HT-2 toxin is a type of mycotoxin which is shown to affect gastric and intestinal lesions, hematopoietic and immunosuppressive effects, anorexia, lethargy, nausea. Recently, emerging evidences indicate that HT-2 also disturbs the reproductive system. In this study, we investigated the impact of HT-2 toxin exposure on the organelles of porcine oocytes. Our results found that the abnormal distribution of endoplasmic reticulum increased after HT-2 treatment, with the perturbation of ribosome protein RPS3 and GRP78 expression; Golgi apparatus showed diffused localization pattern and GM130 localization was also impaired, thereby affecting the Rab10-based vesicular transport; Due to the impairment of ribosomes, ER, and Golgi apparatus, the protein supply to lysosomes was hindered, resulting in lysosomal damage, which further disrupted the LC3-based autophagy. Moreover, the results indicated that the function and distribution of mitochondria were also affected by HT-2 toxin, showing with fragments of mitochondria, decreased TMRE and ATP level. Taken together, our study suggested that HT-2 toxin exposure induces damage to the organelles for endomembrane system, which further inhibited the meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes.

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Rotavirus is a major causative agent of diarrhoea in children, infants, and young animals around the world. The associated zoonotic risk necessitates the serious consideration of the complete genetic information of rotavirus. A segmented genome makes rotavirus prone to rearrangement and the formation of a new viral strain. Monitoring the molecular epidemiology of rotavirus is essential for its prevention and control. The quantitative RT-PCR targeting the NSP5 gene was used to detect rotavirus group A (RVA) in pig faecal samples, and two pairs of universal primers and protocols were used for amplifying the G and P genotype. The genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of 11 genes were performed by RT-PCR and a basic bioinformatics method. A unique G4P[6] rotavirus strain, designated S2CF (RVA/Pig-tc/CHN/S2CF/2023/G4P[6]), was identified in one faecal sample from a piglet with severe diarrhoea in Guangdong, China. Whole genome sequencing and analysis suggested that the 11 segments of the S2CF strain showed a unique Wa-like genotype constellation and a typical porcine RVA genomic configuration of G4-P[6]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A8-N1-T1-E1-H1. Notably, 4 of the 11 gene segments (VP4, VP6, VP2, and NSP5) clustered consistently with human-like RVAs, suggesting independent human-to-porcine interspecies transmission. Moreover, a unique 344-nt duplicated sequence was identified for the first time in the untranslated region of NSP5. This study further reveals the genetic diversity and potential inter-species transmission of porcine rotavirus.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic conditionings (ICon) were intensively investigated and several protective signaling pathways were identified. Previously, we have shown the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) and the cardioprotective role of biglycan (BGN), a small leucine-rich proteoglycan in vitro. Here, we hypothesized that cardiac MMP and BGN signaling are involved in the protective effects of ICon.
METHODS: A reverse target-microRNA prediction was performed by using the miRNAtarget™ 2.0 software to identify human microRNAs with a possible regulatory effect on MMP and BGN, such as on related genes. To validate the identified 1289 miRNAs in the predicted network, we compared them to two cardioprotective miRNA omics datasets derived from pig and rat models of MIRI in the presence of ICons.
RESULTS: Among the experimentally measured miRNAs, we found 100% sequence identity to human predicted regulatory miRNAs in the case of 37 porcine and 24 rat miRNAs. Upon further analysis, 42 miRNAs were identified as MIRI-associated miRNAs, from which 24 miRNAs were counter-regulated due to ICons.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight 24 miRNAs that potentially regulate cardioprotective therapeutic targets associated with MMPs and BGN in a highly translatable porcine model of acute myocardial infarction.

It is possible to identify sub-populations of sows in every pig herd that consistently give birth to low birth weight (BW) piglets, irrespective of the litter size. A previous study from our group demonstrated that placental development is a main factor affecting the litter birth weight phenotype (LBWP) in sows, thereby impacting the BW of entire litters, but the biological and molecular pathways behind this phenomenon are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential gene expression in placental tissues at day 30 of gestation between low LBWP (LLBWP) vs. high LBWP (HLBWP) sows from a purebred Large White maternal line. Using mRNA sequencing, we found 45 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in placental tissues of LLBWP and HLBWP sows. Furthermore, (GO) enrichment of upregulated DEGs predicted that there were two biological processes significantly related to cornification and regulation of cell population proliferation. To better understand the molecular interaction between cell proliferation and cornification, we conducted transcriptional factor binding site (TFBS) prediction analysis. The results indicated that a highly significant TFBS was located at the 5\' upstream of all four upregulated genes (CDSN, DSG3, KLK14, KRT17), recognized by transcription factors EGR4 and FOSL1. Our findings provide novel insight into how transcriptional regulation of two different biological processes interact in placental tissues of LLBWP sows.

Livestock management is evolving into a new era, characterized by the analysis of vast quantities of data (Big Data) collected from both traditional breeding methods and new technologies such as sensors, automated monitoring system, and advanced analytics. Artificial intelligence (A-In), which refers to the capability of machines to mimic human intelligence, including subfields like machine learning and deep learning, is playing a pivotal role in this transformation. A wide array of A-In techniques, successfully employed in various industrial and scientific contexts, are now being integrated into mainstream livestock management practices. In the case of swine breeding, while traditional methods have yielded considerable success, the increasing amount of information requires the adoption of new technologies such as A-In to drive productivity, enhance animal welfare, and reduce environmental impact. Current findings suggest that these techniques have the potential to match or exceed the performance of traditional methods, often being more scalable in terms of efficiency and sustainability within the breeding industry. This review provides insights into the application of A-In in porcine breeding, from the perspectives of both sows (including welfare and reproductive management) and boars (including semen quality and health), and explores new approaches which are already being applied in other species.

Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are major causes of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young animals. To enhance our understanding of the relationship between human and animals RVAs, complete genome data are necessary. We screened 92 intestinal and stool samples from diarrheic piglets by RT‒PCR targeting the VP6 gene, revealing a prevalence of 10.9%. RVA was confirmed in two out of 5 calf samples. We successfully isolated two porcine samples using MA104 cell line. The full-length genetic constellation of the two isolates were determined to be G9-P[23]-I5-R1-C1-M1-A8-N1-T7-E1-H1, with close similarity to human Wa-like and porcine strains. Sequence analysis revealed the majority of genes were closely related to porcine and human RVAs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these isolates might have their ancestral origin from pigs, although some of their gene segments were related to human strains. This study reveals evidence of reassortment and possible interspecies transmission between pigs and humans in China.

The commercial swine industry utilizes artificial insemination (AI) in their breeding programs. With this assisted reproductive technology, the process starts by obtaining fresh ejaculates from desirable boars who are housed in a dedicated facility (i.e., stud) that also contains a clean-room laboratory where semen quality is assessed and then ejaculates processed into AI doses. In concert with AI adoption, disruptions in sow herd reproductive performance have been traced back to contributions made from the boar stud. Through field investigations and research, several extrinsic contaminants have been identified that impact semen quality either at the boar or AI-dose level. These contaminants can be categorized as either biological or chemical in origin, eliciting reprotoxic outcomes at the boar level and/or spermatotoxicity at the AI-dose level. Biological contaminants include multiple genera of primarily opportunistic microbes (i.e., bacteria, fungi), along with their secondary metabolites (e.g., endotoxins, exotoxins, mycotoxins). Chemical contaminants appear to originate from products used at the stud, and include cleaning agent/disinfectant residues, leachates from gloves and plastics, semen extender impurities, purified and drinking water impurities, and pesticides (i.e., biocides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, wood preservatives). In conclusion, contaminants are a real and constant threat to the health and productivity of a stud, and have caused significant reproductive and economic losses in the swine industry. The knowledge gained in recognizing the types and sources of contaminants provides a solid foundation for the development and implementation of pro-active strategies that mitigate risk to the industry.

Astaxanthin (AST) is a natural compound derived from shellfish, microorganisms, and algae, with several healthy properties. For this reason, it is widely used in the diet of humans and animals, such as pigs, broilers, and fish, where its addition is related to its pigmenting properties. Moreover, AST\'s ability to reduce free radicals and protect cells from oxidative damage finds application during the weaning period, when piglets are exposed to several stressors. To better elucidate the mechanisms involved, here we generate ad hoc pig and rainbow trout in vitro platforms able to mimic the intestinal mucosa. The morphology is validated through histological and molecular analysis, while functional properties of the newly generated intestinal barriers, both in porcine and rainbow trout models, are demonstrated by measuring trans-epithelial electrical resistance and analyzing permeability with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran. Exposure to AST induced a significant upregulation of antioxidative stress markers and a reduction in the transcription of inflammation-related interleukins. Altogether, the present findings demonstrate AST\'s ability to interact with the molecular pathways controlling oxidative stress and inflammation both in the porcine and rainbow trout species and suggest AST\'s positive role in prevention and health.

There are few existing publications that describe transvaginal ultrasound-guided Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) in sows, and the impacts of the procedure for the welfare of the animals are unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effects of OPU, performed following restraint in a claw-trimming chute, on the animal welfare and reproductive health of second parity hybrid sows. The study utilized a generalized randomized block design at a commercial sow pool. We assessed salivary cortisol levels before, during, and after the procedure to compare the physiological stress response between OPU and restraint chute procedures (control group). We found a significant increase in salivary cortisol caused by the physical restraint procedure, and that the salivary cortisol level at the end of the procedure did not differ between OPU and control groups (p = 0.51). Furthermore, we conducted a novel approach-aversion test for sows, designed to assess if a feed reward would motivate the animals to willingly participate in the OPU-procedure. The animals were trained daily to enter the chute to access a feed reward. Ten animals in each group failed to complete the training period and did not voluntarily enter the restraint chute on the experimental day. This indicates that even the short daily restraint procedure during the four-day long training period was aversive to some animals. There was no difference in aversion towards the restraint chute between OPU and control groups one day after the procedure. The reproductive performance of the animals was subsequently evaluated through oestrus synchronization and insemination of the sows after the experiment. There was no observed difference in the farrowing rate (p = 0.72) and total number of born piglets (p = 0.84) between OPU and control sows. On average, we retrieved 9.0 ± 5.9 oocytes during the OPU-sessions (N = 26). Our results show that a majority of the sows prioritize the motivation for feed over their aversion to the OPU procedure. However, the physical restraint procedure is unpleasant for the animals and elicits a temporary stress response. We suggest that transvaginal OPU may be used for the recovery of oocytes from live sows, but refinements are needed to avoid stress during the lifting procedure. Such modifications could also potentially reduce the observed inter-individual variations in oocyte recovery outcomes.