region, respectively. Structured observations and questionnaire interviews were used to analyse pig rearing practices and household use of latrines in Chunya and Iringa Rural Districts only. The analysis of effect of pig management practices, lack of a latrine, eating undercooked pork, home slaughter and no inspection of pork and lack of knowledge of T. solium on their association to tongue positivity in pigs was done by means of a contingency table. Odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and p-values were calculated. Structured questionnaire interviews identified factors associated with the disease prevalence in both Chunya and Iringa Rural Districts were free-ranging of pigs, home slaughtering of pigs and pork not being inspected. While in Chunya and Iringa Rural Districts lack of latrine and barbecuing were found a risk factor, respectively. To control the disease in the study areas of the southern highlands there is a need for significant improvements regarding the use of latrines, confinement of pigs, pork inspection and thorough cooking of pork.     

Alteration of neutrophil function in BCG-treated and non-treated swine after exposure to Salmonella typhimurium.

Salmonella typhimurium infection in swine causes an enterocolitis followed by a persistent carrier state, but little is known about the mechanisms that allow this organism to colonize and persist in host tissues. Neutrophils provide a first line of defense against invading pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium. The purpose of this study was to evaluate porcine neutrophil function after in vivo exposure to Salmonella and to determine if the immunomodulator, bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), exerts any effect on neutrophil function or on the colonization and persistence of S. typhimurium in the pig. Compared to negative controls, neutrophils from pigs exposed to S. typhimurium exhibited significantly decreased iodination, cytochrome-C reduction, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, random migration, and chemotaxis (P less than or equal to 0.05). Neutrophil bactericidal activity against S. typhimurium was significantly enhanced. Most of the significant differences were noted in the first two days after exposure to Salmonella. Often the functional alterations were biphasic, peaking again 7-10 days after exposure. BCG alone significantly depressed random migration and cytochrome-C reduction in unstimulated neutrophils. The clinical course, colonization pattern, and persistence of Salmonella were similar between pigs receiving BCG and untreated pigs. These data suggest that S. typhimurium infection causes a depression in oxidative metabolism and motility, yet an increase in overall bactericidal activity against S. typhimurium in circulating porcine neutrophils. It also appears that BCG treatment, as reported here, does not enhance resistance of pigs to S. typhimurium colonization or reduce the number of persistent organisms in the porcine ileum.     

Development and application of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect antibodies against prevalent Salmonella serovars in swine in southern Brazil.

The implementation of Salmonella control programs in the pork production chain demands rapid and cost-effective methods to assess the prevalence of infection in pig herds. The objective of the present study was to develop an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on S. Typhimurium lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to measure the prevalence of infection caused by Salmonella in swine herds. Coating antigen was produced by phenol extraction of S. Typhimurium culture. After standardization of ELISA test conditions, the assay was validated by testing serum samples on different animal categories: pigs orally inoculated with S. Typhimurium and sentinel animals in contact with them, naturally infected animals, colostrum-deprived piglets, and bacterin-immunized pigs. Seroconversion was observed in inoculated pigs (7 days postinfection [DPI]) and in the sentinels (21 DPI). Nonspecific reactions were not detected in the sera of colostrum-deprived animals. Serum samples from animals immunized with Salmonella Agona, Salmonella Derby, Salmonella Panama, and Salmonella Bredeney bacterins showed marked cross-reaction with the LPS from the serovar Typhimurium. Moreover, positive results obtained with the in-house ELISA were associated with Salmonella isolation in 75 infected pig herds. Comparisons with 2 commercial kits showed a linear correlation coefficient of 0.847 between the in-house ELISA and kit A and 0.922 with kit B but a low agreement in the qualitative results. In conclusion, the newly developed in-house ELISA based on S. Typhimurium LPS can be a useful tool to determine the intensity of Salmonella sp. infection in swine herds.     

Influence of long-time transportation stress on re-activation of Salmonella typhimurium DT104 in experimentally infected pigs

In this study a Salmonella Typhimurium infection model in swine was used in order to investigate the influence of pre-mortal stress induced by long time period transportation on the re-activation of Salmonella in experimentally infected pigs. Salmonella free pigs were exposed to a highly virulent strain of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 by direct intragastrical administration. Clinical parameters were monitored and the shedding rate in faeces was qualitatively and quantitatively determined by standard bacteriological procedures for 21 days. The distribution of the challenge organism in 14 different internal organs of transported and nontransported animals was determined. All infected animals developed clinical signs of salmonellosis 12 to 24 hours post infection. About 88 to 100% of the fecal samples were culture-positive up to post exposure day 6, and then varied from 71 to 92% until slaughter, respectively. At necropsy S. Typhimurium was recovered most frequently from caecum and ileocolic lymph nodes (83%), colon (79%), palatine tonsils (71%) and mandibular lymph nodes (62.5%). A negative impact of transportation stress on the shedding rate and the general condition of the animals was observed.     

Genetic mapping using 1.4M SNP array refined loci for fatty acid composition traits in Chinese Erhualian and Bamaxiang pigs

Chinese indigenous pigs display marked genetic and phenotypic differences compared with western commercial pigs. In this study, we tested the association between 660K SNPs and longissimus muscle fatty acid composition traits in Chinese Erhualian (n = 331) and Bamaxiang (n = 315) pigs based on a customized 1.4 million SNP array. We identified a total of 64 significant associations for 20 fatty acid composition traits at the p‐value threshold of 1 × 10^?6 among which 42 associations in low linkage disequilibrium (r² < .2) with previously reported loci were considered novel. We substantially improved the strength and precision of the associations at four previously detected loci near FADS2, ELOVL7, ELOVL6 and FASN genes, facilitating follow‐up candidate gene studies. Moreover, we also identified loci near ABCD2, ACSBG1, ELOVL5, HPGDS, DAGT2, ACAD10 and ACSL1 genes with function relevant to metabolism of fatty acids. In this study, valuable genetic variants and candidate genes associated with fatty acid composition traits were identified in Erhualian and Bamaxiang pigs. Some identified loci could be used to improve pork nutrition in pig breeding practice. Using the SNP array with higher marker density and less ascertainment bias improved QTL detection power and precision in Chinese indigenous pigs.