BACKGROUND: Umbilical outpouchings (UO) in pigs present a welfare concern because of ulceration risk and complications. Danish legislation requires pigs with larger UOs to be housed in sick pens with soft bedding, and some UO pigs might not be suited for transport. Because of this, many UO pigs are euthanized, adding to the costs of pig production. The true prevalence of UO is unknown as no scientific reports with randomly sampled herds exist. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of UO in Danish piglets and weaners and describe their clinical characteristics: size, texture, reducibility, and occurrence of ulcers. Lastly, risk factors for the occurrence of ulcers on UOs were investigated.
RESULTS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 Danish conventional herds, with at least 800 weaned pigs and 200 sows. The herds were selected randomly from the Danish Husbandry Register and visited once between September 2020 and May 2021. Piglets were examined during their last week in the farrowing unit, and weaners were examined between weeks three and eight after weaning. The abdominal area was palpated on all pigs, and all irregularities were recorded; the results presented are umbilical outpouchings measuring at least 2 × 2 cm. The within-herd prevalence of piglets with UO averaged 4.2% with a range from 0.8 to 13.6% between herds. The within-herd prevalence of weaners with UO averaged 2.9%, ranging from 1.0 to 5.3% between herds. Approximately 80% of the UOs were classified as small or medium (< 7 cm piglets/ < 11cm weaners). Large outpouchings had significantly higher odds of ulcer occurrence (OR = 9.9, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: UOs are common in Denmark, with a prevalence of 2.9% in weaners and an estimated annual production of 32 million Danish pigs almost a million pigs are affected yearly. Most of these pigs will have a small or medium UO. If the pigs have large UOs the odds of ulcer occurrence increase significantly. Numerous of these pigs are wasted, challenging sustainability and economy. UOs might also affect the welfare of the pigs. More research is therefore needed, especially in the prevention of UOs.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal coccidiosis is a common and important disease of suckling piglets in modern farming caused by Cystoisospora suis. Prevalence rates are high, namely, in Portugal, although no recent data are available. The metaphylactic administration of a single dose of toltrazuril and hygienic measures are the backbone of control strategies on positive farms. However, several studies have shown that these programs are not always effective, underlining the need to revise the risk factors and control strategies currently applied. The present study evaluated C. suis prevalence on Portuguese farms and assessed the risk factors associated with facilities and farm rearing practices.
RESULTS: From the 27 tested farms, 23 were positive to Cystoisopora suis (85.2%). In total, 258 litters were sampled (accounting for 516 samples-2 samples per litter), with an average of 59.7% of positive litters per positive farm. Faecal pools from litters, in which liquid faeces predominated had a higher probability of containing oocysts than litter pools with mainly solid (Odds Ratio: 9.87; p < 0.0001) or pasty faeces (OR: 7.05; p = 0.001), and samples obtained from younger animals had higher oocyst counts (coefficient: - 0.0720; 95% CI - 0.125; - 0.019). No significant effect of toltrazuril administration was observed on the positivity rate, and none of the tested farms used disinfectants with official claims against parasites and known anticoccidial effects (e.g., cresol-based products).
CONCLUSIONS: The C. suis prevalence on Portuguese swine farms appears to be similar to the prevalence found in other European countries. Repeated sampling of the same litter and the use of autofluorescence microscopy after a modified Ritchie technique seems to have increased sensitivity and consequently the detection rate of positive litters. Finally, despite the common use of oral toltrazuril, C. suis control programs appear to not always be effective (based on the detection of oocysts in faecal samples), suggesting the need to revise the control strategies applied in the field, including management factors and choices of disinfectant products.

Host genotype is important for enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) susceptibility. We conducted two trials to evaluate the effect of CHCF1 genotype on incidence of ETEC diarrhea. In trial 1 (n = 15 pigs), pigs were inoculated with 108 CFU or 1010 CFU doses of an ETEC F4ac strain. In trial 2 (n = 33 pigs), pigs were inoculated with ETEC F4ab or F4ac. Across trials, all inoculated pigs that developed ETEC diarrhea were CHCF1 heterozygous susceptible (6/6). No inoculated CHCF1 homozygous resistant pigs developed ETEC diarrhea (0/26). Susceptibility towards ETEC F4ac/ab infection might correspond with CHCF1 genotype.

To evaluate pain responses to intratesticular and subscrotal injection of three local anaesthetics and their efficacy during castration a randomized controlled study was conducted. In groups of 20 piglets, procaine (2%), lidocaine (2%), or mepivacaine (2%) were administered subscrotal and intratesticularly in two different dosages: 0.5 mL of the original substances or the maximum recommended dosage according to body weight diluted with isotonic saline to a volume of 0.3 mL per each injection site. Two placebo groups received the equivalent volume of isotonic saline. A control group was injected intramuscularly with 0.5 mL isotonic saline for injection pain comparison. Electroencephalographic changes, respiratory rate, heart rate and its variability, blood pressure, and nocifensive movements were assessed in superficial isoflurane anaesthesia. While EEG-changes and linear measures of heart rate variability did not appear conclusive, the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio corresponded best with the other pain indicators recorded. The injection of 0.3 mL diluted local anaesthetic per injection site elicited significant fewer signs of pain compared to intramuscular injection of saline. However, pain reduction, but not complete pain elimination, during castration could only be achieved with 0.5 mL of the 2% local anaesthetics per injection site, whereby lidocaine and mepivacaine were the most effective.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that a patent, watertight esophageal anastomosis can be accomplished safely using specially-shaped magnets in piglets. However, it is unclear whether such a magnetic esophageal compression anastomosis (MECA) remains patent in the long-term. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of MECA in an experimental pig model over an observation period of 2 months.
METHODS: Ten piglets underwent creation of an MECA with custom-made 8 mm magnets and a U-shaped esophageal bypass loop to allow peroral nutrition at eight weeks of life. Two weeks later, the bypass loop was closed surgically, requiring the pigs to swallow via the newly created magnetic compression anastomosis. The pigs were fed soft chow for 2 months. They were monitored for weight gain and signs of dysphagia. At the endpoint of two months, esophagoscopy and contrast esophagography was performed. After removal of the esophagus, the tissues were macroscopiocally and histologically assessed.
RESULTS: Six piglets survived until the endpoint. In two pigs, closure of the bypass loop failed, these demonstrated mean weight gain of 792 gs/day [95% Confidence interval 575 to 1009 gs/day]. Weight gain in four pigs that exclusively fed via the magnetic anastomosis averaged 577 gs/day [95% confidence interval 434 to 719 gs/day (p = 0.18)]. There were no signs of dysphagia. All magnets passed with the stool within 16 days. After 2 months, a well-formed magnetic compression anastomosis was visible and easily negotiated with a 6.5 mm endoscope. Esophogram and macroscopic findings confirmed patentency of the esophageal anastomoses. Histopathology showed a circular anastomosis lined with contiguous epithelium.
CONCLUSIONS: MECA creates a long-term functional and patent anastomosis in pigs. This concept may facilitate minimally-invasive esophageal atresia repair by obviating a technically challenging and time-consuming hand-sewn anastomosis.

OBJECTIVE: Point prevalence estimates of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (ESC-R-Ec) are important surveillance measures but may not uncover the ESC-R-Ec dynamics within pig farms. A longitudinal study was therefore performed by sampling individual pigs, pig farmers and the environment.
METHODS: On average, 30 (range 10-46) piglets of 31 Swiss farms were sampled during the suckling, weaning and fattening stages (n= 2437 samples). In addition, stool from pig farmers and environmental samples were obtained and metadata collected by questionnaires. ESC-R-Ec was identified by routine culture, and clonal relationships and resistance genes were derived from whole genome sequencing data.
RESULTS: Working on pig farms was not associated with an increased prevalence of ESC-R-Ec in humans. ESC-R-Ec prevalence significantly decreased from 6.2% to 3.9% and 1.8% for the suckling, weaned and fattening pigs, respectively (P < 0.001). Within the 57 ESC-R-positive suckling piglets, persisting carriage was detected in 25 animals at two consecutive time points and one animal at three consecutive time points. Clonal spread (n=7 farms, 22.6%) and horizontal gene transfer (n=1 farm, 3%) within pigs but not between humans and animals was detected. Liquid manure (n=10 samples, 16.7%) was identified as the major environmental reservoir of ESC-R-Ec in the pig farm environment.
CONCLUSIONS: Pig farming practices like all-in-all-out systems, but not antimicrobial usage, were associated with reduced risk of ESC-R-Ec at the farm level. As carriage duration is normally short within the individual pigs, the risk of recolonisation and clonal spread of ESC-R-Ec might be reduced by applying appropriate decontamination strategies.

Augmented renal clearance (ARC) as observed in the critically ill (pediatric) population can have a major impact on the pharmacokinetics and posology of renally excreted drugs. Although sepsis has been described as a major trigger in the development of ARC in human critically ill patients, mechanistic insights on ARC are currently lacking. An appropriate ARC animal model could contribute to reveal these underlying mechanisms. In this exploratory study, a state of ARC was induced in 8-week-old piglets. Conscious piglets were continuously infused over 36 h with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Escherichia coli (O111:B4) to induce sepsis and subsequently trigger ARC. To study the dose-dependent effect of LPS on the renal function, three different doses (0.75, 2.0, 5.0 μg/kg/h) were administered (two ♂ piglets/dose, one sham piglet), in combination with fluid administration (0.9% NaCl) at 6 ml/kg/h. Single boluses of renal markers, i.e., creatinine [40 mg/kg body weight (BW)], iohexol (64.7 mg/kg BW), and para-aminohippuric acid (PAH, 10 mg/kg BW) were administered intravenously to evaluate the effect of LPS on the renal function. Clinical parameters were monitored periodically. Blood sampling was performed to determine the effect on hematology, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and prostaglandin E2 plasma levels. All piglets that were continuously infused with LPS displayed an elevated body temperature, heart rhythm, and respiratory rate ~1-3 h after start of the infusion. After infusion, considerably higher total body clearances of iohexol, creatinine, and PAH were observed, independent of the administration of LPS and/or its dose. Since also the sham piglet, receiving no LPS, demonstrated a comparable increase in renal function, the contribution of fluid administration to the development of ARC should be further evaluated.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to explore the benefits of Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) blanket vaccination in a sow herd on productive parameters, PCV-2 infection and immune status in sows and their progeny. For this purpose, 288 sows were distributed among four balanced experimental groups. One group remained as negative control group and the other three received 1 mL of PCV-2 Ingelvac Circoflex® intramuscularly at different productive cycle moments: before mating, mid gestation (42-49 days post-insemination) or late gestation (86-93 days post-insemination); phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was used as negative control item. Reproductive parameters from sows during gestation and body weight of their progeny from birth to weaning were recorded. Additionally, blood was collected from sows at each vaccination time and piglets at 3 weeks of age. Moreover, up to 4 placental umbilical cords (PUC) per sow were taken at peri-partum. Sera from sows and piglets were analysed for PCV-2 antibody detection using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera from sows and PUC were tested to quantify viraemia using a real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay.
RESULTS: Globally, results indicated that vaccinated sows showed heavier piglets at birth and at weaning, less cross-fostered piglets, lower viral load at farrowing as well as in PUC, and higher antibody levels at farrowing, compared to non-vaccinated ones. When all groups were compared among them, sows vaccinated at mid or late gestation had heavier piglets at birth than non-vaccinated sows, and lower proportion of PCV-2 positive PUC. Also, cross-fostering was less frequently practiced in sows vaccinated at pre-mating or mid gestation compared to non-vaccinated ones.
CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present study points out that PCV-2 sow vaccination at different time points of their physiological status (mimicking blanket vaccination) offers benefits at production and serological and virological levels.

To validate two neonatal cerebral venous oxygenation (Yv ) MRI techniques, T2 relaxation under phase contrast (TRUPC) and accelerated TRUPC (aTRUPC) MRI, with oxygenation measured with direct blood sampling.
In vivo experiments were performed on seven healthy newborn piglets. For each piglet, a catheter was placed in the superior sagittal sinus to obtain venous blood samples for blood gas oximetry measurement as a gold standard. During the MRI experiment, three to five venous oxygenation levels were achieved in each piglet by varying inhaled O2 content and breathing rate. Under each condition, Yv values of the superior sagittal sinus measured by TRUPC, aTRUPC, and blood gas oximetry were obtained. The Yv quantification in TRUPC and aTRUPC used a standard bovine blood calibration model. The aTRUPC scan was repeated twice to assess its reproducibility. Agreements among TRUPC Yv , aTRUPC Yv , and blood gas oximetry were evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and paired Student\'s t-test.
The mean hematocrit was 23.6 ± 6.5% among the piglets. Across all measurements, Yv values were 51.9 ± 21.3%, 54.1 ± 18.8%, and 53.7 ± 19.2% for blood gas oximetry, TRUPC and aTRUPC, respectively, showing no significant difference between any two methods (P > .3). There were good correlations between TRUPC and blood gas Yv (ICC = 0.801; P < .0001), between aTRUPC and blood gas Yv (ICC = 0.809; P < .0001), and between aTRUPC and TRUPC Yv (ICC = 0.887; P < .0001). The coefficient of variation of aTRUPC Yv was 8.1 ± 9.9%.
The values of Yv measured by TRUPC and aTRUPC were in good agreement with blood gas oximetry. These findings suggest that TRUPC and aTRUPC can provide accurate quantifications of Yv in major cerebral veins.

Postweaning diarrhea is a common issue in pig production which is currently controlled by feed supplementation with zinc oxide. However, new alternatives are being sought due to an expected ban on zinc oxide in feed supplementation from 2022 in the EU. One possible alternative is to use novel types of probiotics consisting of microbiota characteristic for healthy weaned piglets. In this study, we therefore collected rectal swabs of piglets 3 days before weaning and 4 days after weaning in a commercial farm considering all risks of field trial like the use of antibiotics, classified the piglets as predisposed, healthy or sick and using 16S rRNA sequencing, we determined and compared the microbiota composition. Increased Actinobacteria before weaning was a marker of piglets predisposed for diarrhea. Increased Chlamydia or Helicobacter before weaning was surprisingly a marker of healthy and resistant piglets after weaning. After weaning, unclassified Clostridiales, Deltaproteobacteria, Selenomonadales, Fusobacterium, Akkermansia or Anaerovibrio increased in microbiota of piglets with postweaning diarrhea while an increase in Prevotella and Faecalibacterium was characteristic for healthy, weaned piglets. Both changes in individual microbiota members and also correct timing of microbiota reshaping around weaning and the increase of mainly Prevotella species just after weaning are equally important for resistance to postweaning diarrhea in piglets under field conditions.