Thin sow syndrome (TSS): the effect of amperozide

Sixty sows suffering from typical post-weaning TSS were divided into three groups: (1) 20 as negative controls (NC); (2) 20 as positive controls (PC) treated with vitamins, trace elements and antibiotics; and (3) 20 injected with amperozide (2 mg/kg body weight), a new neuroleptic compound with antistress and anxiolytic properties. Amperozide treated sows fully recovered (P less than 0.05) and 80% became pregnant, while figures for the PC and NC groups were only 15% and 10% respectively. Mortality was up to 50% in the NC, 40% in the PC and only 15% in the amperozide treated group (P less than 0.05). These field results warrant further studies in unravelling the aetiology and prevention of this condition.     

Influence of amperozide on disease occurrence in a pig fattening unit

The social and physical environments of animals and man have long been implicated in the etiology of infectious diseases. However, controlled experiments on adverse social and environmental stimuli and animal health are meagre (Kelley 1980). Recently the term psychoimmunology was coined to reflect the growing interest in the relationship between stress, reduced immune function and illness. For more than a decade it has been known that prolonged secretion of stress hormones, particularly corticosteroids, contributes to regression of the lymphoid tissues (Selye 1974, Freeman 1975). Now it has been shown more specifically, that the level of secretory immunoglobulin A is reduced in periods of high stress and that the activity of lymphocytes and natural killer cells are significantly reduced after intense stress periods (Wood 1985). Although the relationship between stress and immunity thus seems to be clear, studies linking those to disease are still a rarity.     

猪断奶后全身性消瘦综合征

猪作为人类最古老的伙伴之一 ,对影响其健康的疾病 ,人们投入了极大的关注 ,尤其是那些显而易见的制约养猪业发展的猪病 ,并在控制这些疾病中取得了一定的进展。在控制了这些急性重性传染病之后 ,有些慢性疾病便会显现出来 ,并将成为我们的主要对手。它们对养猪业的危害会愈来愈突出 ,使得人类不得不正视它们 ,如猪流感(ＳＩＶ)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征 (ＰＲＲＳ)、猪断奶后多系统消瘦综合征 (ＰＭＷＳ)和猪肾病综合症 (ＰＮＤＳ)等。这些病源均引起猪体的慢性消耗。其中ＰＭＷＳ是近年来倍受重视的一种在世界各地广泛存在的慢性疾病。猪断奶…     

Asymmetric hindquarter syndrome (AHQS) in the pig.

Outbreaks of the asymmetric hindquarter syndrome (AHQS) in two pig herds are reported together with the results of test matings and dissection studies on affected pigs. The condition (apparently identical with that described in Germany in 1967), is characterised by a variable asymmetry of the hindquarters and particularly of individual muscles of the posterior, lateral and medial aspects of the thigh. It does not noticeably interfere with locomotion but can adversely affect carcase conformation and may detract from the usefulness of carcase dissection studies as a basis for genetic selection. AHQS has a familial incidence and is usually first detected clinically after weaning. A variety of degenerative and dystrophic changes have been seen in the muscles of AHQS pigs but these are not constantly present in nor confined to 'undersized' muscles. The precise aetiology of AHQS is still unresolved but it is concluded that it probably occurs post-natally and that some pigs have a genetic liability to develop the condition.     

Sterilitätsprophylaxe bei Bullenmüttern (Milchprogesteronwerte — Besamungsergebnisse)

Inhalt: Im Rahmen eines zuchthygienischen Pilotprogrammes ("Bullenmütterpaß") wurde von 1978 bis 1980 bei 638 Kühen der oberfränkischen Fleckviehpopulation, die für die gezielte Paarung vorgeschlagen waren, eine systematische gynäkologische Untersuchung zwischen der vierten und siebenten Woche, durchschnittlich 33,3 Tage p.p. durchgeführt. Nur 14,2% der erstuntersuchten Kühe zeigten am Uterus Veränderungen verschiedenen Grades; 85,8% hatten grobmorphologisch eine beendete Uterusinvolution. Bei 2,7% der Tiere konnten am Ovar keine Funktionsgebilde (Azyklie) festgestellt werden, während 97,3% der Tiere verschiedene Funktionsgebilde zeigten, wie z.B. 12,4% Ovarzysten. Nur 2,0 % der untersuchten Tiere hatten vaginoskopisch nachweisbare Endometritiden bzw. Cervicitiden. Kühe, die zwischen dem 42. und 60. Tag nach der Erstuntersuchung keine Brunst zeigten, wurden zwischen der achten und elf-ten Woche durchschnittlich am 67. Tag p.p. gynäkologisch nachuntersucht. Zur Absicherung der Brunst und der klinischen Befunde am Ovar war der Milchprogesterontest (MPT) obligatorisch vorgeschrieben. Ein weiteres Ziel war, mit Hilfe der MPT-Werte (0/5) Rückschlüsse auf den Befruchtungserfolg bzw. den Besamungszeitpunkt zu ziehen und die Ergebnisse mit den vorhandenen Literaturangaben zu diskutieren. Aus den Erhebungen geht hervor, daß die Aussicht auf einc Konzeption gut ist, falls die Progesteronwerte anläßlich der künstlichen Besamung im Bereich von 0,15 ng liegen; Kühe nit höheren Werten wurden wahrscheinlich zu früh oder zu spät besamt. Der MPT hat sich im Rahmen eines überregionalen Zuchthygieneprogramms sehr gut bewährt.     

Spatial and temporal patterns of pig herds diagnosed with Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) during the first two years of its occurrence in Denmark

The clinical syndrome Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in pigs has emerged globally during the last decade. In October 2001, the first pig herd diagnosed with PMWS was reported in Denmark, and since then the number of herds diagnosed with PMWS has increased markedly. The etiology of PMWS is not well understood, but increased knowledge of the causal factors is prerequisite for applying preventive interventions. In this study we described the temporal (time of diagnosis), spatial (location of herds) and spatio-temporal pattern of Danish pig herds diagnosed with PMWS during the first two years after the first herd was diagnosed, and we tested for spatial and spatio-temporal clustering using scan statistics. The study population consisted of pig herds that during the study period (October 2001-September 2003) performed diagnostic submissions to the two major veterinary diagnostic laboratories in Denmark (6724 herds). Of these, 277 herds were diagnosed with PMWS. Two statistically significant spatial clusters of herds diagnosed with PMWS were identified. These clusters included 11% and 8% of the study herds, respectively. Within these two clusters the relative risk for a herd to be diagnosed with PMWS was twice as high as expected. One statistically significant spatio-temporal cluster was identified between February and May 2002. We discuss different hypotheses that could explain why pig herds diagnosed with PMWS were clustered both spatially and spatio-temporally, and conclude that the results support the hypothesis that PMWS is caused by introduction of a new, unidentified, pathogen into the Danish pig production.     

Efficacy of ceftiofur and flunixin in the early treatment of bronchopneumonia in weaners

Three groups of five pigs were inoculated intratracheally with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharides, and 24 hours later with 10 x 10(9) colony-forming units of a non-toxigenic strain of Pasteurella multocida type A; a fourth group was left uninoculated as controls. The three inoculated groups received either no treatment (positive controls), or were treated with 3 mg/kg ceftiofur intramuscularly once a day for five consecutive days, either alone or combined with 2 mg/kg flunixin intramuscularly once a day for three consecutive days. The sustained coughing and hyperthermia recorded in the positive controls disappeared after two days and three days of treatments, respectively, in the treated animals, and the reductions in daily weight gain and changes in breathing pattern observed in the controls were not observed in the treated animals. There were no significant differences between the pigs treated with ceftiofur alone or ceftiofur combined with flunixin. In the positive controls, the number of inflammatory cells in samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid continued to increase up to 15 days after inoculation, whereas in the treated animals there were similar increases at six days but the numbers had decreased to baseline levels after 15 days. Similarly, in the treated animals the volume of the lung lesions was significantly less than in the control animals, but the inclusion of flunixin in the treatment regimen had no significant additional effect.     

Spontaneous oesophageal rupture in a dog — a Boerhaave-like syndrome

A six-year-old dobermann pinscher sustained a spontaneous rupture of the cervical oesophagus following severe tenesmus as a postoperative complication of abdominal surgery. The clinical and histopathological features of this case are described. Since this condition does not appear to have been reported to date in the dog the literature describing this condition in man is briefly reviewed.     

Body wall defects and amniotic band syndrome in pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

The amniotic band syndrome is a congenital condition. It is characterized by the presence of fibrous amniotic bands that may entangle or entrap different foetal parts in utero, resulting in deformation, malformation or disruption. We report on a female piglet presenting amniotic band adherences in the right abdominal flank, several body wall defects (gastroschisis, abdominoschisis with omphalocele), severe scoliosis, anomalous umbilical cord with single umbilical artery, anal atresia, anomalous liver and absent gall bladder, hypoplastic genitalia, ankylosis and arthrogryposis in pelvic limbs, and bilateral patellar agenesia. The ethiopatogenia is discussed, as well as the comparative and embryological implications.     

免疫刺激商品断奶仔猪复制多系统衰竭综合征(PMWS)

猪圆环病毒2型（PCV2）是引起PMWS的必需病原,与其他病原混合感染或受到外界刺激时表现PMWS临床症状。本试验将16头商品化断奶仔猪（32日龄）随机分为4组（每组4头）,即对照组、钥匙孔血蓝蛋白刺激组、PCV2攻毒组和PCV2攻毒后钥匙孔血蓝蛋白刺激组,用上海某猪场分离株PCV2-SH、钥匙孔血蓝蛋白（KLH）反复刺激断奶仔猪以复制PMWS。其中对照组、钥匙孔血蓝蛋白刺激组未出现症状;PCV2攻毒组症状较轻,出现增重缓慢,伴有短暂的体温升高;而PCV2攻毒后钥匙孔血蓝蛋白刺激组出现明显的临床症状,2头猪在攻毒后第11天濒临死亡,其中1头在第12天死亡,攻毒猪宰杀后脏器出现明显的病理变化。PCV2攻毒组和PCV2攻毒后钥匙孔血蓝蛋白刺激组于攻毒后第4天出现病毒血症,宰杀后肺脏、淋巴结均检测到PCV2的DNA。以上结果说明,PCV2-SH感染结合免疫刺激可以引起商品化仔猪发生PMWS,为PCV2致病机理和免疫学研究提供了动物发病模型。     

An outbreak of blue-eared pig disease (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) in four pig herds in Great Britain.

The clinical syndrome of a new disease of pigs in four herds in the Humberside area is described. The first signs of the disease were anorexia, lethargy and pyrexia with up to 60 per cent of the dry sows affected. These signs were followed by an increased incidence of abortions which occurred in up to 3.3 per cent of sows, premature farrowings in up to 20.6 per cent of sows and stillbirths and late mummification which affected up to 26.0 and 18.8 per cent of fetuses, respectively. Mortality in neonatal and pre-weaning pigs reached up to 88 per cent and respiratory disease of high morbidity and low mortality occurred in fattening pigs. There were infertility problems in sows, with an increase in returns to service and a failure to show oestrus after weaning or aborting. The signs of the disease in boars were anorexia and malaise. Cyanosis of the extremities affected up to 2 per cent of the animals. The outbreak lasted 11 weeks in all the herds.     

Use of register data to assess the association between use of antimicrobials and outbreak of Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in Danish pig herds

In 2001, the first case of Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) was reported in the Danish pig population. During subsequent years, the number of affected farms increased exponentially. The aim of this study was to determine how this increase influenced the use of antimicrobials between 2002 and 2004. We used national register data of herd characteristics, antimicrobial usage and disease occurrence. The analysis included data on antimicrobial usage in 3371 pig herds with weaners and 7434 pig herds with finishers, which accounted for 56 and 82% of the national amount of antimicrobials prescribed to weaners (prescribed by 347 practitioners) and finishers (prescribed by 522 practitioners), respectively.The estimation of the effect of PMWS was done by comparing the amount of antimicrobials (measured as Animal Defined Daily Doses (ADDkg) used per pig-day at risk each month in each herd) used in herds before and after an outbreak of PMWS, and by comparing the amount of antimicrobials used in herds experiencing PMWS with the amount of antimicrobials used in herds not experiencing PMWS. The effects were estimated in a three-level (veterinarian/herd/study-month) linear mixed regression model with an autoregressive correlation of order 1 (AR1).We found that after a herd had experienced an outbreak of PMWS, the antimicrobial usage in weaners was increased for a year. During the first 3 months post outbreak the usage increased by 22%, followed by an increase of 7% during the next 4th to 12th month when compared to the pre-outbreak usage. There was a significant variation between herds in this effect. Additionally, in herds experiencing an outbreak of PMWS, the usage of antimicrobials before the outbreak was 37 and 19% higher in herds with weaners and finishers, respectively, compared to herds not experiencing PMWS.Generalisation of the results to the entire Danish pig population indicated that the increase of PMWS infected herds from almost zero to about 20% during a 4-year period resulted in a national increase of 4–5% in antimicrobials usage in weaners. The effect of PMWS on usage of antimicrobials in finishers was unclear.     

Caesarean section in the Java monkey (Macaca irus)—a case report

A case of Caesarean section in the Java monkey (Macaca irus) carried out under ketamine chloride anaesthesia, is described. Approach to the foetus was made through the linea alba and a longitudinal incision in the uterine body. Comparative uterine and placental anatomy of significance for evaluating operative technique is described.     

Immunohistochemical characterisation of the lymph node reaction in pig post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS)

The goal of this study was to identify a strain of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) that would be more virulent for adult cats than the prototype FIV-APetaluma and, thereby, enhance the FIV infection model for HIV-1 related research. Diehl et al. reported that one clade C strain of FIV, FIV-CPGammar, was more virulent than other known FIV isolates. Mortalities from 58 to 100% were reported for kittens 12 weeks of age and less following intravenous inoculation. A more variable and somewhat less virulent disease course was observed in neonatal to 8-10-week-old kittens infected orally, intravaginally or intrarectally with this same isolate (Obert and Hoover, 2000). However, no studies have been done with FIV-CPGammar in adult cats. Therefore, the virulence of FIV-CPGammar for young adult cats was compared to that of FIV-APetalulma, the original FIV isolate. One group of five cats were inoculated intraperitoneally with 470 TCID(50) of FIV-CPGammar in the form of pooled plasma from acutely infected cats, while a second group was infected with plasma containing the 750 TCID50 of FIV-APetaluma. The cats were observed for 20 weeks for gross signs of disease, hematologic abnormalities, time of antibody appearance, and plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) associated virus levels. Viral RNA and proviral DNA were measured by a real-time PCR, sensitive to 50 copies per milliliter. The only outward sign of disease was lymphadenopathy, which occurred at a similar time and intensity in both groups of cats. Cats infected with FIV-CPGammar were more likely to be neutropenic and lymphopenic during the first 10-12 weeks of infection than cats infected with FIV-APetaluma. Both groups of cats showed similar overall declines in absolute mean CD4 cell counts and identical concomitant increases in CD8 cells. CD4/CD8 cell ratios were also similar. Antibody, as measured by an ELISA against recombinant FIV-TM antigen, appeared in all cats by 4 weeks post-infection. The most significant differences were in plasma viral RNA and PBMC proviral DNA levels. Cats infected with FIV-CPGammar had up to 100 times higher mean levels of viral RNA during the first few weeks of infection than cats infected with FIV-APetaluma. This difference was also mirrored in levels of proviral DNA in PBMC, which were significantly higher in the FIV-CPGammar infected cats. Plasma viral RNA and PBMC proviral DNA levels were virtually identical in both groups of cats at 20 weeks post-infection. However, proviral DNA in tissues such as thymus and popliteal lymph nodes was 10-fold or so higher in FIV-CPGammar infected cats at 20 weeks and histopathologic lesions were more severe. Based on these various parameters, we concluded that FIV-CPGammar was more virulent than FIV-APetaluma in young adult cats during the 20-week study period. However, we were not able to recreate the severe and rapidly progressive disease previously reported for kittens, suggesting an age-related resistance similar to that observed previously for FIV-APetaluma (George et al., 1993).     

Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act, 1954—I. Legal Aspects

Abstract— The paper deals briefly with the historical development of the Act, the operative part of the Act itself, which clearly gives the maximum possible protection to those animals to which it applies, and particularly with the power of the appropriate Ministers to amend the Schedule to the Act, the content of which is to some extent a matter of compromise having regard to the practical necessity of striking a proper balance between the various interests concerned.
Résumé— L'article traite briévement du développement historique du Décret, de la clause essentielle du Décret qui offre le maximum possible de protection aux animaux qu'il concerne, et surtout des droits des différents Ministéres de modifier L'annexe du Décret, dont le contenu constitue en quelque sorte un compromis en faveur de la nécessité pratique d'établir un équilibre equitable entre les différents intérets concernés.
Zusammenfassung— Die Arbeit befasst sich kurz mit der geschichtlichen Entwicklung des Gesetzes, dem gültigen Teil des Gesetzes selbst, der deutlich denjenigen Tieren, auf die es sich bezieht, den grösstmöglichen Schutz bietet, und besonders mit der Machtbefugnis der betreffenden Minister, die Ausführungsbestimmungen zu dem Gesetz zu ändern, dessen Inhalt in gewissem Masse eine Sadie des Kompromisses ist in anbetracht der praktischen Notwendigkeit, zwischen den verschie-denen Interessen die richtige Mitte zu finden.     

Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act, 1954—II. Veterinary Aspects

Abstract— The need for an amended Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1919 and the decision to promote such an amending bill together with the steps taken to gain sympathy for, and to organize the promotion of such a bill in Parliament is reviewed. The Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954, its advantages and drawbacks from the veterinary point of view and the need for further revision and ways to achieve this object are discussed.
Résumé— Sont passés en revue la nécessité de modifier le Décret de 1919 se rapportant à la protection des animaux (Anesthésie des animaux), la décision d'appuyer un tel projet de loi et les moyens de propagande en faveur de ce projet arm de la présenter au Parlement. Le Décret de 1954 pour la protection des animaux (Anesthésie des animaux), ses avantages et désavantages du point de vue vétérinaire, la nécessité de le modifier davantage, ainsi que les moyens d'atteindre ce but sont discut&.
Zusammenfassung— Es wird die Notwendigkeit fur eine Änderung des Gesetzes zur Betäubung der Tiere von 1919 und die Entscheidung, einen solchen Änderungsvorschlag des Gesetzes vorwärts-zutreiben erörtert, sowie die Massnahmen, die getroffen worden sind, um für ein solches Gesetz im Parlament Verständnis zu wecken und den Gesetzesentwurf vorzubereiten. Es wird über das Gesetz zum Schutz der Tiere und ihre Betäubung von 1954, seine Vorteile und Nachteile vom Standpunkt des Tierarztes aus diskutiert, sowie über die Notwendigkeit fur eine weitere Revision und Wege zur Erreichung dieses Zweckes.     

New pig disease in Hungary: postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome caused by circovirus (short communication)

Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), a new disease in Hungary, was recognized in a swine herd located in Southeast Hungary, during the early winter of 1999. The first clinical signs of paleness, anaemia, and leanness appeared immediately after weaning, at the age of 40-50 days. Pustules were frequently observed on the skin of the trunk, and signs of necrotic dermatitis were also visible. A syndrome of poor growth and wasting was characteristic of the affected pigs. A porcine circovirus (PCV), the suspected causative agent, was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequencing data and restriction endonuclease (RE) analysis of the PCR products suggested that the virus belonged to the PCV-II group where all the causative agents of PMWS are also grouped.