Prevalence and risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium oocysts shedding in pigs in Central Vietnam

We investigated the prevalence and risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium oocysts shedding in pigs in Central Vietnam. A total of 740 single fecal samples collected from diarrheic and non-diarrheic pigs on 89 farms were screened by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. Prevalence at the animal and the farm levels were 18.1% (134/740) and 71.9% (64/89), respectively. Risk factors for the infection were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results revealed that age, sanitary condition and topography were significantly associated with oocyst shedding (P<0.05). Pre-weaned piglets were at the highest risk for infection, followed by post-weaners, sows and finishing pigs. Good sanitary conditions showed positive effects in decreasing oocysts shedding. Topographically, Cryptosporidium was more common in mountainous zone than that in coastal delta zone. There was an association between the occurrence of diarrhea and the level of Cryptosporidium oocyst excretion within infected pigs. This is the first epidemiological investigation of prevalence and risk factors of Cryptosporidium in pigs in Vietnam.     

Prevalence and risk factors associated with intestinal parasites in pigs in Chongqing, China

From 2007 to 2009, the prevalence of intestinal parasites was investigated in intensive and extensive pig farms in Chongqing, China. A total of 2971 samples from both sexes and five age categories (breeding boars, breeding sows, fatteners, growers and weaners) were evaluated by standard methods for the presence of helminth ova and protozoan oocysts, cysts and/or trophozoites. Of the 2971 pigs sampled, 362(12.18%) were infected with Ascaris suum, 301(10.13%) with Trichuris suis, 301(10.13%) with Oesophagostomum spp., 491(16.53%) with Eimeria spp., 149(5.02%) with Isopora suis, 677(22.79%) with Balantidium coli and 196(6.60%) with Cryptosporidium spp. Growers had the highest infection rate while breeding boars had the lowest among the five age categories. B. coli was the most common protozoan in all pig age groups. Pigs infected with multiple parasites were common. Risk factors such as management methods, seasons, ages, etc. can influence the infection rate to a certain degree. This investigation provides relevant data about risk factors for pig farmers, thus allowing them to make more appropriate antiparasitic treatments according to farm conditions and local climate in Chongqing.     

A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and associated risk factors for bursitis in weaner, grower and finisher pigs from 93 commercial farms in England

A cross-sectional study of 93 farms in England was carried out to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors for bursitis. A total of 6250 pigs aged 6–22 weeks were examined for presence and severity of bursitis. Details of pen construction, pen quality and farm management were recorded including floor type, presence of bedding, condition of the floor and floor materials. The prevalence of bursitis was 41.2% and increased with each week of age (OR 1.1). Two-level logistic regression models were developed with the outcome as the proportion of pigs affected with bursitis in a pen. Pigs kept on soil floors with straw bedding were used as the reference level. In comparison with these soil floors, bursitis increased on concrete floors where the bedding was deep throughout (OR 4.6), deep in part (OR 3.7), and sparse throughout (OR 9.0), part slatted floors (OR 8.0), and fully slatted floors (OR 18.8). Slip or skid marks in the dunging area (OR 1.5), pigs observed slipping during the examination of the pen (OR 1.3) and wet floors (OR 3.6) were also associated with an increased risk of bursitis. The results indicate that bursitis is a common condition of growing pigs and that the associated risk factors for bursitis were a lack of bedding in the lying area, presence of voids and pen conditions which increased the likelihood of injury.     

低蛋白日粮对生长猪及育肥猪的影响

选取初始体重为25kg的杜×大×长三元健康生长猪176头及初始体重为50kg的杜×大×长三元健康育肥猪144头。采用单因子设计,分为对照组和试验组;对照组中日粮按照NRC（1998）营养需要量推荐配制,试验组在NRC推荐的日粮粗蛋白质水平上降低4个百分点探讨低蛋白质日粮对生长猪和育肥猪生长性能的影响。结果表明：生长猪试验组日增重比对照组增加了46g,提高幅度为6．82％：料肉比比对照组低10．96％：增重成本节约0．89元／kg体重。育肥猪试验1组日增重较高．比对照组增加23g．提高幅度为3．09％。试验2组与对照组日增重相当;试验1组、试验2组料肉比分别比对照组降低1．15％和3．2％;试验1组、试验2组增重成本分别比对照组节约0．44元／kg体重和0．49元／kg体重;试验组瘦肉率与对照组相比没有显著差异。从各指标的趋势上看．试验组的生长表现和经济效益均优于对照组．     

A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and associated risk factors for capped hock and the associations with bursitis in weaner, grower and finisher pigs from 93 commercial farms in England

The prevalence of capped hock in 5601 post-weaning pigs from 93 pig farms in England was 17.2%. The prevalence increased with age. Once adjusted for age, the lowest prevalence of capped hock was observed in pigs kept on soil floors (usually covered with deep straw bedding). There was no significant increase in the risk of capped hock in pigs kept on solid concrete floors with deep straw bedding. However, pigs kept on solid concrete with some, or the entire pen, sparsely bedded and pigs kept on partially or fully slatted floors had an approximately threefold increased risk of capped hock. This did not vary significantly between these four floor types. This was in contrast to the associated risks for bursitis in the same pigs, where as the floor went from highly resilient (straw and solid floors) to hard and perforated (fully slatted) the risk of bursitis increased in a similar way to a dose response. No other variables that were measured were associated with a change in risk for capped hock, while observation of pigs slipping or slip marks and wet, dirty and worn pens were also associated risks for bursitis. These results indicate that capped hock and bursitis are both affected by exposure to floors, but in different ways. The prevalence of capped hock was associated only with floor hardness, with deep straw protecting the pigs, while bursitis was associated with both changes in bedding depth (hardness), floor material (soil versus concrete) and floor construction (solid versus slatted floors) and in factors associated with locomotion (slipping and slip marks). These results indicate that the aetiology of capped hock and bursitis might differ.     

生长肥育猪可消化色氨酸需求参数研究

色氨酸（Trp）往往是猪饲粮的第二或第三限制性氨基酸,Trp不足可影响5-羟色胺的代谢,降低猪的生产性能。国外饲养标准对猪Trp的推荐量差异很大,而且大部分没有可消化的需求参数。中国瘦肉型猪饲养标准（1987）未列出Trp需要量的数据,我国至今也未有对生长-肥育猪Trp需求参数的研究报道。本试验旨在研究饲粮色氨酸水平对生长-肥育猪生产性能和血清尿素氮浓度的影响,以探讨生长-肥育猪可消化Trp的需求参数。     

Prevalence and associated risk factors of mycobacterial infections in slaughter pigs from Mubende district in Uganda

To date, the public health relevance of mycobacterial infections in pigs is not well investigated despite high risk of infection. Recently, there has been a documented increase in opportunistic infections and risk of acquiring opportunistic mycobacterial infections in HIV/AIDS patients in Mubende district; unfortunately, there has been no published information on the epidemiology of mycobacterial infections in this area. This study was carried out between September 2008 and February 2009. Investigations were done to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of mycobacterial infections in slaughtered pigs in Mubende district of Uganda. A total of 997 pigs (53.7% male and 46.3% female) from 31 different slaughterhouses were examined for the presence of lesions compatible with TB and mycobacterial infections. Pathologic tissue specimens were collected for culturing and isolation of mycobacteria. A cross-sectional technique was used based on convenient visits to slaughterhouses but random selection of individual slaughtered pigs for a detailed post-mortem inspection on a daily basis. The results reflected a 9.3% and 3.1% (95% CI) prevalence of Mycobacterium species based on necropsy examinations and culture isolation, respectively. The highest prevalence of mycobacterial infection was recorded in Buwekula County (the mixed agro-zone) whilst the lowest was in Kassanda County (pastoral zone). A multivariable logistical regression analysis identified age (P ≤ 0.001) and sex (P ≤ 0.05) as risk factors for mycobacterial infections in pigs. Post-estimation statistics of the regression model evaluation and validation fit it well into the data (HL, χ ² = 5.9; P = 0.69 for necropsy, HL χ ² = 2.9; P = 0.94 for culturing). This study documented a high prevalence of mycobacterial infections in slaughter pigs in Mubende district. The fact that pigs and human often share common housing and environment poses a high risk of zoonotic transmission. This then warrants further molecular investigation to identify the specific Mycobacterium species and their public health importance in this area.     

西南地区主要杂交组合生长育肥猪氨基酸需要模型研究

以西南地区主要杂交组合长×荣和杜×长×大生长肥育猪为研究对象,在充分饲养条件下,测定了20～35kg、35～50kg、50～80kg、80～100kg阶段胴体无脂瘦肉沉积速度,建立了真可消化赖氨酸需要模型,据此模型预测了氨基酸需要量。结果表明:①长×荣杂交猪真可消化赖氨酸需要模型Y(mg/d)=8665.41-183.3BW+7.7788BW2-0.0612BW3+36BW0.7(5公母间差异很小)。②杜×长×大杂种猪真可消化赖氨酸需要模型为:公猪Y(mg/d)=8951+184.5BW-1.25BW2+36BW0.75,母猪Y(mg/d)=9330+175.4BW-1.43BW2+36BW0.75。③长×荣杂交猪20~50kg、50~80kg和80~100kg阶段真可消化赖氨酸需要量分别为9.67、13.63和11.61g/d,总赖氨酸需要量分别为11.0、15.5和13.0g/d。④杜×长×大杂交猪相应体重阶段的真可消化赖氨酸需要量分别为14.32、16.01和14.39g/d,总赖氨酸需要量分别为15.75、17.60和16.37g/d。⑤20~50kg、50~80kg和80~100kg阶段真可消化赖氨酸需要量长×荣较杜×长×大相应低48.1%、17.5%和23.9%。     

Prevalence of selected enteropathogenic bacteria in Hungarian finishing pigs

The aim of this study was to obtain prevalence estimates about the most important enteropathogenic bacteria: Lawsonia intracellularis, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Brachyspira pilosicoli, Salmonella enterica and Clostridium perfringens A and C in Hungarian farrow-to-finish pig herds. A total of 31 herds were selected, from where six pooled faecal samples, each containing three individual rectal faecal samples were collected from fattening pigs of 5-6 months of age. All 186 samples were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of the pathogens mentioned above. Lawsonia intracellularis was found in 29 herds (93.55%) and in 108 samples (58.06%); B. hyodysenteriae in 14 herds (45.16%) and in 23 samples (12.37%); B. pilosicoli in 19 herds (61.29%) and in 53 samples (28.49%); S. enterica in 17 herds (54.83%) and in 40 samples (21.50%). We detected the presence of C. perfringens A in 19 herds (61.29%) and in 46 samples (24.73%), while C. perfringens C was found in 8 herds (25.81%) and in 11 samples (5.91%). All examined herds were infected with one or more of these agents. Herds with diarrhoea in the mid- to late finishing phase had almost 10 times higher prevalence of B. hyodysenteriae than herds without such a history.     

Requirement of true ileal digestible threonine of growing and finishing pigs

Ninety-six crossbred barrows and gilts were used to investigate the optimum supply of true ileal digestible threonine for growing (approximately 35-65 kg body weight) and finishing (approximately 65-110 kg body weight) pigs. For this purpose, according to a bifactorial arrangement in the grower as well as in the finisher phase four dietary threonine levels were combined with two dietary levels of lysine. Measurement criteria were body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion rate and carcass characteristics. In the grower stage at the lower lysine level daily gain increased numerically (p < 0.1) and the feed to gain ratio decreased significantly with an increasing dietary true ileal digestible threonine concentration. Increasing the true ileal digestible lysine concentration of the diet from 7.8 to 9.2 g/kg increased average daily gain in the grower stage significantly from 815 to 855 g and decreased the feed to gain ratio significantly. In finishing pigs, daily gain and feed to gain ratio were significantly improved by an increasing dietary true ileal digestible threonine concentration from 821 to 902 g and from 3.14 to 2.94 kg/kg, respectively, but not by the differing lysine supply. As in the grower stage, barrows consumed more feed than gilts at similar growth rates and this resulted in a significantly reduced feed to gain ratio in gilts compared with barrows. The requirements of true ileal digestible threonine for optimize both, daily gain and feed to gain ratio, as derived by the broken-line model were 10.3 g/animal and day for growing and 10.7 g/animal and day for finishing pigs respectively.     

水飞蓟复合饲料对猪生长性能及日粮养分消化率的影响

选择36只平均重25kg左右的杜×长×大三元杂交猪,按体重和性别随机分为2组,每组3个重复,每个重复6只。在试验组中应用水飞蓟药物残渣作为其主要饲料成分,并添加中草药复合制剂,对照组为抗生素组,研究对猪生长性能和饲料利用率的影响。结果表明:水飞蓟组在提高日增重和日粮养分消化率方面与抗生素组没有明显差异,但试验组经济效益明显。     

BGB饲料对生长猪和肥育猪生长性能的影响

本试验旨在评估BGB饲料对生长猪和肥育猪生长性能的影响。试验分两期进行,试验1选用初始体重为19.02±0.04kg的阉公猪72头,随机分为3组。以玉米-豆粕型日粮为基础日粮,对照组添加60mg/kg盐霉素,试验组分别添加5%、10%的BGB饲料。试验期28d,计算日采食量(ADFI)、日增重(ADG)和饲料转化率(FCR)。试验2选用初始体重为57.01±0.6kg的阉公猪54头,试验期35d,试验期日粮处理与饲养管理同试验1。试验1结果表明:处理组与对照组各项测定指标无显著差异(P>0.05),但在饲喂后期,5%BGB添加组的ADG比对照组提高7.8%,饲料转化率改善10.8%。试验2结果表明:处理组与对照组各项测定指标无显著差异(P>0.05),在饲喂后期,5%、10%BGB添加组的ADG分别比对照组改善了10.7%和4.0%。从全期结果来看,处理组的效果要优于对照组,5%BGB添加组效果最好。以上两个试验表明:添加BGB可以达到与添加抗生素相似的生产水平,对生长性能有一定的促进作用,最适添加量为5%。     

Prevalence and risk factors associated with Chlamydophila abortus infection in dairy herds in Jordan

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine seroprevalence and to identify risk factors associated with Chlamydophila abortus infection in 62 nonvaccinated dairy herds (671 cows) in Jordan between January and June 2007. Information regarding herd management was recorded through a personal interview with farmers. Antibodies against C. abortus were detected using an ELISA test kit. Chi-square analysis and multivariable logistic regression model were used to identify risk factors associated with C. abortus seropositivity. The true prevalence of antibodies against C. abortus in individual cows and cattle herds were 19.9?% and 66.3?%, respectively. Univariable Chi-square analysis revealed three variables with P????0.25 that were further offered to multivariable logistic regression analysis. Small-sized herds were identified as a risk factor for seropositivity to C. abortus, while sweeping followed by water hosing and using disinfectants were identified as protective factors. Cows in the age groups of >8 and ??10?years old and >2 and ??6?years old had the highest and lowest significant seroprevalence to C. abortus, respectively. Results of this study indicated that C. abortus is highly prevalent in Jordan's dairy herds and Chlamydophila infection could be controlled by applying strict biosecurity measures in the dairy farms.