Abstract: The aim of the present trial was to investigate the efficacy of Virbamix PEï (Virbac SA, France)
an appetite enhancer and feed flavouring material containing plant extracts of Origanum vulgaris and
Allium sativum, added to the feed at one single dose in the control of proliferative enteropathy (PE)
in weaning pigs, in comparison to reference treatment with tiamulin (Tiamutineï 6.5 Premix / Ceva
Animal Health) group and a negative control group. The trial was conducted on a farm with a previous
history of ileitis outbreaks. At weaning day (25 ± 3 days old / day 0 of the trial) a total of 288 (144
male + 144 female) piglets were selected and allocated into three experimental groups, each group
comprising of four pens with 24 piglets in each pen. Group 1 (T1 group) served as negative control
group (unmedicated), group T2 received medication in feed at the dose of 1kg Virbamix PEï per
tonne of feed and T3 group received 32 ppm of tiamulin. Treatments lasted for six weeks (up to the
age of 67 ± 3 days), and no other antibacterial or growth promoter was added to the feed or drinking
water in the same period.
Administration of Virbamixï PE was found to be effective for the control of PE, as shown by the
reduction of prevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis in the intestine at the end of the treatment period,
as determined by PCR method comparatively with the T1 group, while no significant difference was
found between T2 and T3 groups. The diarrhoea score (DS) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the
control group in comparison with T2 and T3 groups. However, no significant differences were noticed
between T2 and T3 groups during the treatment period (P > 0.05). Treatment of piglets with Virbamix
PEï and Tiamutineï 6.5 Premix resulted in significantly higher body weight and average daily
gain (ADG) than in T1 group for the total treatment period (P < 0.05). Conclusively, the results of
present study indicate that the use of Virbamix PEï, could be an alternative and economic method for
the control of PE. Moreover, the use of this product is in accordance with the contemporary consumer
demands for more environmentally friendly pig production, satisfying at the same time the
producer needs for increased and cost-effective performance
Abstract: To evaluate effect of in-feed valnemulin hydrochloride on control of proliferative enteropathy in weaning
and growing pigs, 288 weaned piglets from a farm with a previous history of ileitis outbreaks were divided
in three groups. The first group served as negative control, the second one received 50 ppm in-feed valnemulin
hydrochloride, while the third one received 100 ppm in-feed tylosin phosphate for 21 d. Valnemulin
hydrochloride and tylosin showed an effect in reducing diarrhea due to ileitis and the prevalence of Lawsonia
intracellularis in faecal samples at the end of the growing period. There was also a significant improvement
of productive parameters (body weight, ADG, FCR). Conclusively, the administration of valnemulin
hydrochloride via feed, at the inclusion level of 50 ppm and for 21 d, controls ileitis significantly in weaned
and growing piglets.
Abstract: The present review focuses on the effect of dietary intake of Ï-3 (n-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA's) on the reproductive performance of sows and boars, as well as on the health status of sows and their piglets. PUFA's are divided into n-6 and n-3 series that are found in high levels in plant and fish oils, respectively. a-Linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are the main PUFA's of the n-3 series. They antagonize n-6 PUFA's for incorporation into the cell membrane phospholipids and biosynthesis of eicosanoids of the respective nseries. n-3 PUFA's cannot be synthesized by pigs and their presence in high levels in vital organs and tissues emphasizes their importance and essentiality, especially during rapid tissue formation, i.e gestation and fetal/neonate development. n-3 PUFA's can cross the placenta into the fetal circulation, thus maternal dietary PUFA's intake during pregnancy influences the fatty acid composition of plasma and tissues of the developing fetus. Similarly, n-3 PUFA's concentrations in colostrum and milk are also increased in response to the maternal dietary n-3 PUFA's supplementation. PUFA's play a critical role in inflammatory and immune responses, since they are precursors of eicosanoids and they also mediate the production of several immunoregulators. In this direction, the potential immunological benefit of n-3 PUFA's dietary supplementation, in cases of infections involving gram negative bacteria or Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in sows and piglets, remains a scientific topic of increasing interest. Research data also underline the beneficial effect of n-3 PUFA's maternal dietary intake on the reproductive performance of sows, especially as regards the litter size at birth and the mortality rate of piglets during lactation. n-3 PUFA's do not seem to affect the ovulation and/or the conception rates, however there is evidence of their biological role in enhancing early embryonic survival. Furthermore, they have a significant impact on brain and normal cognitive development, suggesting improved piglet vigour at birth, an advanced suckling behaviour and consequently a reduced pre-weaning mortality rate. Feeding boars with diets supplemented with n-3 PUFA's is also highly recommended to enhance semen characteristics. The importance of these fatty acids in relation to boar fertility has been illustrated by studies demonstrating a beneficial effect on sperm viability and motility, as well as on the proportion of spermatozoa with abnormal morphologies.
Abstract: The use of animals for experimental and educational purposes is regulated by a national legal framework in accordance to the European Directive 86/609 and the European Convention ETS 123 of the Council of Europe. Main issues regulated by the above legislation are the license procedure for the use of laboratory animals, the registration of breeding, supplying and experimental establishments, the implementation of guidelines for the appropriate care and use of the animals, the collection of statistical information and the promotion of alternative to animal experimentation methods. The veterinarian plays an important role for the protection, the health and the welfare of laboratory animals. This role is well defined within the existing legislation. The supervision of the veterinarian guarantees also the quality of the obtained results from animal experimentations. After twenty years, the scientific community and the animal welfare associations recognized the need for the revision of the existing European legal framework under the new obtained scientific knowledge. The Council of Europe has recently revised the Appendix A of the European Convention ETS 123 and the Commission of the European Union initiated the process for the revision of the European Directive 86/609. Ethical evaluation, authorization procedures and registration of establishments are, also, expected to be revised.
Abstract: The clinical manifestations of PRRS virus infection vary from subclinical to severe reproductive failure and/or respiratory disease. Severity of PRRS virus associated disease may result from interactions among factors involving differences in virulence among PRRS virus isolates, probable recombination between the different isolates that are responsible for the clinical manifestation of PRRS in the same farm, differences in concurrent infections (other viruses and bacteria) and hygiene monitoring programme. It is known that viruses and bacteria interacted and the most common model of this interaction is that pathogens bacteria complicate the lesions that are due to viruses. PRRS virus induces predisposition to Streptococcus suis in nursery age pigs and increases susceptibility to Salmonella choleraesuis, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Furthermore, PRRS virus is involved in aetiology and predispose to appearance of Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC) Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) and Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome (PDNS). The respiratory form of PRRS co-infection with Aujeszky' disease causes severe losses in swine herds due to respiratory problems. In cases of PRRS co-infections with other agents, the cost of pork meat production is raised from the treatments and other special management strategies. Up to date, in Greece, PRRS is appeared with the enzootic form (independently of the season) with elevations and declines. In Greek swine industry, PRRS virus is involved as primary pathogen agent in cautions of mortality of growing/finishing pigs. During the last years, the presence of the new syndromes of PRDC, PMWS and PDNS causes additional economical losses and increases the cost of Greek pork meat production. The unpublished data of editors indicate that during last year, PRRS caused severe losses in Greek swine industry. Cases of PRRS were noticed in farms which purchased gilts or piglets without keeping out preventive facilities of biosecurity as quarantine, serology examinations etc. The syndrome was appeared with the respiratory form in growing/finishing pigs associated with severe losses, due to the entrance of «new» different isolates of PRRS virus from the purchase of gilts or piglets. It is probably that these «new» different isolates were more virulent than the preexisted isolates or/and predominated with them. In cases, where severe respiratory signs in growing/finishing pigs and no or moderate reproductive form of PRRS were noticed, it is probable that the vaccinations of sows against PRRS did not protect the growing/finishing pigs or the «new» different isolates of PRRS virus had more respiratory than reproductive tropism or coexistenced in all earlier circumstances. Today, PRRS is a dangerous risk factor for the Greek swine industry and for this reason it is important to apply all preventive facilities as: vaccinations, reduction of the introduction gilts and maintenance of a grandparent nucleus in the farm for producing gilts, quarantine and serological monitoring for all introduced animals (gilts and piglets), as well as the purchase of animals from PRRS-negative farms. The purchase of piglets has to be avoided because it induces negative effects on the clinical manifestation and control of PRRS.
Abstract: The âªPostpartum Dysgalactia Syndromeâ« (PPDS), that is referred in literature as âªPeriparturient Hypogalactia Syndromeâ« (PHS), causes important economical losses in the global swine industry. The aetiology of syndrome includes endotoxins and generally the negative, as well as some positive gram bacteria (colibacteroides, β-haemolytic streptococci G and L, staphylococci, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Proteus, Bacteroides, Clostridium and Haemophilus). Moreover, several aetiological agents of functional hypoagalactia, factors associated with stress of sows and conditions that contribute in the proliferation of bacteria and consequently in the potential endotoxemia (e.g. cystitis, metritis, vaginitis, constipation, mastitis), seem to play a significant role. Risk factors that are often suspected for PPDS are the health status of sows (Fat Sow Syndrome-, FSS extended duration of parturition, post-partum pyrexia, teat malformation and injuries, as well as hypoplasia of mammary glands), the housing and management conditions of the sow around parturition (slippery floors, hygiene, temperature-humidity of rooms, reduced activity of the sows, watering system), as well as diet composition (concentration of fiber, proteins, vitamin E and selenium). The clinical signs are characterized mainly by disorders of lactation and health status of sows (anorexia, depression, pyrexia, constipation and abnormal postpartum vulval discharge), as well as from decreased litter performance (unsuccessful attempts for suckling, intense discomposure, diarrhoea, poor growth rates, unevenness of litters regarding to body weight of piglets, increase of preweaning mortality).
Abstract: This trialâs aim was to evaluate the effect of in-feed lincomycin
for the control of proliferative enteropathy (PE; also known as
ileitis) in growing pigs, in which it is associated with significant
morbidity levels. Investigation regarding the efficacy of this
substance in growing pigs has never been carried out before in a
field trial. The trial farm had a previous history of PE outbreaks.
On day 1 of the trial (age of 62 ± 1.5 days), 240 pigs
were divided into two groups of 120 pigs/group which were
allocated into five pens of 24 pigs each. Therefore, a randomized
block design was used with two experimental groups
(T1âT2) and five replicates (pens) per group. T1 group served as
negative control (NC) animals which were receiving no medication
and conversely T2 group received in-feed lincomycin at
the dose of 110 mg/kg of feed. The treatment period lasted for
3 weeks, followed by an observation period of 4 weeks up to the
age of 111 ± 1.5 days which was the end of the grower stage.
Administration of lincomycin at a dose of 110 mg/kg of feed
had beneficial effects compared with the NC group. The pigs of
T2 group showed significant improvement of their production
parameters in terms of average daily body gain (ADG) and feed
conversion ratio (FCR) not only during the treatment period
(ADG: 0.515 ± 0.050 versus 0.481 ± 0.071 and FCR:
2.38 ± 0.05 versus 2.56 ± 0.08, for T2 and T1 groups
respectively), but also during the remaining period until the end
of the grower stage (observation period: ADG: 0.687 ± 0.019
versus 0.646 ± 0.044 and FCR: 2.58 ± 0.02 versus
2.74 ± 0.02 respectively). Other effects in the T2 group refer to
the reduction of diarrhoea prevalence (mean pen diarrhoea
score during the whole grower stage: 0.200 ± 0.060 versus
0.632 ± 0.041 respectively), morbidity rates (morbidity rates
during the whole grower stage: 15.83% versus 45.00%
respectively) and the reduction of Lawsonia intracellularis
prevalence as shown by polymerase chain reaction diagnostic
method (at the end of the treatment period: 10.0% versus
60.0% respectively). In conclusion, treatment with 110 mg
lincomycin/kg of feed for 21 consecutive days had a beneficial
effect on the control of PE in growing pigs.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and
efficacy of a commercial European porcine reproductive and
respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-inactivated vaccine after
18-month use in gilts/sows at a farm with high seroprevalence.
In a farrow-to-finish farm with 1100 sows, all sows and gilts
were systematically vaccinated with the PRRS-inactivated
PROGRESSIS vaccine for a period of 18 months. Farmâs
reproductive and litter characteristics were longitudinally
recorded for this period and historically compared with those
of the year prior to vaccination. Serology, employing immunoperoxidase
monolayer assay, had confirmed a high prevalence
of PRRS-specific antibodies in most age groups within
the farm prior to vaccination. Seroprevalence during the
experiment ranged between 0% and 100% in weaners and
growers, but remained at stable high levels (>93%) in finishing
pigs and gilts throughout all 2-year period of serology
measurements. No local or systemic vaccine side effects were
noted throughout the trial period. Vaccinations had resulted
over time in a significant improvement of sow reproductive
performance (e.g. reduction of premature farrowings, abortions
and increase of farrowing rate) and litter characteristics
(e.g. increase of the number of live born and weaned pigs and
decrease of stillborn, mummified, weak and splay-legged piglets).
It has also been observed that the higher the degree of
immunization of a sow, the better the improvement of her
reproductive parameters. Sows after vaccination have shown
improved characteristics compared to homoparous sows prior
to the application of vaccinations in the farm.
