Depressed potential for interleukin-2 production following early weaning of piglets.

Spleen cells, but not mesenteric lymph node cells, from 3-week-old piglets abruptly weaned onto a soya-based diet, produced less interleukin-2 (IL-2) following non-specific activation with concanavalin A (Con A) than did cells from age- and litter-matched, unweaned controls. In contrast, the ability to express receptors for IL-2 was only marginally reduced. The effect on IL-2 production was most marked in animals weaned for as little as 24-48 h. Variation within groups increased with time after weaning, indicating differences between individuals in the longer-term effects of weaning. This finding may be due to endogenous production of steroids resulting in generalised impaired immune function or to retention of cells within intestinal sites owing to an active local immune response.     

谷氨酰胺对断奶仔猪肝脏SOD、GSH-Px基因表达的影响

选用60头21日龄断奶杜长大仔猪,随机分为2组,每组设3个重复,每个重复10头。试验组在基础日粮中添加0.5%谷氨酰胺（Gln）分别于断奶后0、7、14d屠宰采样,采用相对定量RT-PCR方法检测添加Gln对仔猪肝脏中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）mRNA表达水平的影响。结果表明：断奶后7d,0.5%Gln试验组肝脏SOD酶活力比对照组低6.93%（P〉0.05）,GSH-Px酶活力比对照组高11.87%（P〈0.05）;断奶后14d,0.5%Gln组SOD酶活力比对照组低9.54%（P〉0.05）,GSH-Px酶活力比对照组高9.56%（P〈0.05）。与对照组相比,试验组SOD基因表达量减少,而GSH-Px增加。在断奶后7、14d,仔猪肝脏SODmRNA表达量分别降低了47.94%（P〉0.05）和77.02%（P〈0.05）;GSH-PxmRNA表达量分别提高了73.16%（P〈0.05）和28.27%（P〉0.05）。     

Alternatives for castration of suckling piglets, determination of catecholamines and wound healing after castration of suckling piglets at different points of time

According to the applicable animal welfare legislation, the surgical castration of pigs is allowed up until the age of 4 weeks, without anaesthesia. According to the european guideline (2001/93/EG) it is only permitted in the first week after birth. The investigation should show, whether the castration of young piglets takes a milder course and to what extent stress reactions occur in different age groups. The healing process of castration wounds in piglets that were castrated at the age of four days progressed more rapidly and with less complications than those piglets that were castrated at 28 days of age. The catecholamine levels in younger piglets rose significantly after the operation, while these levels virtually stayed the same in piglets castrated at 28 days. As alternatives to castration without anaesthesia, several methods are in discussion: (1) Castration under general anaesthesia can only be practiced by a veterinary surgeon. The sole use of Azaperon and Ketamine has insufficient pain sedating effect. Isofluran anaesthesia is apparatively extravagant. (2) CO2-Anaesthesia in piglets leads to high strain. (3) Castration under local anaesthesia must be practiced by a veterinary surgeon. The application and the pain after the castration are not taken into consideration. (4) Jung boar fattening up until the slaughtering weight of 80 kg is not transformable, because of boar taste. (5) The breeding of slaughter pigs with little boar taint is not yet transformable. (6) Sperm sexing is not and will not, in the near future, be mature for practice. (7) Immunocastration is an active immunisation against GnRH. The immunological elimination of GnRH suppresses the development of sex hormones, such as testosterone, as well as the substance responsible for boar taint, Androstenone. To consider is the acceptance of the consumer. The preparation has the same effect in humans as it has in swine. "Self injections" have the same effect in humans as it has in swine. "Self injections" are therefore risky.     

不同添加剂对断奶仔猪生产性能的影响

为对比不同添加剂对断奶仔猪生产性能的影响,选取180头体重7 kg左右杜长大三元杂交断奶仔猪,随机分为3组,每组2重复,每重复30头,对照组饲喂含2 000 mg/kg氧化锌+0.55%石粉日粮,试验组Ⅰ日粮中含0.55%石粉+500 mg/kg肠溶型包衣锌制剂,试验组Ⅱ日粮中含0.385%有机复合酸钙+0.15%酸化剂,进行为期14 d的饲养试验。结果表明,两个试验组仔猪的生产性能和抗腹泻能力均能保持在正常的生产水平,且生产性能比对照组还有一定的改善,同时还可以去除长时间使用氧化锌后仔猪生长过慢、毛长以及抵抗力水平低的副作用和高锌对水、土等环境的污染,可在生产中予以推广使用。     

Putative peripheral neuropathy in suckling piglets

Over a period of almost 2 years, a progressive motor disturbance was found to occur in 20-50% of the litters of both primiparous and multiparous sows in a large pig herd of 1000 sows. The motor disturbance sometimes affected the entire litter; however, in most cases only a few piglets per litter were affected. The clinical signs appeared at 3-5 days of age and consisted of difficult movement followed by anteflexion or retroflexion of the tarsal joints or 'rabbit-like posture'. Subsequently, primarily after weaning, inflammatory and necrotic lesions developed on the paralysed limbs as a result of secondary infections of injuries. The tibial nerve and the common fibular nerve of recently affected (5- to 6-day-old) piglets showed degeneration, demyelination and necrosis of some of the nerve fibres, accompanied by restorative changes in more chronic cases. The central nervous system, bones, skeletal muscles, tendons and joints showed no lesions that could have accounted for the symptoms of motor disturbance. Aetiological investigations excluded the possibility of lead, copper and cadmium toxicity. Vitamin B2 administered orally at 1 day old proved to be ineffective. The disease did not develop in piglets of sows kept at another farm under the same management and fed a diet prepared according to an identical formula from the same ingredients as those used on the affected farm, but with no milk whey added. This raised the suspicion of triaryl phosphate (TAP) poisoning, but this was found not to be the cause of the disease. New boars had not been brought to the farm in the year preceding the onset of disease, and the disease could not be linked to a specific boar or boar line. The aetiology of the disease has remained unclear.     

Changes in the fermentation end-product profile in the GIT of piglets during post-colostrum suckling period

Pre-weaning development of microbial activity has an effect on post-weaning establishment of the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) microbiota. An in vivo study was conducted, to evaluate the effect of age on fermentation end-product profiles during the post-colostrum suckling period, as the variation in composition of mature milk is minimum. Sixteen piglets from two litters (eight per litter) were selected. During the study, piglets had free access to sow's milk, but no creep feed, nor antibiotic treatments. Two piglets from each litter were sacrificed on d 11, 18, 25 and 32 of age. The digesta samples were collected from the beginning and end of the small intestine, caecum and colon. Samples were analyzed for fermentation end-product concentrations. Combining the results from all the GIT sites, it was observed that, total VFA concentration increased with age of the piglets. There was a significant rise in acetic acid concentrations, with a significant decrease in lactic acid concentrations from d11 to d32, while the proportions of SCFA, (acetic acid  72%, propionic acid  15% and butyric acid  6% of total VFA) and ammonia concentrations remained unchanged. These results clearly suggest that, the microbial activity in terms of fermentation end-product profile skewed from lactic acid to acetic acid as a major product during the post-colostrum suckling period. This may be attributed to lower substrate availability due to increased number of microbes or increased diversity in the microbiota in time.     

Body weight of newborn and suckling piglets affects their intestinal gene expression

Modern hyperprolific sows must deal with large litters (16–20 piglets) which reduce piglet birthweight with a concomitant increase in the proportion of small and intrauterine growth retarded piglets. However, larger litters do not only have a greater variation of piglet weights, but also a greater variation in colostrum and milk consumption within the litter. To further understand the impact that body weight has on piglets, the present study aimed to evaluate the degree of physiological weakness of the smallest piglets at birth and during the suckling period (20 d) compared to their middle-weight littermates through their jejunal gene expression. At birth, light piglets showed a downregulation of genes related to immune response (FAXDC2, HSPB1, PPARGC1α), antioxidant enzymes (SOD2m), digestive enzymes (ANPEP, IDO1, SI), and nutrient transporter (SLC39A4) (P < 0.05) but also a tendency for a higher mRNA expression of GBP1 (inflammatory regulator) and HSD11β1 (stress hormone) genes compared to their heavier littermates (P < 0.10). Excluding HSD11β1 gene, all these intestinal gene expression differences initially observed at birth between light and middle-weight piglets were stabilized at the end of the suckling period, when others appeared. Genes involved in barrier function (CLDN1), pro-inflammatory response (CXCL2, IL6, IDO1), and stress hormone signaling (HSD11β1) over-expressed compared to their middle-weight littermates (P < 0.05). In conclusion, at birth and at the end of suckling period, light body weight piglets seem to have a compromised gene expression and therefore impaired nutrient absorption, immune and stress responses compared to their heavier littermates.     

Intermittent suckling with or without comingling of non-littermate piglets before weaning improves piglet performance in the immediate post-weaning period when compared with conventional weaning

Background: In this experiment, intermittent suckling(IS) with or without the co-mingling(Co M) of piglets was studied as a method to stimulate solid feed intake and reduce post-weaning stress.Methods: Three weaning regimes using 30 multiparous sows were compared:(1) conventional weaning(CW)(n = 10 litters), where piglets had continuous access to the sow until weaning(d 0, farrowing = d-25 relative to weaning);(2) intermittent suckling(IS)(n = 10 litters), where piglets were separated from the sow for 8 h/d starting at d-7(relative to weaning); and(3) intermittent suckling with co-mingling(ISCo)(n = 10 litters) where IS started at d-7 and two litters were housed together during separation and then returned to their original sow. Ad libitum creep feed was available from d-17. At weaning pigs were housed in pens of 11 pigs, 27 pens in total. The ISCo treatment was divided in half to examine effects of different mixing strategies after weaning. Half of the ISCo litters were kept in familiar groups(ISCo F, familiar, n = 4) and the other half were mixed within treatment resulting in groups of unfamiliar pigs(ISCo NF, not familiar, n = 5), the same as IS(n = 9) and CW(n = 9) treatments.Results: The ISCo piglets ate more creep feed in the week before weaning(P 0.01), but also showed more aggressive and manipulative behaviour on first day of Co M compared with CW piglets(P 0.05). IS with or without Co M increased exploratory and play behaviour on the first day of treatment intervention(P 0.001) and increased sleeping behaviour on the last day of treatment intervention compared with CW(P 0.001). Mixing strategy at weaning had an effect on performance data with the highest growth and feed intake seen in ISCo F pigs 2 to 8 d after weaning(P 0.001). IS and ISCo NF pigs also grew faster and ate more than CW pigs 2 to 8 d after weaning(P 0.001). Post-weaning injury scores suggested reduced aggression in ISCo as evidenced by reduced redness(skin irritation)(P 0.05), and a tendency for ISCo to have less scratches than CW(P 0.1). The IS pigs slept the most and displayed less manipulative behaviours on the day of weaning and plasma haptoglobin levels remained low in IS pigs after weaning(P ≤ 0.01).Conclusions: Both intermittent suckling techniques improved production indices in the immediate post-weaning period. However, the addition of co-mingling before weaning in combination with grouping familiar pigs together after weaning improved performance in an additive manner.     

Alopecia areata and humpy-back syndrome in suckling piglets

This report describes an uncommon variant of humpy-back syndrome associated with multiple rib fractures and multisystemic vasculitis in several nursing piglets and, for the first time, a skin disease in swine consistent with alopecia areata. Both conditions were observed concurrently on the farm and occasionally in the same piglets.     

Yoghurt for stronger suckling piglets and sows

窝内仔猪较多会给哺乳母猪带来很大的哺乳压力,还可影响仔猪的生长速度维持高水平的泌乳量需要采食大量的能量,面对一大窝仔猪,母猪不能分泌充足的乳汁满足仔猪发挥其生长潜力的要求(图1).较大的窝通常会产生许多瘦弱的仔猪,为这些弱小仔猪提供充足的营养以提高窝存活率、达到充足的断奶体重和断奶后的生长率都是巨大的挑战.要获得健康的母猪和仔猪,一个关键因素是保证仔猪在哺乳期间有较高的采食量.     

“仔猪饲喂”专栏(第一季)三:酸奶能让哺乳仔猪和母猪更加强壮

在出生后的哺乳仔猪饲喂酸奶,可提高其一生中前数周的采食量,产生较高的断奶体重和较快的生长速度。同时,母猪哺乳期的体重损失将减少,下一个妊娠期的增重将加大。     

断奶日龄对仔猪血液主动免疫功能的影响

选15窝杜洛克×长白×约克夏三元杂交初生仔猪,按14、21、28、35日龄断奶和不断奶随机分为5组,每组3窝。研究仔猪主动免疫功能的发育及不同断奶日龄对仔猪主动免疫功能的影响。结果表明:哺乳仔猪外周血Et玫瑰花环形成率、淋巴细胞转化率(LTT)随日龄增长而呈线性加大的趋势(P<0.05);断奶应激均使Et、LTT(PHA)、LTT(LPS)降低(P<0.05)。断奶日龄越早,断奶后血液LTT(PHA、LPS)下降的幅度越大,其中14日龄断奶后1～3周、21、28日龄断奶后1周LTT(PHA)显著低于对照组(P<0.05);14日龄断奶后1～4周、21日龄断奶后1～3周、28日龄断奶后1～2周、35日龄断奶后1周LTT(LPS)显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。     

Disodium-fosfomycin pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in post weaning piglets

Disodium-fosfomycin pharmacokinetics has been studied in different species after oral, intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous administration. At present there are neither documented clinical experiences of the use of fosfomycin in pigs nor any published studies in weaning piglets, although it is a period of high incidence of infectious diseases. The pharmacokinetics and the bioavailability of sodium fosfomycin were studied in post weaning piglets after intravenous and intramuscular administration of 15 mg/kg of body weight. Plasma concentrations were measured by a high-performance liquid ms/ms. After IV administration the area under the fosfomycin concentration:time curve in plasma was AUC_(0–12) of 120.00 ± 23.12 μg h/ml and the volume of distribution (Vd) of 273.00 ± 40.70 ml/kg. The elimination was rapid with a plasma clearance of 131.50 ± 30.07 ml/kg/h and a T_1/2 of 1.54 ± 0.40 h. Peak serum concentration (C_max), T_max, AUC_(0–12) and bioavailability for the IM administration were 43.00 ± 4.10 μg/ml, 0.75 ± 0.00 h, 99.00 ± 0.70 μg h/ml and 85.5 ± 9.90% respectively. Different authors have determined a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC₉₀) ranging from 0.25 μg/ml for Streptococcus sp. and 0.5 μg/ml for Escherichia coli. Considering the above, and according to the values of plasma concentration vs time profiles observed in this study, effective plasma concentrations of fosfomycin for sensitive bacteria can be obtained following IV and IM administration of 15 mg/kg in piglets.     

Active oral immunization of suckling piglets to prevent colonization after weaning by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli with fimbriae F18

Immunoprophylaxis of porcine oedema disease and post-weaning diarrhoea caused by strains of Escherichia coli expressing fimbriae F18 is an unsolved problem. The study was designed to examine whether vaccination with a live F18ac vaccine of unweaned pigs born to sows with F18ac antibody in the colostrum requires preformed fimbriae in the vaccine, and whether protection against the heterologous fimbrial variant F18ab is induced as well. Genetically susceptible pigs were vaccinated orally on three consecutive days, beginning 10 days before weaning with 10(11) CFU of an F18ac culture. Challenge with a dose of 10(7) CFU of E. coli F18 on three consecutive days was initiated 9 or 11 days after weaning. Eighteen pigs given the fimbriated F18ac vaccine and challenged with a strain of the homologous fimbrial variant were protected against colonization; mean faecal viable counts of the challenge strain were >3 log10 lower than those from the 17 non-vaccinated control pigs. The vaccinated pigs developed a significant rise of F18ac IgA serum antibodies. The 23 pigs which had received the non-fimbriated vaccine showed no significant protection and exhibited much lower serum F18ac IgA ELISA reactivities. Eighteen pigs vaccinated with the fimbriated F18ac and challenged with an F18ab strain had faecal viable counts nearly as high as those from 16 non-vaccinated control pigs. It is concluded that only oral vaccines having preformed fimbriae induce protection limited to the homologous fimbrial variant.     

Intestinal growth and morphology is associated with the increase in heat shock protein 70 expression in weaning piglets through supplementation with glutamine

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of oral Gln supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and expression of heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 in weaning piglets. A total of 65 piglets after weaning at 21 d of age (d 0) were used in this experiment. Five piglets were randomly selected and euthanized initially at d 0 to determine baseline values for the expression of Hsp70 in the small intestine. The remaining piglets were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments and received 0 or 1 g of oral Gln/kg of BW every 12 h. After piglets were humanely killed at d 3, 7, and 14 postweaning, the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of piglets were sampled to evaluate intestinal morphology and the expression and localization of Hsp70. The results indicated that oral Gln supplementation increased plasma concentrations of Gln compared with those in control piglets (P < 0.05). Average daily gain and ADFI were greater in piglets orally supplemented with Gln than in control piglets during the whole period (P < 0.05). The incidence of diarrhea in piglets orally supplemented with Gln was 24% less than (P = 0.064) that in control piglets at 8 to 14 d after weaning. The weights of the jejunum and ileum were greater in piglets orally supplemented with Gln compared with those of control piglets relative to BW on d 14 postweaning (P < 0.05). The villus height and the villus height:crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and the ileum were greater in piglets receiving oral Gln on d 14 postweaning (P < 0.05) than in control piglets. These results indicate that Gln supplementation can influence the intestinal morphology of weaned piglets. The expression of hsp70 mRNA and Hsp70 proteins in the duodenum and jejunum was greater in piglets supplemented with Gln than in control piglets (P < 0.05). However, Gln supplementation had no effect on the expression of hsp70 mRNA and Hsp70 proteins in the ileum. Moreover, the localization of Hsp70 in the cytoplasm indicated that Hsp70 has a cytoprotective role in epithelial cell function and structure. These results indicate that Gln supplementation may be beneficial for intestinal health and development and may thus mitigate diarrhea and improve growth performance. The protective mechanisms of Gln in the intestine may be associated with the increase in Hsp70 expression.     

Characterization of Leptospira infection in suckling and weaning rat pups

Rats are known to be the most important reservoirs of Leptospira spp. However, the leptospiral dose and age at which rats become resistant to Leptospira infection are not yet well elucidated. Aimed to characterize leptospirosis in rat pups, we found that suckling pups (4-, 7-, and 14-day old) are susceptible to leptospires and resistance starts from the weaning age (23-day old). Susceptibility of rat pups was also affected by the infecting dose of the organisms. Jaundice, decrease in body weight, and neurological symptoms prior to moribundity was evident in infected suckling pups. However, 23-day-old infected pups did not manifest any pathological changes and were able to survive the infection similar to adult rats. Based on these results, we propose the suckling rat pup as a novel animal model of human leptospirosis to investigate pathogenesis, development of host resistance, and the mechanisms involved in rats becoming maintenance hosts for leptospires.     

Occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in suckling piglets in Norway

Faecal samples from 684 litters of suckling piglets from 100 indoor swine herds from all regions of Norway were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, using sucrose gradient flotation concentration and immunofluorescent staining. Thirty-one (31%) herds and 57 (8.3%) litters tested positive for Cryptosporidium, while 10 (1.5%) litters in 10 different herds (10%) tested positive for Giardia. Molecular characterisation of nine Cryptosporidium isolates demonstrated both C. suis and Cryptosporidium sp. pig genotype II. There was significantly more diarrhoea among the Cryptosporidium positive piglets than among the Cryptosporidium negative piglets. Diarrhoea was not observed amongst litters in which Cryptosporidium sp. pig genotype II was found. There was a significant difference in the Cryptosporidium prevalence between litters from different geographical areas of Norway. This study demonstrates that both Cryptosporidium (C. suis and Cryptosporidium sp. pig genotype II) and Giardia infections are prevalent among suckling piglets in Norway.