SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Pigs”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

Biotin studies in pigs. 2. The biotin requirement of the growing pig.

Twenty pigs weaned at 5 d were given pelleted diets based on maize flour and casein and supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 micrograms biotin/kg diet. The performance of the pigs was not influenced by the biotin content of the diets. Typical biotin deficiency symptoms (foot lesions and skin pustules) were observed in pigs given the unsupplemented diet and the diet supplemented with 50 micrograms biotin/kg diet. Tissue biotin concentration plateaued when 100 micrograms biotin/kg was added to the diet. Faecal biotin excretion was independent of dietary biotin intake, but increased with age. Urine biotin excretion at 102 d was significantly lower for the unsupplemented pigs than for the pigs given various levels of dietary biotin supplements. A dietary requirement of biotin for young pigs between 50 and 100 micrograms/kg diet is suggested from the results of the present experiment.

Aging↗

PubMed1996

Marked reduction of the prevalence of pseudorabies virus-infected pigs in pig dense regions of The Netherlands during the first year of a nation-wide vaccination campaign.

The breeding and finishing pig populations in four Animal Health Service regions in the Netherlands were monitored with respect to pseudorabies virus (PRV) seroprevalence. Analysis of data of the seroprevalence survey of 1994 indicated that two samples per herd was sufficient to estimate the seroprevalence in both the sow and finishing pig populations. In the northern, eastern, southern, and western regions, 115, 645, 940, and 218 sow herds and 114, 1036, 954, and 323 pig finishing herds were sampled, respectively. In the breeding pig population, the PRV-seroprevalence decreased from 27% to 17% in the eastern region, from 32% to 17% in the southern region, from 18% to 12% in the western region, and from 10% to 6% in the northern region. In the finishing pig population, the PRV-seroprevalence decreased from 15% to 6% in the eastern region, from 19% to 6% in the southern region, and from 12% to 5% in the western region. There was no significant difference in PRV seroprevalence in finishing pigs in the northern region between the survey of 1994 and 1995.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

In-vitro transfer of antibiotic resistance between faecal Escherichia coli strains isolated from pig farmers and pigs.

Faecal Escherichia coli isolated from farmers and their pigs were analyzed for biotypes, plasmid patterns and transferability of antibiotic resistance. Pairs of isolates from the farmer and pigs from the same farm with the same resistance patterns formed group A and were compared with pig and farmer isolates showing different patterns (group B). Only one pair of isolates in group A and one in group B had the same biotype. Whole plasmid patterns and plasmid profiles after restriction analysis of the paired isolates of group A showed only minimal similarities. Whereas 10/11 pig isolates in group B transferred resistance, 50% in group A did so. Transfer experiments showed similar frequencies of transfer for farmer and pig isolates in both groups. The present study does not provide conclusive evidence that there is a common pool of resistance plasmids among farmers and their pigs.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1975

Adhesion of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to pig intestinal brush borders: the existence of two pig phenotypes.

An in-vitro test that demonstrates adhesion of K88-positive Escherichia coli to brush borders prepared from the small intestine of the pig is described. K88-positive E. coli adhered to the brush borders from some pigs ("positive" pigs) but not others ("negative" pigs). The sires of the pigs tested could be placed into two groups, namely, those that sired only "positive" piglets, and those that sired a mixture of "positive" and "negative" piglets. The incidence of the two phenotypes in litters indicated that "positive" and "negative" piglets arose as a result of simple Mendelian inheritance. It is suggested that "negative" pigs could be bred and that they might have a natural resistance to neonatal infection with K88-positive E. coli.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Changes in CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+) CD8(+), and immunoglobulin M-positive peripheral blood mononuclear cells of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome-affected pigs and age-matched uninfected wasted and healthy pigs correlate with lesions and porcine circovirus type 2 load in lymphoid tissues.

Forty-one 8- to 12-week-old wasted pigs were selected from several conventional farms with histories of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and classified into two groups according to their porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection status, as determined by in situ hybridization (ISH). Twenty-four pigs tested positive for PCV2 (PCV2-positive group), while 17 pigs tested negative for PCV2 (PCV2-negative group). In addition, eight uninfected healthy pigs from an experimental farm were used as controls. Heparinized blood samples were taken to obtain peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+) CD8(+) (double-positive [DP]), and immunoglobulin M-positive (IgM(+)) cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry with appropriate monoclonal antibodies. Histopathological studies were done to evaluate the apparent degrees of lymphocyte depletion in different lymphoid organs (superficial inguinal and mesenteric lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, tonsils, and spleen) and to determine the viral load of the PCV2 genome by using an ISH technique. Animals of the PCV2-positive group showed a significant downshift of the CD8(+) and DP cell subsets compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, in PCV2-positive pigs, the amount of PCV2 genome in lymphoid tissues was related to the degree of cell depletion in those tissues (P < 0.05) as well as to the relative decrease in IgM(+) and CD8(+) cells in peripheral blood. These data support the notion that PCV2-positive pigs might have an impaired immune response.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

In vivo regulation of von willebrand factor synthesis: von Willebrand factor production in endothelial cells after lung transplantation between normal pigs and von Willebrand factor-deficient pigs.

To evaluate the regulation of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) and its in situ production by endothelial cells (ECs), 12 swine leukocyte antigen (SLA)-compatible left lung transplantations were performed. Normal lungs were transplanted into 10 pigs homozygous for von Willebrand disease and into 2 normal pigs. Additionally, 1 normal pig underwent pneumonectomy, and 1 SLA-incompatible lung transplantation between normal pigs was performed. None of the transplanted animals received immunosuppressive therapy. Plasma vWF level was evaluated by ELISA and multimeric pattern. EC vWF content was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Global hemostasis was assessed by standardized ear bleeding time. Six of 12 SLA-compatible lung transplantations and the incompatible transplantation were successful and were used for the study. The functions and the viability of ECs, reflected by their ability to produce vWF and normal multimeric plasma vWF pattern, were preserved in SLA-compatible and -incompatible lung transplantations. vWF production was preserved in ECs that initially synthesized it. EC constitutive and storage pathways are modulated differently according to transplantation compatibility and severity of rejection. In SLA-compatible lung transplantations without histological evidence of rejection, the production of vWF was preserved, whereas constitutive vWF secretion appeared to be altered in cases with minor histological signs of rejection. In pigs with von Willebrand disease that were transplanted with normal lungs without sign of rejection, plasma vWF was significantly increased in an amount expected from the estimated production of a normal lung. In the transplanted normal lung, there was no vWF overexpression by the ECs and no recruitment of ECs that initially did not express vWF. In SLA-incompatible transplantation, ECs were morphologically normal with increased and blurred vWF labeling, whereas plasma vWF levels remained normal, reflecting that EC activation is associated with an increased vWF production with probable diversion to storage pathway. This model depicts the changes of EC regulation of vWF secretion in pig lung transplants. However, this model cannot be directly extrapolated to human organ transplantation because animals did not receive any immunosuppressive therapy, which may be toxic to ECs.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aortic atherosclerosis in pigs with heterozygous von Willebrand disease. Comparison with homozygous von Willebrand and normal pigs.

We have reported that pigs with severe homozygous von Willebrand disease (vWd) are resistant to spontaneous and high fat, high cholesterol, diet-induced atherosclerosis. In this study we report the quantitation of aortic atherosclerotic plaques in three groups of pigs fed with a high fat, high cholesterol (2%) diet from age 3 to 9 months. Nine normal pigs (normal factor VIII antigen, VIII R:AG, and ristocetin co-factor, VIII:RWF) had a mean of 21% atherosclerotic involvement of the distal aortic surface and a 4.5% mean involvement of the entire aorta. Five homozygous vWd pigs (undetected VIII R:AG and VIII:RWF) had a mean of 4.2% atherosclerotic involvement of the distal aortic surface and 1.2% involvement of the entire aorta (p less than 0.01, rank sum test). Five heterozygous vWd pigs (approximately 35% VIII R:AG and VIII:RWF) had a mean of 25% atherosclerotic involvement of the distal aortic surface and 6% involvement of the entire aorta; the results were not significantly different from those in the normal pigs. We concluded that resistance to atherosclerosis is not found in animals with moderate reduction of VIII R:AG and VIII:RWF. This may have implications for humans, since in human vWd both factors are almost always present.

Animals↗

PubMed2007

Vitamin E and selenium plasma concentrations in weanling pigs under field conditions in Norwegian pig herds.

BACKGROUND: The status of alpha-tocopherol (vit E) and selenium (Se) has been shown to influence disease resistance in pigs, and may be important for the health of weanling pigs. METHODS: Plasma levels of both vit E and Se were followed in weanling pigs under field conditions in six Norwegian pig herds. Plasma vit E and Se were measured in 3 sows from each herd and 4 piglets in the litter of each sow at the day before weaning (day -1); and in the same piglets at days 4, 8 and 18 after weaning. RESULTS: Mean plasma vit E was 4.0 microg/ml in the sows and 2.6 microg/ml in the piglets at day -1, fell to 1.6 microg/ml in the weanling pigs at day 4, and remained low. Mean plasma Se was 0.22 microg/g in the sows and 0.08 microg/g in the piglets at day -1, rose to 0.10 microg/g in the weanlings at day 4, and continued rising. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that vit E and Se supplementation to piglets and weanling pigs in Norway may still be suboptimal, but that levels of the two nutrients partially compensate for each other in the weaning period.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1992

Effects of pig follicular fluid on maturation of pig oocytes in vitro and on their subsequent fertilizing and developmental capacity in vitro.

This study examines the effects of pig follicular fluid on the maturation of pig oocytes and on their subsequent fertilizing and developmental capacity in vitro. The addition of pig follicular fluid or its fractions obtained by ultrafiltration, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography to maturation medium significantly increased the rates of nuclear maturation, normal fertilization and normal cleavage of pig oocytes after fertilization in vitro: the rates of normal fertilization and cleavage were 2-4 times higher than those in the control medium. The efficacy of pig follicular fluid was lost after heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min, whereas no significant decrease in activity was observed after defatting. In addition, the effective component(s) was partially purified by ultrafiltration, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography: the activity was observed in the fraction (UF2; M(r) 10,000-20,000) obtained by ultrafiltration. Activity was found in the first fraction (G1) obtained by gel filtration of UF2. Among three fractions obtained by ion-exchange chromatography of G1, only the third fraction had the activity. The results indicate that pig follicular fluid contains an acidic substance(s) (M(r) 10,000-200,000) that promotes oocyte maturation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Immunostimulatory effects of pig seminal proteins on pig lymphocytes.

Pig seminal proteins PSP-I and PSP-II are major protein components of boars' ejaculate and are present as heterodimers (PSP-dimer) in seminal plasma. These proteins were examined for their ability to modulate pig lymphocyte activity in vitro in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation assays and in one-way mixed lymphocyte reactions. Pig lymphocytes were cultured with phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin A, or pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in the presence or absence of pig seminal proteins and the amount of cellular [3H]thymidine was used as an indication of proliferation. In the absence of mitogens, none of the three pig seminal proteins affected lymphocyte proliferation suggesting that these proteins are not antigenic or mitogenic. PSP-dimer enhanced lymphocyte proliferation induced by PWM (156-227%, P < 0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner, but had no effect on phytohaemagglutinin- or concanavalin A-induced proliferation. PSP-I enhanced (127-185%, P < 0.05) phytohaemagglutinin-induced proliferation. PSP-II augmented (130-240%, P < 0.05) lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A and PWM. Lymphocytes from gilts were significantly more responsive to concanavalin A- and PWM-induced lymphocyte proliferation in the presence of PSP-I compared with boars (concanavalin A: gilts 131%, boars 91%; PWM: gilts 188%, boars 134%; P < 0.05). In the mixed lymphocyte reaction, pretreating stimulating cells with increasing concentrations of PSP-I or PSP-II elicited a 400% concentration-dependent increase (P < 0.01) in lymphocyte proliferation. The abundance of pig seminal proteins in boar seminal plasma, their ability to enhance lymphocyte proliferation, and their previously reported ability to bind to lymphocytes suggest that these proteins are immunostimulatory and supports the hypothesis that they modulate uterine immune activity to ensure reproductive success.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

[Embryo collection from miniature pigs and production of the piglets after transfer to common pig recipients].

Embryo collection from Göttingen miniature pigs and transfer to common pig recipients were performed. Embryos were collected 2 to 6 days after the onset of estrus. Two to 7 eggs including unfertilized ova were collected from a naturally ovulated donor and more eggs (7 to 15) were obtained from a superovulated donor. A total of 21 piglets were born after transfer of 33 miniature pig embryos to two common pig recipients. Among them 12 were stillbirths which seemed to have resulted from suffocation during the parturition. Such an embryo transfer technique will be utilized as an inventive method for the purposes such as international exchange of the particular strains of miniature pigs, establishment of a SPF miniature pig herd and so on.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Computer simulation model of swine production systems: II. Modeling body composition and weight of female pigs, fetal development, milk production, and growth of suckling pigs.

Theoretical concepts and relationships used to develop a deterministic computer simulation model of female pigs during their reproductive life are described. The model predicts, in a continuous form, body composition and weight of female pigs, fetal development, sow milk yield, and growth of suckling pigs according to genotype, diet, and management conditions. The model simulates growth of adult female pigs. Dietary nutrients are used first for maintenance and second for fetal growth or milk production. Any surplus is retained in the body. Energy and protein body reserves are mobilized when a nutrient deficit occurs during gestation or lactation. However, the rates of body protein and fat accretion as well as the fat/protein ratio are limited by boundaries, the values of which depend on the nutritional and physiological status of the pig. The model's ability to simulate sow body weight changes and composition, fetal growth, milk production, and suckling pig's growth is illustrated.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[Risk factors of contamination of pig farms in the Netherlands with pig diseases and agents thereof: a review of the literature].

Part of the project 'Clean pigs' an extensive study of literature was made of the risk factors related to the introduction of pathogenic micro-organisms in pigfarms in the Netherlands. On the basis of this study of literature and in close cooperation with the experts of the steering group of the project 'Clean pigs' a number of risk factors relevant for the Dutch pig farming were estimated. The impact of these risk factors on the introduction of the most important pig diseases/-agents in Dutch pig farming was quantified for three different levels of preventive measures. It is shown that many risks can be reduced or even be neglected by the biosecurity measures already applied on pig farms. For most diseases, including list A and B diseases of the OIE list, introduction of new animals is regarded as the main risk factor, but this risk can be reduced in several ways. Besides this, aerogenic transmission and introduction by rodents and pet animals need the most attention. Through specific actions and measures several important risk factors can be diminished or even eliminated.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1980

Swine vesicular disease viruses isolated from healthy pigs in non-epizootic period. II. Vesicular formation and virus multiplication in experimentally inoculated pigs.

An infection experiment was carried out on pigs with swine vesicular disease virus isolated from healthy pigs (SVDV-H). Inoculation was done by two routes, intradermal in the coronary band of the foot and oral. Observation was made on the formation of vesicles and their spread, the virus contents of serum, swab of the oral cavity, and feces, the vicissitude of neutralizing antibody titers, and the distribution of virus in the body. From its results the pathogenicity of virus was judged. In the pigs inoculated intradermally there was a difference in the extension of the area involved in vesicular formation between any two strains of virus. That is, vesicular formation was restricted to the site of inoculation, involved the site of inoculation and the sole of the hoof, or spread over the oral and nasal regions. In every pig, however, vesicles developed only for 2 approximately 5 days after inoculation. After that, repair progressed rapidly. Some strains caused viremia, which was mild. The virus was detected from the site of vesicular formation, but not from any organ. Neutralizing antibody began to be detected 3 days after inoculation. Its titer reached a plateau about 10 days later. In the pigs inoculated perorally, no vesicles were formed. The virus was only detected from the tonsils and the intestinal contents. These findings made it clear that SVDV-H was less pathogenic than swine vesicular disease virus isolated from diseased pigs.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Immune response of pigs inoculated with virulent pseudorabies virus and pigs inoculated with attenuated or inactivated pseudorabies virus vaccine before and after challenge exposure.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) antibodies, detectable by indirect radioimmunoassay (IRIA), serum-virus neutralization test (NT), or microimmunodiffusion test (MIDT) were developed within 8 days after pigs were inoculated with virulent PRV or attenuated PRV vaccine. Indirect radioimmunoassay and NT titers in pigs inoculated with virulent PRV were developed at the same rate, with IRIA titers being higher than NT titers. Pigs inoculated with attenuated or inactivated PRV vaccine developed peak mean prechallenge NT antibody titers of 4 and 1 (reciprocals of serum dilutions), respectively. Pigs inoculated with attenuated PRV vaccine had peak mean prechallenge IRIA antibody titers of 6, whereas pigs inoculated with inactivated PRV vaccine had mean IRIA antibody titers of 64. Challenge exposure of swine inoculated with attenuated or inactivated PRV vaccine elicited quantitatively equivalent responses, as measured by IRIA or NT, which were higher than prechallenge titers. There were no false-positive IRIA, NT, or MIDT results obtained when sera from nonvaccinated, nonchallenge-exposed pigs were tested. It appears that the PRV infection status of a seropositive swine herd could be ascertained by serologically monitoring several representative animals from a herd, using the NT. If 2 or more tests of representative animals at 14-day intervals were done and the mean NT titer was 4 or less, it could be concluded that the herd was vaccinated against, but not infected with, virulent virus.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Studies of the relationships between herd size, the percentage of pigs culled during the finishing period and the prevalence rate at slaughter of pigs with lesions.

In the range of 456-5,518 pigs delivered to slaughter per farm per year, herd size appeared to have no real influence on either the percentage of pigs culled during the finishing period or the percentage of pigs with lesions at slaughter. Percentage of pigs culled during the finishing period is positively correlated with percentage of pigs with lesions of slaughter P less than 0.01. The frequency of pigs culled during the finishing period could be an indicator for the need of intervention to restore health.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed1995

Inhibition of some aspects of acute inflammation of guinea-pig lung by intraperitoneal dexamethasone and mifepristone: demonstration of agonist activity of mifepristone in the guinea-pig.

We have determined the inhibitory activity of dexamethasone as an inhibitor of histamine-induced plasma protein extravasation (PPE) in guinea-pig lung and skin, and of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neutrophilia and platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced eosinophilia in guinea-pig lungs. Dexamethasone inhibited PAF-induced eosinophilia in guinea-pig lung (ED50 1.4 mg/kg i.p.). Higher doses of dexamethasone were required to inhibit LPS-induced neutrophilia (ED50 10.8 mg/kg i.p.). However, at doses up to 150 mg/kg i.p. dexamethasone did not inhibit histamine-induced plasma protein extravasation (PPE) in guinea-pig lung, but did inhibit PPE in guinea-pig skin. These preparations have previously been shown to be equally sensitive to inhibition by the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist salmeterol. Dexamethasone inhibited PAF-induced eosinophilia (5 mg/kg) or LPS-induced neutrophilia (50 mg/kg) when given 3 h or 1 h prior to challenge. Inhibitory activity was lost when dexamethasone was administered 23 h prior to LPS or 1 h after PAF. The glucocorticoid antagonist mifepristone (1-100 mg/kg i.p.) caused dose-related inhibition of PAF-induced eosinophilia but not of LPS-induced neutrophilia. The highest dose of mifepristone used (100 mg/kg) did not reverse the inhibitory actions of dexamethasone (50 mg/kg) on LPS-induced neutrophilia. We suggest that the different inhibitory activity of dexamethasone in the preparations studied indicates differences in the sensitivity of the target cells involved to inhibition by dexamethasone. We also suggest that inhibition of PAF-induced eosinophilia by mifepristone reflects the partial agonist activity of this agent, demonstrated by others in different experimental systems.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1996

Involvement of the M2 muscarinic receptor in contractions of the guinea pig trachea, guinea pig esophagus, and rat fundus.

The involvement of the M2 muscarinic receptor in contractile responses of the guinea pig trachea, guinea pig esophagus, and rat fundus was investigated. In the standard assay, oxotremorine-M elicited contractions of the trachea with an EC50 value of approximately 73 nanoM.--2- -(Diethylamino)methyl- -1-piperidinyl-acetyl--5,11- dihydro-6H-pyrido-2,3-b--1,4- benzodiazepine-6-one (AF-DX 116) at 1 and 10 microM antagonized these contractions by 2.1- and 9.0-fold increases in the EC50 value for oxotremorine-M. These effects are consistent with antagonism of an M3-mediated contractile response. In subsequent experiments, the M3 receptors were first inactivated selectively by incubation with N-(2-chloroethyl)-4- piperidinyl diphenylacetate (4-DAMP mustard) (40 nanoM) for 1 hr in the presence of AF-DX 116 (1 microM) followed by extensive washing. In 4-DAMP mustard treated trachea, oxotremorine-M elicited contractions with an EC50 value of 0.31 microM in the presence of histamine (10 microM) and forskolin (4 microM). Under these conditions, AF-DX 116 at 1 and 10 microM antagonized contractions to oxotremorine-M by 8- and 59-fold increases in the EC50, respectively, while para- fluorohexahydrosiladiphenidol(p-F-HHSiD) (0.1 microM) had no effect. These effects are consistent with a contraction being mediated by an M2 receptor. In the guinea pig esophagus and rat fundus, AF-DX 116 and p-F-HHSiD blocked contractions measured under similar conditions with magnitudes intermediate between what would be expected from an M2 and an M3 receptor, suggesting that perhaps both subtypes contribute to the overall contractile response under these conditions. In addition, contractions of the guinea pig trachea measured in the presence of histamine and forskolin were pertussis toxin sensitive. These results that, in the trachea, M2 receptors can dominate the contractile response after a majority of the M3 receptors have been inactivated, whereas in the guinea pig esophagus and rat fundus, M2 receptors may contribute to, but do not play a dominant role in the overall response.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗