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Taillieu E, Taelman S, De Bruyckere S, Goossens E, Chantziaras I, Van Steenkiste C, Yde P, Hanssens S, De Meyer D, Van Criekinge W, Stock M, Maes D, Chiers K, Haesebrouck F. The role of Helicobacter suis, Fusobacterium gastrosuis, and the pars oesophageal microbiota in gastric ulceration in slaughter pigs receiving meal or pelleted feed. Vet Res 2024; 55:15. [PMID: 38317242 PMCID: PMC10845778 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01274-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the role of causative infectious agents in ulceration of the non-glandular part of the porcine stomach (pars oesophagea). In total, 150 stomachs from slaughter pigs were included, 75 from pigs that received a meal feed, 75 from pigs that received an equivalent pelleted feed with a smaller particle size. The pars oesophagea was macroscopically examined after slaughter. (q)PCR assays for H. suis, F. gastrosuis and H. pylori-like organisms were performed, as well as 16S rRNA sequencing for pars oesophagea microbiome analyses. All 150 pig stomachs showed lesions. F. gastrosuis was detected in 115 cases (77%) and H. suis in 117 cases (78%), with 92 cases (61%) of co-infection; H. pylori-like organisms were detected in one case. Higher infectious loads of H. suis increased the odds of severe gastric lesions (OR = 1.14, p = 0.038), while the presence of H. suis infection in the pyloric gland zone increased the probability of pars oesophageal erosions [16.4% (95% CI 0.6-32.2%)]. The causal effect of H. suis was mediated by decreased pars oesophageal microbiome diversity [-1.9% (95% CI - 5.0-1.2%)], increased abundances of Veillonella and Campylobacter spp., and decreased abundances of Lactobacillus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Enterobacteriaceae spp. Higher infectious loads of F. gastrosuis in the pars oesophagea decreased the odds of severe gastric lesions (OR = 0.8, p = 0.0014). Feed pelleting had no significant impact on the prevalence of severe gastric lesions (OR = 1.72, p = 0.28). H. suis infections are a risk factor for ulceration of the porcine pars oesophagea, probably mediated through alterations in pars oesophageal microbiome diversity and composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Taillieu
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Steff Taelman
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, BIOBIX, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, KERMIT, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- BioLizard Nv, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie De Bruyckere
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Evy Goossens
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ilias Chantziaras
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Steenkiste
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp University, Edegem, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital Maria Middelares, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Wim Van Criekinge
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, BIOBIX, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michiel Stock
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, BIOBIX, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, KERMIT, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dominiek Maes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Koen Chiers
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Freddy Haesebrouck
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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De Meyer D, Chantziaras I, Amalraj A, Maes D. Effect of Pig Synthetic Pheromones and Positive Handling of Pregnant Sows on the Productivity of Nursery Pigs. Vet Sci 2024; 11:20. [PMID: 38250926 PMCID: PMC10818425 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Weaning is one of the most important stress events in the life of pigs, increasing the risk for health problems and reduced performance. The release of pheromones in pig stables can be considered an environmental enrichment and alleviate the negative effects of weaning stress in nursery pigs. The present study investigated the effect of synthetic pheromones on the performance of nursery pigs. The effect of positive handling of sows in the farrowing house on the performance of the offspring in the nursery was also investigated. The study was performed in a commercial pig farm and included 24 batches of weaned piglets (216 piglets per batch). Half of the batches originated from sows exposed to positive handling. This implied that music was played from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. from the moment the sows entered the farrowing house until weaning and that they were subjected to backscratching from the day they entered the farrowing unit the day of farrowing. During the nursery period, half of the batches were treated, and half served as controls. Piglets of treated groups were exposed to a synthetic analog of the maternal pig appeasing pheromone (PAP) (SecurePig®, Signs, Avignon, France). The product consisted of a gel block from which the pheromones were slowly released into the room. Different performance parameters were measured during the nursery period. Neither the sow treatment nor the treatment with pheromones significantly influenced the performance of the piglets during the nursery period (p > 0.05). The median values (95% confidence interval) of average daily gain, namely 318 (282-338) vs. 305 (272-322) g/day, feed conversion ratio, namely 1.64 (1.51-1.71) vs. 1.70 (1.57-1.75), and number of antimicrobial treatment days, namely 16.9 (9.6-25.0) vs. 17.3 (9.5-25.0) days, were numerically better in the nursery pigs exposed to the pheromones compared to the control groups. Mortality however was numerically higher in the treated groups, namely 4.4 (2.8-6.8) vs. 3.2 (0.9-4.2)%. Under the conditions of the present production system, pigs exposed to the pheromone treatment during the nursery did not show a significant performance increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri De Meyer
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (I.C.); (A.A.); (D.M.)
- Vedanko, Knijffelingstraat 15, 8851 Koolskamp, Belgium
| | - Ilias Chantziaras
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (I.C.); (A.A.); (D.M.)
- Unit of Veterinary Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Arthi Amalraj
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (I.C.); (A.A.); (D.M.)
- Unit of Veterinary Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dominiek Maes
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (I.C.); (A.A.); (D.M.)
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Stygar AH, Chantziaras I, Maes D, Aarestrup Moustsen V, De Meyer D, Quesnel H, Kyriazakis I, Niemi JK. Economic feasibility of interventions targeted at decreasing piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality across European countries. Porcine Health Manag 2022; 8:22. [PMID: 35650652 PMCID: PMC9158370 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-022-00266-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Piglet perinatal and pre-weaning mortality is a welfare problem causing economic losses in pig production. In this study, the effects of housing and management interventions on the economic result of sow enterprises representing six European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands and Spain) were tested. Interventions concerned: (1) installing mechanical ventilation, (2) re-designing of the gestation unit, (3) drying and warming newborn piglets, (4) providing enrichment for gestating sows, including high-fiber dietary supplementation and point-source objects, and (5) music provision and backscratching of sows in the farrowing unit. A bio-economic model was used to determine the effects of interventions on economic outcomes during the nursery phase and to calculate a maximum cost of 1%-point reduction in perinatal and pre-weaning mortality, irrespective of the intervention type. Biological parameters were set according to previous observational and experimental studies. Interventions 1-4 were expected to decrease perinatal mortality, defined as stillbirths and deaths occurring within the first 48 h of postnatal life. Intervention 5 was expected to decrease pre-weaning mortality. Interventions increased fixed (1-3) and variable costs (3-5). We hypothesized that housing and management interventions would have a positive economic effect. RESULTS Piglet mortality can be decreased in various ways. Interventions concerning ventilation and re-designing of the gestation unit (1 and 2) were the most beneficial in countries with low housing costs and high perinatal mortality. Drying and warming newborn piglets (3) resulted in varying economic results, with the highest increase in profits obtained in a country with low labor costs and high litter size. Interventions providing sows with enrichment and human-animal interaction (4 and 5) were effective across varying conditions. Regardless of intervention type, policies aiming at 1%-point reduction in perinatal and pre-weaning mortality could cost from €0.2 to €0.5 (average €0.4) and from €0.4 to €0.5 (average €0.5) per piglet, respectively, depending on productions conditions. CONCLUSIONS To decrease piglet mortality, farmers should consider low input interventions, such as those targeting appropriate behavior. Our results suggest that providing enrichment or increasing human-animal interaction pays off and brings positive economic result even when piglet mortality is marginally reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna H Stygar
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Bioeconomy and Environment, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Ilias Chantziaras
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dominiek Maes
- Unit of Porcine Health Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | | | | | - Hélène Quesnel
- PEGASE, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35590, Saint-Gilles, France
| | - Ilias Kyriazakis
- Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK
| | - Jarkko K Niemi
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Bioeconomy and Environment, Kampusranta 9, 60320, Seinäjoki, Finland
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Chantziaras I, De Meyer D, Vrielinck L, Van Limbergen T, Pineiro C, Dewulf J, Kyriazakis I, Maes D. Environment-, health-, performance- and welfare-related parameters in pig barns with natural and mechanical ventilation. Prev Vet Med 2020; 183:105150. [PMID: 32971371 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A multifactorial approach using environmental, performance, health and welfare parameters was used to investigate the numerous associations of ventilation throughout three consecutive fattening batches (08/2015 to 12/2016) in a farrow-to-finish commercial pig farm in Belgium. Two fattening pig units were used, unit A (1256 pigs) with mechanical ventilation and unit B (1264 pigs) with natural ventilation. Animal genetics, nutrition, stocking density and health management were the same for both units. Key environmental indicators were monitored in real-time (temperature, humidity, CO2 and NH3) and the daily prevalence of respiratory disease cases was recorded to monitor the temporal expression of disease over time within a farm environment. The welfare status of the animals was assessed twice per production round (batch) with a simplified version of the Welfare quality® protocol. Serological tests for the most prevalent respiratory infectious agents (Mycoplasma hyopneumonniae, swine influenza virus (subtypes H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1-2-9-11 and porcine circovirus type 2) were performed during the first, second and final third of each fattening period. Finally, key performance parameters were calculated (average daily growth, feed conversion ratio) and upon slaughter lungs from pigs from unit A (n: 782) and from unit B (n: 544) were assessed for the presence of lung lesions, pleurisy and fissures. To identify the associations of ventilation on the aforementioned parameters, statistical models were run that also included other factors (when applicable) namely production batch, season, age and sampling. Overall, the use of natural ventilation was associated with a less optimal environment with regards to thermal comfort (p < 0.001), CO2 (p < 0.001) and NH3 (p < 0.001). A higher daily prevalence of respiratory disease cases was seen in the naturally-ventilated unit (p < 0.001). Concerning the sero-prevalence of the infectious agents tested, the odds to have a positive H1N1 sample were 3.17 higher in the naturally-ventilated unit (p = 0.003). From the visual assessment of the lungs no statistically significant associations were seen between ventilation type and the presence of lesions, fissures or pleuritis. Yet, the lung lesion score was expected to be lower in the naturally-ventilated unit (p = 0.010). Regarding performance parameters, feed conversion ratio and average daily gain were overall better in the mechanically-ventilated unit (descriptive results). Finally, a better welfare score was seen in the mechanically-ventilated unit in all three production batches (descriptive results). In conclusion, the mechanically-ventilated farm was associated with better environmental conditions for the fattening pigs. Yet, further research is needed to reach definite causal claims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Chantziaras
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium; Flemish Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | | | | | | | | | - Jeroen Dewulf
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ilias Kyriazakis
- Agriculture, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Dominiek Maes
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Meyer DD, Da Silva FMR, Souza JWM, Pohren RS, Rocha JAV, Vargas VMF. Pointing to potential reference areas to assess soil mutagenicity. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2015; 22:5212-5217. [PMID: 25410310 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3835-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Several have been performed to evaluate the mutagenicity of soil samples in urban and industrial areas. The use of uncontaminated reference areas has been an obstacle to the study of environmental mutagenesis. The study aimed to indicate a methodology to define reference areas in studies of environmental contamination based on "Ambient Background Concentration" of metallic elements associated with the Salmonella/microsome assay. We looked at three potential reference areas, two of them close by the industrial sources of contamination (São Jerônimo reference, near the coal-fired power plant, and Triunfo reference, near the wood preservative plant), but not directly influenced by them and an area located inside a protected area (Itapuã reference). We also carried out chemical analyses of some metals to plot the metal profile of these potential reference areas and define basal levels of these metals in the soils. After examining the mutagenicity of the inorganic extracts using strains TA98, TA97a, and TA100, in the presence and absence of S9 mix, we indicated the São Jerônimo reference and the Itapuã reference as two sites that could be used in future studies of mutagenicity of soils in southern Brazil. The association between a mutagenicity bioassay and the "Ambient Background Concentration" seems to be a useful method to indicate the reference areas in studies of contamination by environmental mutagens, where these results were corroborated by canonical correspondence analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D D Meyer
- Programa de Pesquisas Ambientais, Fundação Estadual de Proteção Ambiental Henrique Luís Roessler (FEPAM), Avenida Salvador França, 1707, CEP: 90690-000, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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Meyer DD. Lochner redeemed: family privacy after Troxel and Carhart. UCLA Law Rev 2001; 48:1125-90. [PMID: 16273684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
At least since its 1992 decision in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, the Supreme Court has differentiated its review of abortion laws from its scrutiny of other intrusions on family privacy. Whereas abortion restrictions are reviewed under the middling "undue burden" standard, incursions on other family-related liberties, including marriage, kinship, and child rearing are said to be subject to the strict scrutiny ordinarily employed in the defense of fundamental rights. This Article contends that the Court's most recent decisions in this context give reason to reconsider both sides of that equation. Stenberg v. Carhart, striking down Nebraska's ban on "partial-birth" abortions, suggests that the Court's scrutiny in the abortion context will be more aggressive and rigid than most had supposed. At the same time, its decision in Troxel v. Granville, limiting states' authority to order grandparent visitation over the objects of a parent, suggest that there is more fluidity in the Court's review of other family liberties than is conventionally assumed. Together the cases signal a convergence in both sorts of family-privacy controversies toward a common standard of "reasonableness." That standard bears, for many, an uncomfortable association with the much-maligned "natural law-due process formula" of the Lochner era, but Professor Meyer argues that it is precisely the right approach in the context of family privacy. Although more rigid doctrinal formulae are sometimes preferred on the ground that they constrain judicial judgment, here they are undesirable precisely because they obscure the value judgments that are inevitably at the core of every family-privacy decision.
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Affiliation(s)
- D D Meyer
- University of Illinois College of Law, USA
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Meyer DD. Nontraditional health administration education: implications for the profession. J Long Term Care Adm 1977; 5:77-9. [PMID: 10305538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
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Meyer DD. Physician services and long term care institutions. J Long Term Care Adm 1974; 3:1-2. [PMID: 10324107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
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Meyer DD, Cole M. Comparison of certain retrograde oxidative reactions after section of axons in central and peripheral nervous systems. Neurology 1970; 20:918-24. [PMID: 5466460 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.20.9.918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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