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In routine diagnostic it is difficult to detect a Haemophilus parasuis infection causing a polyserositis. In the presented study, a detection method by means of PCR, from collective swabs of the serosal surfaces from animals, with and without fibrinous serositis, was investigated. A significant association was detected between post mortal findings of fibrinous serositis and molecular biological detection of Haemophilus parasuis and Mycoplasma hyorhinis. However, no significant association existed between cultural detection of Haemophilus parasuis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and pathological-anatomical ascertainable fibrinous serositis. A significant association between Haemophilus parasuis and Mycoplasma hyorhinis could be determined in the animals that were included in this study.

Porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) was recognized as an important economic factor in pig production. In the following, three cases of PPE in pigs presented for necropsy are discussed. The animals were raised in a stud stock and a weaning production facility in Bavaria. The clinical signs described in the history indicated a herd problem with hemorrhagic diarrhoea and paleness being the cardinal signs. The diagnosis was based upon gross and histopathological findings and was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The different types of manifestation of the disease seen in the two production facilities are discussed in the context of the current literature on etiology and pathogenesis.

In this study, the protective effect of specific egg yolk antibodies on diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli K88 (F4) was investigated with 179 weaning piglets in a double-blind field trial. The piglets were divided into three groups. The antibody group received egg powder with specific antibodies to E. coli K88, K99, 987P, and rotavirus, while one control group was fed with egg powder without specific antibodies and a second control group received no egg powder at all. The piglets were fed ad libitum. The egg powder was offered in a 5% feed ration. Compared with the control groups, the piglets of the antibody group showed significant differences (P0.05, chi 2-test) in the parameters rate of diarrhea (17.2%) (antibody group) to 60.7% (control egg group) or 56.7% (control group without egg powder), severity of symptoms (5.2-39.3% or 26.7%) and frequency of additional treatments (8.6-55.7% or 51.7%). Because of the additional treatments, no difference could be found in body-weight gain. In control groups, three piglets died, while no pigs died in the antibody group.

After infection with Eperythrozoon suis, pigs began to produce cold agglutinins of immunoglobulin type IgM, that because of the similarity between the pathogenic antigen and antigen on the erythrocyte membrane caused agglomeration. The progression of this cold agglutinin was measured with an enzyme immunoassay especially invented for this purpose, and compared with serum-IgM, agglutination strength, pathogenic effect as well as number of erythrocytes in the blood. The cold agglutinin extracted from the erythrocyte membrane at 40 degrees C showed, in comparison to the initial figures, a higher level (1259 micrograms/ml) at 6 days after the illness peak, reaching its maximum (2435 micrograms/ml) at 12 days. Similar results were achieved at lower extraction temperatures (22 degrees C, 0 degree C). A high correlation could be shown between the levels of IgM and of cold agglutinin, as well as the parallel increase in the agglutination strength of the blood. At the time of maximal pathogenic effect, no agglutination of blood was observed. The number of erythrocytes decreased in acute phases of an attack to a constant mean of 2.32 Mill./microliters of blood and then increased, at the same rate as the cold agglutinin level decreased, almost reaching normal values. These experiments confirm the fact that an organism following an infection with Eperythrozoon suis, begins to produce cold agglutinins. Due to structural similarities between the pathogen and the erythrocyte antigen the cold agglutinin causes temperature dependent agglutination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In a field trial, the development of antibodies of a combined vaccine against the porcine parvovirus (PPV) as well as against swine erysipelas was compared with corresponding mono vaccines. Furthermore, these vaccines were used in different vaccination schedules. The tests were carried out on 109 gilts in three closed farms. In all gilts, a basic immunization repeated twice was carried out at the age of six months and at intervals of three weeks. The revaccination was carried out four months after the basic immunization with half of the animals, and six months after the basic immunization with the remaining gilts. Between the combined vaccine and the mono vaccine no significant differences in the development of antibodies against PPV could be found according to different vaccination schedules. The gilts having been vaccinated with the mono vaccine and boostered six months later showed significantly higher antibody titers against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Between the remaining vaccination groups no significant difference in the development of the antibodies against swine erysipelas could be found. On only one farm, a continuous decrease of antibody titers against PPV in case of altogether 238 non-vaccinated piglets until the sixth month of life could be observed. On the two other farms, an increase of antibody titers against PPV could be found at different points of time, which indicates an infection of the piglets. Between the individual vaccination groups no significant antibody titers against PPV could be measured in milk tests. With regard to the number of piglets born alive per litter, the number of piglets born dead per litter and the number of mummies, a significant difference could neither be found between the vaccination groups 1-4.

Objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of various local anaesthetics (Procaine Hydrochloride, Procaine Hydrochloride + Epinephrin, Lidocaine Hydrochloride) used in castration of four to six day old male piglets. Animals of the control groups (I-IV) were treated analogous to the castration groups (V-IX) but not castrated. In groups I and V 15 minutes prior to castration/fixation the piglets were fixed as for injection but not medicated. The injection volume was standardised to 0.5 ml per testes. Local anaesthetics were applicated intratesticularly in five groups and intrascrotarly in two groups. Blood samples were taken shortly before and one, four and 24 hours after castration/fixation. The serum cortisol level was analysed to determine pain induced neuroendocrine stress reaction. To proof the tissue tolerance creatinkinase-(CK) and aspartataminotransferase-(AST) concentration were analysed. One, seven and 14 days after castration the healing process were evaluated by a wound score. Groups I to IV did not show any increase of the serum cortisol level. Contrary one hour after castration the average cortisol concentration of castration groups (V-IX) rose significantly. Cortisol concentration of the medicated castration groups (VI-IX) showed a comparable or even higher cortisol level as the not medicated control group (V). Determination of CK and AST indicated no tissue damage of the application of the local anaesthetics. The administration of local anaesthetics prior to the castration did not have any effect on the wound healing process. The results of this study lead to the conclusion that injection of local anaesthetics show a good tissue tolerance but the call for reduction of the castration pain by presurgical injection of Procaine Hydrochloride or Lidocaine Hydrochloride is not justified.

According to the applicable animal welfare legislation, the surgical castration of pigs is allowed up until the age of 4 weeks, without anaesthesia. According to the european guideline (2001/93/EG) it is only permitted in the first week after birth. The investigation should show, whether the castration of young piglets takes a milder course and to what extent stress reactions occur in different age groups. The healing process of castration wounds in piglets that were castrated at the age of four days progressed more rapidly and with less complications than those piglets that were castrated at 28 days of age. The catecholamine levels in younger piglets rose significantly after the operation, while these levels virtually stayed the same in piglets castrated at 28 days. As alternatives to castration without anaesthesia, several methods are in discussion: (1) Castration under general anaesthesia can only be practiced by a veterinary surgeon. The sole use of Azaperon and Ketamine has insufficient pain sedating effect. Isofluran anaesthesia is apparatively extravagant. (2) CO2-Anaesthesia in piglets leads to high strain. (3) Castration under local anaesthesia must be practiced by a veterinary surgeon. The application and the pain after the castration are not taken into consideration. (4) Jung boar fattening up until the slaughtering weight of 80 kg is not transformable, because of boar taste. (5) The breeding of slaughter pigs with little boar taint is not yet transformable. (6) Sperm sexing is not and will not, in the near future, be mature for practice. (7) Immunocastration is an active immunisation against GnRH. The immunological elimination of GnRH suppresses the development of sex hormones, such as testosterone, as well as the substance responsible for boar taint, Androstenone. To consider is the acceptance of the consumer. The preparation has the same effect in humans as it has in swine. "Self injections" have the same effect in humans as it has in swine. "Self injections" are therefore risky.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) seems to cause reproductive failure in sows not only in experimental studies. A retrospective study was made with a total of 252 aborted fetuses, mummified fetuses, stillborn and nonviable neonatal piglets to determine the presence of PCV2, porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV) by PCR. PCV2 was found in all stages of gestation in 27.1 percent of samples examined. A statistically significant association could be shown between the detection of PCV2 and PRRSV. However, no significant association was seen between the detection of PCV2 and PPV and between PPV and PRRSV.

The effects of vaccination against gonadotropin releasing factor (GnRF) with Improvac® (Pfizer Animal Health) were compared with surgical castration in fattening pigs.A total of 205 pigs were surgically castrated (group K) and 191 were vaccinated twice (group V) using the boar taint vaccine (Improvac®; 2ml s.c.). The first dose was administered atthe age of 12 weeks when the animals were moved into the fattening unit and the second dose in week 18, 4-6 weeks before the planned slaughter date. Live weights were recorded in weeks 1, 4, 12, 18, and 22. In weeks 18 and 20, length and width of the testicles of 171 animals of group V were measured. After slaughtering cold carcass weight, back fat depth, muscle thickness, percent lean meat, and fat and muscle areas of the carcasses were determined. A piece of the neck muscle from each pig was used to conduct a cooking and melting sensory test.While no significant weight difference was evident in week 22 (K=89.4kg; V=88.6kg), cold carcass weight, and back fat and muscle thickness were lower for vaccinates. Vaccinates had higher average daily weight gains (ADW) after the second injection from week 18 up to the cut-off weighing in week 22 (V=1121g; K=1007g; p0.001) in contrast to average daily weight gains between weeks 12 and 18 (K=740g; V=668g; p0.001). After the second injection, testicle size of vaccinated pigs decreased significantly. All animals were negative for boar taint by both cooking and melting tests.Boars vaccinated against boar taint had lower ADW before the second vaccination, but compensated the weight difference after complete vaccination. The significant reduction in the testicle size after the second injection indicates a vaccination success. After vaccination no boar taint was detected in carcasses.Vaccination as well as surgical castration reliably prevents the incidence of boar taint. The late rise in daily gain can be beneficial if management is aligned.

Acute myeloid leukemia is a rare finding in swine. A case of acute promyelocytic leukemia is described by light microscopy, enzyme- and immunohistochemistry as well as electron microscopy. Tumour cells can be demonstrated in bone marrow, lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidneys, small intestine and myocardium. The tumorous neutrophil precursor cells are positive for naphthol-AS-D-chloroacetate esterase and lysozyme. They show ultrastructurally numerous granules as typical for promyelocytes. Virus particles of the oncorna-c-type can be demonstrated within the tumour cells.