Porcine Health Management最新文献

{"title":"The effect of increased feeding occasions per day on the incidence of tail biting-a case report.","authors":"Hanna Andersson, Magdalena Jacobson","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00537-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-026-00537-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tail biting is a recurring and severe problem in the pig production, being provoked by a multitude of underlying factors predisposing for an abnormal behaviour. Risk factors include feed-related factors such as restricted feeding, a high-energy, low-fibre ration, unpredicted feeding times, and competition for food. In 2010, an increase in the number of feeding bouts from three to four times a day was implemented in a Swedish finisher farm. Following this change, a decrease in the number of pigs with tail lesions being recorded at slaughter, and a drop in the number of pigs treated with antibiotics for tail biting, was noted. The aim of this study was to investigate retrospectively the effect of changing the number of feeding times per day in 15 868 pigs being bred during 15 months before (Period 1) to 15 months after (Period 2) this change was implemented, including the remarks for tail biting at slaughter, the number of pigs treated for tail biting, the daily weight gain (DWG) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) during these periods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total 6390 pigs in Period 1, and 9478 pigs in Period 2, were included. The average number of remarks for tail lesions at slaughter was reduced from 147 pigs to 113 pigs, a reduction by 54% (p < 0.001). The number of pigs subject to antibiotic treatment for \"tail biting\" was reduced from 0.9% to 0.6%, a reduction by 35% (p < 0.01). The average DWG during Period 1 was 790 g/day and during Period 2, the DWG was 830 g/day (p < 0.0007). The FCR as measured by MJ/kg growth was 38.5 MJ/kg during Period 1, and 37.2 MJ/kg growth during Period 2 (p < 0.024).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>An increase in the number of feeding bouts from three to four times daily seems to reduce the frequency of tail biting, as monitored by the number of remarks at slaughter and the number of treatments for tail biting. Further, the increase resulted in a higher average daily weight gain and in a decrease in the feed conversion ratio.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13632246/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149114167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detecting swine influenza A virus during fattening and at slaughter: implications for monitoring strategies in fattening herds.","authors":"Pauline Deffner, Katrin Jankowitsch, Matthias Eddicks, Susanne Zöls, Mathias Ritzmann, Yury Zablotski, Robert Fux, Timm Harder, Kathrin Lillie-Jaschniski, Julia Stadler","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00529-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-026-00529-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Swine influenza A virus (swIAV) is a major contributor to respiratory disease in pigs and represents a One-Health concern. This study evaluated whether slaughterhouse sampling can complement or partially substitute on-farm monitoring by comparing slaughterhouse-derived sample specimens for swIAV detection and subtype characterization.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-one pig farms in Germany were enrolled, and one batch of fatteners per farm was monitored longitudinally using pen-based oral fluids (OFs) at three predefined time points during fattening. In case of acute respiratory distress, tracheobronchial swabs (TBS) were collected from 15 affected pigs. At slaughter, 30 pigs per farm were sampled and tested for swIAV by qPCR, yielding OFs, nasal swabs before and after scalding (NS I/NS II), bronchial swabs (BS), lung tissue (LT), and serum. Overall, 18/21 farms (85.7%) were classified as swIAV-positive, with a seroprevalence of 92.4% in the study population. During fattening, swIAV-RNA was detected in OFs collected on-farm in 7/21 farms (33.3%) at least once, most frequently at the beginning of fattening. Among 15 farms with TBS sampling, swIAV-RNA was detected in 4 farms (26.7%). At slaughter, swIAV-RNA was detected in at least one matrix on 7/21 farms and in 74/540 pigs (13.7%). Detection probability at slaughter differed by specimen: lower respiratory tract samples showed higher detection rates and lower Ct-values than NS (BS: 9.7%, LT: 10.9%; NS: 6.3%). Diagnostic agreement between materials ranged from fair to moderate, highest between BS and LT (κ = 0.58; p < 0.001). Slaughterhouse OFs showed low sensitivity. From selected RT-qPCR-positive samples with Ct < 33, BS yielded the highest proportion of successfully subtyped samples. Subtypes HA-1 C.2.1 (H1avN1EA), HA-1 C.2.4 (H1avN2G), and HA-1B.1 (H1huN2G) were identified in 4/7 RT-qPCR-positive farms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite longitudinal OF sampling during fattening and additional TBS collection during acute respiratory disease, swIAV-RNA was only detected in a subset of seropositive farms. Molecular detection at slaughter was likewise restricted, whereas serology substantially improved herd-level identification. Among PCR-based sample types in slaughter pigs, BS demonstrated the highest diagnostic yield and suitability for subtype characterization. Even combined, on-farm and slaughterhouse RT-qPCR approaches remained constrained by the transient nature of swIAV shedding. Slaughterhouse sampling therefore complements-but does not replace-structured on-farm investigations for comprehensive surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13495275/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148797195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Criteria for timely euthanasia of compromised pigs based on expert opinion and longitudinal data collection on farm.","authors":"Julia D Kschonek, Maria Hartmann, Kathrin Deters, Annika Joost, Moana Miller, Jennifer Reinmold, Henrike Maiti, Isabel Hennig-Pauka, Nicole Kemper, Christin Kleinsorgen, Karl-Heinz Tölle, Lothar Kreienbrock, Michael Wendt, Elisabeth Grosse Beilage","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00532-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40813-026-00532-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Timely euthanasia is essential for safeguarding pig welfare by preventing unnecessary pain and suffering. However, the definition of what constitutes \"timely\" euthanasia and which clinical signs allow identification of this time point require empirical validation. This study presents the results of an expert evaluation conducted during a continuing education course. Seventy pig-experienced veterinarians and farmers assessed on-farm recorded clinical signs, as well as photographic and video material from 130 pigs documenting the progression of disease over several days until recovery or euthanasia. For each observation day presented, participants voted for or against euthanasia and provided the reasoning underlying their decision. In total, more than 22,000 individual evaluations were collected. The time point considered appropriate for euthanasia and the associated decision criteria were analyzed and compared with the clinical signs recorded on farm. Qualitative analysis showed that expert consensus on timely euthanasia is primarily based on assessing the chance of treatment success, establishing a specific diagnosis, and evaluating clinical signs through repeated assessments. Furthermore, results indicated that euthanasia decision-making should occur within a time frame encompassing up to three re-visitations.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13455467/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148707365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vaccination against Lawsonia intracellularis reduced tail-biting related behaviors in a commercial pig herd.","authors":"Déborah Temple, Ivan Díaz, Eva Mainau, Rosa Centelles, Damián Escribano, César Llorente, Llorenç Badiella, Stephan von Berg, Marta Jiménez","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00530-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40813-026-00530-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lawsonia intracellularis is the causative agent of proliferative enteropathy, a common enteric disease in pigs that compromises intestinal integrity and may influence behavior through inflammation and immune activation. Its potential link to tail biting, an abnormal behavior that causes stress, injury and pain, remains unexplored. This study evaluated the effect of vaccination against L. intracellularis on tail-biting related behaviors, tail lesions, active behaviors, and postures in pigs reared under commercial conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study compared two groups in a commercial herd naturally and subclinically infected with L. intracellularis: pigs vaccinated against L. intracellularis at 5 weeks of age and unvaccinated controls each comprising 21 pens observed from 11 to 28 weeks of age. Pigs had intact tails. L. intracellularis DNA in feces and specific antibodies in blood were detected by qPCR and ELISA, respectively. Tail-biting related behaviors (rear-end nosing and tail manipulation) were quantified by video analysis (n = 42 pens). Tail lesions were assessed weekly and individually for each pig (n = 516 pigs) using a standardized scoring system. Active behaviors (exploration, feeding, social interactions) and postures were recorded as additional behavioral measures. Haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP), total esterase activity (TEA) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) were analyzed in blood or saliva. Mortality and average daily gain (ADG) were registered. Ethical welfare management measures (temporary space increase, tail spraying, and enrichment) were applied when recurrent or repeated bleeding from the tail was observed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>L. intracellularis was detected between 15 weeks of age and 24 weeks of age. During this period, vaccinated pigs exhibited lower frequency of tail-biting related behaviors, whereas tail lesion scores did not differ between groups. Unvaccinated control pigs explored enrichment more frequently and were sporadically more active and restless while vaccinated pigs spent more time at the feeder. ADA concentrations were higher in vaccinated pigs, while Hp, CRP, TEA, mortality, and ADG did not differ (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Under natural subclinical Lawsonia intracellularis infection, vaccinated pigs demonstrated fewer tail-biting related behaviors and lower levels of active behaviors compared with unvaccinated controls. Although tail lesion rates were similar between groups, likely due to effective welfare management measures, the observed behavioral differences suggest that vaccination against L. intracellularis can enhance pig welfare even in the absence of clinical disease. Therefore, controlling subclinical enteric infections through vaccination may serve as an indirect yet practical complementary strategy to reduce tail-biting related behaviors on commercial pig farms.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13673825/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148472340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection, virus isolation, and phylogenetic analysis of PRRSV2 in China from 2022 to 2025.","authors":"Hao Yang, Wenbo Song, Desheng Chu, Zechuan Li, Zhanwei Zhu, Rui Xie, Lin Hua, Huanchun Chen, Bin Wu, Zhong Peng","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00531-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40813-026-00531-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most important diseases threatening the global pig industry. It has been reported that PRRSV predominantly circulating in clinical practice in China belongs to the genotype 2 (PRRSV2), comprising four lineages: lineages 1, 3, 5, and 8. Among these, lineage 1 strains are further divided into sublineage 1.5 (NADC34-like strains) and sublineage 1.8 (NADC30-like strains).To further understand the prevalence and variation characteristics of PRRSV2 in China, this study conducted detection, virus isolation, and genetic evolution analysis of PRRSV2 from 2022 to 2025.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study employed qRT-PCR to detect PRRSV2 in 23,962 samples collected nationwide from 2022 to 2025, with an average positive detection rate of 33.29%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ORF5 gene revealed that sublineage 1.8 PRRSV was predominant in China, followed by sublineage 1.5 and lineage 8. A total of 389 PRRSV2 strains were isolated using porcine alveolar macrophage (PAM) cells, of which 59 strains could proliferate in Marc-145 cells. Different amino acid variations, insertions, and deletions were identified in the ORF5 and Nsp2 genes of the 389 PRRSV2 strains. Whole genome sequencing was performed on 79 PRRSV strains, and 93.67% (74 strains) exhibited inter-lineage recombination.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrates the positive detection rate and predominant strain types of PRRSV2 in China. Sequencing results of isolated PRRSV strains reveals amino acid variations and recombination in the ORF5, Nsp2, and whole genomes. Overall, this study provides data support for the molecular epidemiology of PRRSV2 in China.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13647776/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148423503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Veterinary antimicrobials practices for swine mycoplasmoses: a field survey and comparison with scientific and regulatory recommendations.","authors":"Romain Hollard, Anneke Feberwee, Salvatore Catania, Katarzyna Dudek, Jade Bokma, Lucía Manso-Silván, Glenn Browning, Dominiek Maes, Anne V Gautier-Bouchardon, Manon Holstege, Florence Tardy, Jeanine Wiegel, Claire A M Becker","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00522-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40813-026-00522-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mycoplasma infections pose a significant challenge in swine production because of their economic impact and the difficulties associated with diagnosis and treatment. Antimicrobials are often the only available option for combating mycoplasmoses despite reports of resistance to several molecules and the frequent chronic nature of infections, which can reduce treatment efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the use of antimicrobials against swine mycoplasmoses through an international field survey and to review the relevant scientific literature and regulatory recommendations. The survey was led by the MyMIC network, whose main objective is to standardise antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods for livestock mycoplasmas. The responses of 118 swine veterinarians across 25 countries were analysed. No significant variations in practices were observed between countries. Macrolides, tetracyclines, and pleuromutilins were the most prescribed antimicrobial classes (used in more than 40%, 20% and 5% of clinical cases, respectively), which is consistent with current recommendations. Additional diagnosis with laboratory-based methods was commonly reported, with only 2.5% of veterinarians indicating that they never used it. However, AST was not commonly performed; only 30% of respondents reported requesting it in more than half of the cases. Ineffective or critically important antibiotics, such as beta-lactams or fluoroquinolones, were occasionally prescribed (approximately 1% for each). Occasional deviations from the recommended dosages were also noted. These findings raise concerns regarding resistance selection and potential treatment failures. Our results underscore the need for enhanced diagnosis, especially AST, and for a wider dissemination and adoption of treatment guidelines to support the sustainable management of swine health. By developing and promoting harmonised AST protocols and enabling objective, data-driven prescriptions, MyMIC plays a key role in strengthening communication between swine veterinarians and diagnostic laboratories, thereby supporting international antimicrobial stewardship.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13595520/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148302719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parabacteroides distasonis ameliorates ETEC-induced diarrhea in weaned piglets by regulating intestinal barrier function and intestinal inflammation.","authors":"Zichen Wu, Longlin Zhang, Hongkun Li, Zihao Zhang, Bie Tan, Jing Wang","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00525-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40813-026-00525-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the main pathogen causing bacterial diarrhea in piglets. Ningxiang piglets (native Chinese breed) has the characteristics of stress resistance and low diarrhea rate, which is closely related to the intestinal microbial structure shaped by its high fiber feed. Our study found that Parabacteroides distasonis (P. distasonis), a representative intestinal bacterial species in Ningxiang piglets, had a positive correlation with fecal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). P. distasonis strain was isolated from Ningxiang piglets and verified the regulation on intestinal injury induced by ETEC in piglets. Results showed P. distasonis could alleviate the weight loss of piglets caused by ETEC infection. P. distasonis significantly decreased the diarrhea rate and inhibited the colonization of ETEC in intestinal mucosa, while decreased the ileal mucosal IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels after ETEC infection (P < 0.05). P. distasonis decreased the serum DAO activity, D-lactate and Endotoxin and upregulating the expression of small intestine mucosal sIgA. P. distasonis enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins, including claudin-1, claudin-3, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), at both the transcriptional and translational levels (P < 0.05). It also upregulates the expression of intestinal epithelial proliferation markers including PCNA, β-catenin, CHGA, Lgr5 and LYZ (P < 0.05). Furthermore, P. distasonis affected the microbial structure and increased the relative abundances of beneficial genera, as well as increased the SCFAs contents in ileum of ETEC-challenged piglets. Taken together, P. distasonis could maintain the integrity of intestinal epithelial barrier, alleviate intestinal inflammation and repair intestinal barrier damage caused by ETEC, which provides theoretical basis for nutritional intervention of diarrhea in piglets.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13527943/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148278525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A pantothenic acid deficiency outbreak causing mortality and neuromuscular disorders in newborn and nursery piglets.","authors":"Sara Isabel Loscertales, Anna Romagosa, Laura Martino, Marina Cid-Cañete, Sofía Bosco, Mariona Leiva-Forns, Joaquim Segalés","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00527-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40813-026-00527-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The present case report describes the clinical and pathological outcomes of an outbreak of piglet mortality and neuromuscular disorders in newborn and nursery piglets caused by vitamin B5 deficiency.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A farrow-to-wean 750 sow-farm in Spain experienced abortions and respiratory signs in sows related to swine influenza during the first week of February 2025. It was followed by an unusual high piglet mortality rate within the first week post-farrowing, reaching up to 65% and persisting for seven weeks. Piglets were born apparently healthy, and colostrum intake was considered normal. Nevertheless, on the second day of life, they started showing apathy, ataxia, and prostration, most of them usually dying spontaneously on the third day of life. At the same time, at least 14 recently weaned piglets exhibited similar clinical signs and subsequently died. However, sows were completely unaffected. Initial antibiotic treatments were ineffective. Seven piglets were subjected to a complete necropsy. Five showed the above-mentioned neurological signs and two were completely healthy, which served as non-affected control animals. No relevant gross lesions were found. Histopathologically, neuronal bodies from cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord had variable degrees of central chromatolysis, cytoplasmic vacuolation, and swelling, with displaced nuclei and occasional necrosis. Some of the sampled sciatic nerves had mild-to-intense axonal swelling and fragmentation. Microscopic lesions were absent in the two non-affected pigs. Pantothenic acid deficiency was presumptively diagnosed, and all newborn piglets were treated with a vitamin B complex. The condition did not re-appear after treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Insufficient pantothenic acid intake should be among the differential diagnoses of piglets with ataxia, muscle weakness and mortality. A fast diagnosis based on complete nervous system sampling is key to diagnose and counteract this condition.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13528104/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148272774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Proliferative and granulomatous ileitis in a pig naturally infected with Lawsonia intracellularis.","authors":"Dávid Géza Horváth, Sonja Jeckel, Joaquim Segalés, Bernat Martí-Garcia","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00528-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40813-026-00528-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Granulomatous enteritis in pigs is mostly associated with porcine circovirus 2 systemic disease (PCV2-SD) but less often caused by fungi, Salmonella spp., foreign bodies, Mycobacterium spp. or Lawsonia intracellularis. This unusual and rare presentation of Lawsonia intracellularis infection can only be diagnosed by histopathological and immunohistochemical confirmation.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>Postmortem examination was performed in three 9-10-week-old post-weaned growing pigs from an outdoor farm submitted with a clinical history of increased mortality and wasting over the last two batches. Gross findings in all animals included poor body condition, segmental fibrino-necrotizing enteritis and catarrhal colitis. Histopathological examination identified chronic segmental proliferative enteritis with concurrent granulomatous inflammation of the submucosa and Peyer's patches in one animal (pig A). Lawsonia intracellularis was demonstrated in the apical cytoplasm of proliferating crypt enterocytes and in multinucleated giant cells and macrophages of the lamina propria and submucosa by Warthin-Starry stain and immunohistochemistry. PCV2 antigen was not detected in the intestinal lesions or in other lymphoid tissues by immunohistochemistry. Mycobacteriosis was ruled out by means of Ziehl Neelsen stain. Selective culture of intestinal contents for Salmonella spp. was negative and Brachyspira pilosicoli was isolated and identified by PCR from two animals (pigs A and C). This spirochete could have contributed to the colitis and wasting in these animals. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus involvement was discarded in the three pigs by spleen RT-PCR.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This case report highlights Lawsonia intracellularis as a rare but significant differential diagnosis for granulomatous enteritis in pigs and emphasizes the importance of achieving a definitive diagnosis by excluding PCV2-SD and demonstrating co-localization of the bacterium with granulomatous inflammation by Warthin-Starry stain and immunohistochemistry.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13527958/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148265825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Pestivirus scrofae infection in the tissues of a persistently infected boar.","authors":"Lilla Dénes, Lukas Schwarz, René Brunthaler, Sandra Högler, Gyula Balka","doi":"10.1186/s40813-026-00514-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40813-026-00514-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pestivirus scrofae (previously atypical porcine pestivirus, APPV) is a member of the genus Pestivirus within the family Flaviviridae. This virus has been established as the etiological agent of congenital tremor (CT) type AII, a neurological disorder in newborn piglets characterized by generalized tremors. Despite this association, the epidemiological characteristics of the virus, including its transmission dynamics and patterns of spread between herds, remain poorly understood. It has already been confirmed that, similarly to other flaviviruses, APPV can be shed by semen. Previously, we have identified interstitial Leydig cells, the peritubular myoid cells and smooth muscle cells of medium-sized arteries as target cells of APPV in the testicles of newborn, congenitally infected, CT-affected piglets.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In our present study, we examined FFPE tissue samples obtained from a persistently infected 6-months-old, sexually mature boar, born with CT, that was still shedding 2.1 × 10⁹ GE/mL APPV in its semen. We detected viral genome by RNAscope in situ hybridization method in the T-cell zones of the lymph nodes draining the reproductive organs and the GALT of the ileum, periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths of the spleen and in cells of the intestinal crypts in the ileum. We also identified positive cells in the molecular, granular and the Purkinje-cell layer of the cerebellum, and in the neurons of the spinal cord and the cerebral cortex. We found weak positive signal in the colon, but none in the lungs and the liver. Interestingly, positive signals were detected in the outer layers of the adrenal gland cortex (zona glomerulosa and fasciculata), as well as in the acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas. In reproductive organs, viral nucleic acid was detected in the Leydig cells and peritubular myoid cells of the testicles, in cells within the seminiferous tubules and in the epididymis. We also found positive cells in the prostate and the bulbourethral gland. The shedding of the virus in semen supports the notion that infected cells within the reproductive tract may serve as a source of the virus in semen. These affected cells of the reproductive tract could serve as source of the virus in semen.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results suggest that APPV is capable of crossing the blood-testis barrier, and may be associated with persistent infection, including cases likely originating from congenital exposure, in pigs and boars that can actively shed the virus. Therefore, the use of such animals for breeding purposes should be approached with caution. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of persistent infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":20352,"journal":{"name":"Porcine Health Management","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13282871/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148265870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}