Detection of Helicobacter-like Bacteria in Porcine Gastric Biopsy Samples by Amplification of 16S rRNA,ureB, vacA and cagA Genes by PCR

Preliminary evidence for the presence of Helicobacter-like bacteria was sought in 395 porcine gastric samples by a urease test. Of the samples, 37% (146/395) were urease-positive and 82% (82/100) of the Gram-stained urease-positive samples showed large, tightly spiralled organisms. Several methods were applied to culture the organisms but isolation was unsuccessful, contaminant organisms being considered to be one of the major problems. PCR with Helicobacter genus-specific primers for 16S rRNA and ureB genes, and primers for H. pylori vacA and cagA genes were tested with 102 urease-positive biopsy samples. The PCR results showed some evidence for the presence of the urease and the vacA genes in porcine Helicobacter-like bacteria and raises the possibility of pathogenicity by these organisms.     

Neonatal Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 Infection on a Thoroughbred Breeding Farm

Of 17 foals born on a Thoroughbred breeding farm between March and April 1995, infection with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) was associated with neonatal morbidity in 5 foals, 3 of which died or were euthanized. Morbidity and mortality were associated with pulmonary inflammation, and EHV-1 was identified in the lungs of the 3 foals that died. All neonatal EHV-1 infections occurred in foals of mares housed in the same pasture and barn. No other clinical manifestations of EHV-1 infection (eg, abortion, neurologic disease, or respiratory disease) occurred during this outbreak. Three foals were treated with acyclovir (1 died, 2 survived), which may have influenced the clinical outcome in the surviving foals.     

The effect of pig farming on copper and zinc accumulation in cattle in Galicia (north-western Spain)

Copper and zinc are frequently added at high concentrations to pig diets as growth promoters. Livestock grazing pasture contaminated with pig slurry may, therefore, be at risk from excessive intake of these elements. High liver copper concentrations have been detected in cattle from the agricultural region of Galicia (NW Spain), especially where there is intensive pig farming. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pig farming does affect accumulation of copper and zinc in cattle in Galicia. Hepatic copper and zinc concentrations in calves were elevated in areas with naturally high levels of these elements in the soil. The densities of young pigs (piglets and growing-finishing pigs), but not reproductive sows, also influenced copper accumulation in calves. Liver copper levels in calves were significantly and positively related to the density of young pigs in the region. In areas with the highest pig densities, more than 20% of the cattle analysed had hepatic copper concentrations that exceeded the potentially toxic concentration of 150 mg/kg fresh weight. There was no evidence that zinc accumulation in calves was affected by pig density.     

杜湖杂交猪生产性能的测定

以杜洛克为父本、湖北白猪二元配套系为母本所生产的杜湖猪、育肥期平均日增重为７００ｇ,料肉比３．０,屠宰率７３．１％,瘦肉率６５．６％。与原杜湖猪相比,综合生产性能有了很大提高。     

多拉菌素在猪体内的药代动力学

对多拉菌素在猪体内进行为期45d的药代动力学研究。长白×杜洛克杂交猪10头,临床健康,驱净寄生虫,体重36～50kg,以300μg/kg体重剂量分别通过静脉和肌肉注射给药。动物给药后在不同时间内分点经颈静脉采血。血浆样品用乙腈沉淀处理,上清液过C18富集柱,用甲醇提取多拉菌素并进行衍生化反应,以反向HPLC测定猪血清中的药物浓度。药代动力学参数用计算机程序MCPKP进行处理。结果表明,动物经静脉和肌肉注射给药后,血浆药物浓度分别可测至30d和25d,2种途径的药物浓度时间曲线均符合二室开放模型。主要药代动力学参数为:静脉注射T1/2α(1.092±0.66)d,T1/2β(6.11±2.73)d,AUC(274.19±119.89)μg/(L·d);肌肉注射T1/2α(0.056±0.022)d,T1/2β(3.20±1.34)d,AUC(223.51±65.20)μg/(L·d),CMAX(28.99±10.69)μg/L,Tp(1.24±0.87)d。多拉菌素肌肉注射的生物利用度为81.5%。结果显示多拉菌素在猪体内具有吸收分布较迅速、体内分布容积大、消除缓慢和生物利用度相对较高的特点,提示多拉菌素在猪体内作用的长效性主要由该化合物的自身特性所决定,而与给药途径和使用的溶剂关系不大,研究结果对指导临床正确用药具有重要意义。     

以催乳素受体基因作为撒坝猪部分生产性能候选基因的研究

此文运用PCR-RFLP技术检测催乳素受体(PRLR)基因在撒坝猪群体中的多态性分布,并采用最小二乘分析模型初步统计分析基因多态性与部分生产性能的相关性。结果表明,PRLR基因等位基因B及其基因型BB在群体中占优势,频率分别为0.6594和0.4438;PRLR基因在群体中处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态;头胎繁殖性状有利等位基因B对生长性状无不利影响。     

Evaluation of smallholder pig production systems in North Vietnam: Pig production management and pig performances

This study investigated the productive adaptability of pig breeds under different smallholder production conditions in Vietnam, comparing an indigenous with a Vietnamese improved breed. Fieldwork was conducted in four villages with different remoteness in North Vietnam from 2001 to 2002, in 64 households keeping the improved Mong Cai or indigenous Ban as sow breeds and progeny for fattening. Four visits per farm yielded 234 structured interviews. Reproductive performances were derived from 135 litters. Individual weights of pigs (n = 755) were obtained. Data were analysed by regression, linear and generalised linear, especially loglinear models.

Two distinct pig production systems were identified, that differed in remoteness, market access, resource availability, distribution of pig breeds and pig production intensity. Higher performances of 1.4 and 1.5 litters year^− 1, 8.4 and 8.4 piglets weaned litter^− 1, 66.6 and 93.0 kg piglets weaned sow^− 1 year^− 1, and 136 and 177 g day^− 1 ADG were found in two villages near town with semi-intensive production conditions and a high rate of improved Mong Cai sows and MC and LW × MC offspring in the observed population. Lower performances of 1.1 and 1.1 litters year^− 1, 4.6 and 5.5 piglets weaned litter^− 1, 20.5 and 30.9 kg piglets weaned sow^− 1 year^− 1, and 66 and 85 g day^− 1 ADG were observed in parallel to higher incidences of indigenous Ban pigs away from town under extensive conditions. Total live weight offtake per household per year was higher near town and in one village distant to town. MC and LW × MC remained even under demand-driven conditions below the performance potential reported for improved genotypes. Under resource-driven conditions with a saving-oriented production pattern, the higher-yielding but more demanding Mong Cai might not be an efficient production alternative as a further performance reduction can be assumed. A considerable live weight output was observed under resource-driven conditions and with a higher percentage of crossbred LW × Ban offspring in the population, possibly representing a promising production alternative. Factors influencing the performance expression of pigs, and the suitability of different methods for the assessment of performance parameters on-farm are discussed.     

Impact of dominance effects on sow longevity

The purpose of the current study was to estimate variance components, especially dominance genetic variation, for overall leg action, length of productive life and sow stayability until third and fifth parity in the Finnish pig populations. The variance components were estimated in two purebred [Landrace (LR), n = 23 602 and Large White (LW), n =22 984] and crossbred (LR × LW, n = 17 440) data sets. Five different analyses were carried out for all the traits to compare the effect of sows’ inbreeding, common litter environment and parental dominance in the statistical model when determining the genetic correlations of the traits for the two purebred and crossbred populations. Estimated heritabilities for the traits ranged from 0.04 to 0.06. The estimates for the proportion of dominance variance of phenotypic variance (d²) varied between 0.01 and 0.17, and was highest in the crossbred dataset. The genetic correlations of the same traits in purebred and crossbred were all high (>0.75). Based on current results, the effect of dominance should be accounted for in the breeding value estimation of sow longevity, especially when data from crossbred animals are included in the analyses. Because dominance genetic variation for sow longevity exists that variation should be utilized through planned matings in producing sows for commercial production.     

Characterization of polymorphisms of transferrin receptor and their association with susceptibility to ETEC F4ab/ac in pigs

Diarrhoea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) expressing F4 (F4ab, F4ac and F4ad) fimbriae is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in newborn and weaned pigs. The locus controlling susceptibility towards ETEC F4ab/ac has been mapped to SSC13q41, in which TFRC (transferrin receptor) was localized and considered as a positional candidate gene for ETEC F4ab/ac receptor. In this study, we determined susceptibility/resistance to ETEC F4ab/ac in a total of 755 F2 animals from a White Duroc x Erhualian intercross using a microscopic enterocyte adhesion assay. We identified two TFRC polymorphisms (SNPs 591 A>G and 632 A>G) in a single exon after comparative sequencing analysis of 2371-bp amplicons containing the complete coding region of TFRC using RNA of eight full-sib F2 animals with susceptible and resistant phenotypes. The intron sequences flanking the two exon polymorphisms were obtained, revealing an intron polymorphism (SNP 291 C>T). We genotyped the 19 founder animals of the White Duroc x Erhualian intercross for the identified polymorphisms, showing that only the 291 C>T polymorphism is a highly informative marker. We further genotyped all 59 F1 and 755 F2 animals for the 291 C>T polymorphism, and the association of this polymorphism with susceptibility/resistance to ETEC F4ab/ac in these F2 animals was evaluated by the transmission disequilibrium test. The result showed that the 291 C>T polymorphism is not a causal mutation, however, has a significant linkage disequilibrium with the ETEC F4ab/ac, especially F4ac receptor locus.     

浅谈猪的健康养殖

随着我国养猪业的快速发展,猪病的发生率不断上升,对环境的污染不断严重,猪肉产品的质量也在不同程度上存在一些问题,影响了养猪业的可持续发展和人的健康。为实现养猪业安全、优质、高效和无公害生产,必须实施猪的健康养殖。本文提出了实现猪健康养殖的对策。