A single, episodic event of unilateral/bilateral scrotal swelling in a group of adult boars at an Austrian boar stud

Background Scrotal swelling is a clinical situation which can be caused by different aetiologies. In this case report, we describe a multi-week episode of unilateral and bilateral scrotal swelling in boars at an Austrian boar stud and its diagnostic work-up. Case presentation In the summer of 2020, the herd veterinarian of an Austrian boar stud reported that over a period of six weeks, five out of 70 boars presented with unilateral severe swelling of the left scrotum and three out of 70 boars with bilateral severe swelling of the left and moderate swelling of the right scrotum, respectively. A complete history was obtained and an on-site evaluation of the facility was done. Five boars were necropsied, and a variety of samples harvested for further diagnostic investigations. Infectious differential diagnoses associated with unilateral swelling of the scrotum or the testis were excluded through serological and tissue testing. In three of the five boars, histopathology revealed complete acute haemorrhagic necrosis of the left testis concurrent with strongly congested blood vessels. Review of the collected information with a group of experts in the field of boar stud management resulted with consensus that, most likely, trauma was the etiologic event causing the clinical signs and pathology. Coincident with discussion of implementing video recording cameras in the boar housing area, no further clinical cases followed. As this case occurred during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose that the distress and travelling restrictions may have contributed to frustration among boar stud workers, which was consequently expressed as misbehaviour against boars. Conclusions Once all known infectious causes of unilateral swelling of the scrotum were excluded, a critical diagnostic work-up focused on non-infectious causes. Non-infectious causes, such as trauma, need to be carefully evaluated, as it may also include human misbehaviour against boars. Summarizing all findings of this case report, the authors hypothesize that a blunt trauma was the reason for the series of mainly unilateral swelling of the scrota of boars.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Untersuchung klinischer Symptome sowie virologischer und pathologischer Parameter nach experimenteller Infektion von geimpften und nicht geimpften Aufzuchtferkeln mit dem Porzinen Reproduktiven und Respiratorischen Syndrom Virus-Isolat AUT15-33

Dissertation - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2022PRRSV is still one of the most important pathogens in pig production worldwide and is responsible for losses in breeding as well as in growing pig herds. Vaccination with MLV vaccines can be a useful strategy to reduce clinical signs and thus costs. In the present study, the efficacy of a commercial modified live PRRSV-1 vaccine (“Ingelvac PRRSFLEX® EU”) was assessed in weaned piglets experimentally infected with PRRSV-1 strain AUT15-33. In addition, two different challenge doses were used to determine which dose is capable of inducing clinical symptoms and lesions in nursery piglets under experimental conditions. Seventy-four weaned piglets were allocated to five groups. Vaccinated (groups 1, 2, and 5) and non-vaccinated piglets (groups 3 and 4), infected with either a low dose (103 TCID50/dose; groups 2 and 4) or a high dose (105 TCID50/dose; groups 1 and 3) of the virus, were compared regarding clinical signs, average daily weight gain (ADG), lung lesions, viral load in serum, oral swabs, and tissue samples. Compared to vaccinated animals, non-vaccinated piglets showed significantly more coughing during the first week after experimental infection. During the same time period, vaccinated, high-dose-infected piglets showed significantly higher ADG than non-vaccinated, high-dose-infected animals. All infected piglets reached approximately the same viremia levels, but vaccinated animals showed both a significantly reduced viral load in oral fluid and tissue samples and significantly reduced lung lesions.Thus, vaccination of piglets with the MLV vaccine “Ingelvac PRRSFLEX® EU” had a positive effect on ADG and reduced the amount and duration of viral shedding via oral fluids, the severity of lung lesions and the viral load in tissue samples after experimental infection with PRRSV-1 AUT15-33. In addition, experimental infection with AUT15-33 was shown to provoke clinical signs and lung lesions in weaned piglets even at low infectious doses, thus confirming this virus isolate to be virulent not only in the reproductive but also in the respiratory challenge model.Dissertation - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2022PRRSV ist nach wie vor einer der bedeutendsten Krankheitserreger in der Schweineproduktion weltweit und ist verantwortlich für wirtschaftliche Verluste in Schweinezucht- und Mastbeständen. Durch eine Impfung mit modifizierten Lebendvirus (MLV) Impfstoffen können klinische Symptome und damit verbundene Kosten reduziert werden. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde die Wirksamkeit einer kommerziell erhältlichen MLV Vakzine ("Ingelvac PRRSFLEX® EU") nach experimenteller Infektion mit PRRSV-1 AUT15-33 in abgesetzten Ferkeln untersucht. Zudem wurden zwei verschiedene Infektionsdosen verwendet um festzustellen, welche Dosis unter experimentellen Bedingungen klinische Symptome und Lungenläsionen in Aufzuchtferkeln verursacht. Dafür wurden 74 Ferkel in den Versuch eingeschlossen und in fünf Gruppen aufgeteilt. Geimpfte (Gruppe 1, 2, und 5) und nicht geimpfte (Gruppe 3 und 4) Ferkel, die entweder mit einer niedrigen Dosis (103 TCID50 /Dosis; Gruppe 2 und 4) oder einer hohen Dosis (105 TCID50/Dosis; Gruppe 1 und 3) des Virus infiziert wurden, wurden hinsichtlich klinischer Symptomatik, täglicher Zunahmen, makroskopischer und histologischer Lungenläsionen und Viruslast in Serum, Maultupfern und Gewebeproben verglichen. Im Vergleich zu geimpften Tieren, zeigten die nicht geimpften Ferkel in der ersten Woche nach experimenteller Infektion deutlichere respiratorische Symptome. Im gleichen Zeitraum zeigten geimpfte, mit hoher Dosis infizierte Ferkel signifikant höhere Tageszunahmen als nicht geimpfte, mit hoher Dosis infizierte Ferkel. Alle infizierten Ferkel erreichten eine vergleichbare Viruslast im Serum, wohingegen von geimpften Tieren signifikant weniger Virus oral ausgeschieden wurde. Zudem zeigten geimpfte Ferkel eine signifikant reduzierte Viruslast in den Gewebeproben und signifikant weniger ausgeprägte Lungenläsionen als nicht geimpfte Ferkel.Die Impfung von Ferkeln mit dem kommerziell erhältlichen MLV Impfstoff "Ingelvac PRRSFLEX® EU" wirkte sich in der vorliegenden Studie somit positiv auf die täglichen Zunahmen aus und reduzierte die Menge und Dauer der Virusausscheidung, den Schweregrad der Lungenläsionen und die Viruslast in Gewebeproben nach experimenteller Infektion mit PRRSV-1 AUT15-33. Zudem konnte gezeigt werden, dass eine experimentelle Infektion mit AUT15-33, selbst bei niedriger Infektionsdosis, klinische Symptome und Lungenläsionen in Absetzferkeln auslöst und dieses Virusisolat somit nicht nur im Feld und im reproduktiven Versuchsmodell, sondern auch im respiratorischen Versuchsmodell Eigenschaften eines virulenten Stammes zeigt

Pneumocystis spp. in Pigs: A Longitudinal Quantitative Study and Co-Infection Assessment in Austrian Farms

While Pneumocystis has been recognized as both a ubiquitous commensal fungus in immunocompetent mammalian hosts and a major opportunistic pathogen in humans responsible for severe pneumonias in immunocompromised patients, in pigs its epidemiology and association with pulmonary diseases have been rarely reported. Nevertheless, the fungus can be quite abundant in porcine populations with up to 51% of prevalence reported so far. The current study was undertaken to longitudinally quantify Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. suis and other pulmonary pathogens in a cohort of 50 pigs from five Austrian farms (i.e., 10 pigs per farm) with a history of respiratory disease at five time points between the first week and the fourth month of life. The fungus was present as early as the suckling period (16% and 26% of the animals in the first and the third week, respectively), yet not in a high amount. Over time, both the organism load (highest 4.4 × 105 copies/mL) and prevalence (up to 88% of positive animals in the third month) increased in each farm. The relative prevalence of various coinfection patterns was significantly different over time. The current study unravelled a complex co-infection history involving Pneumocystis and other pulmonary pathogens in pigs, suggesting a relevant role of the fungus in the respiratory disease scenario of this host

Efficacy of a Modified Live Virus Vaccine against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus 1 (PRRSV-1) Administered to 1-Day-Old Piglets in Front of Heterologous PRRSV-1 Challenge

PRRSV is one of the most important viruses in the global swine industry and is often controlled by the use of modified live virus (MLV) vaccines. This study assessed the impact of a PRRSV-1 MLV vaccine applied to 1-day-old piglets challenged on day 28 of life with a PRRSV-1 field isolate (AUT15-33). Twenty-one piglets were vaccinated within 24 h of birth (T02), whereas 20 piglets were left unvaccinated (T01). Necropsy was performed two weeks post-challenge. Comparing the two groups, T02 piglets showed significantly higher (p = 0.017) average daily weight gain. In addition, significantly lower (p < 0.0001) PRRSV RNA loads were measured in serum of T02 piglets at all investigated time points. All T01 piglets were viremic and shed virus in nasal swabs, whereas only 71.4% and 38.1% of the T02 group were viremic or shed virus, respectively. Piglets from T02 had significantly higher numbers (p < 0.0001) of IFN-γ producing lymphocytes compared to T01. At necropsy, differences in gross and histologic lung lesions were statistically significant (p = 0.012 and p < 0.0001, respectively) between the two groups. Hence, this MLV vaccine administered to 1-day-old piglets was able to protect piglets against PRRSV infection at weaning

Detection of PRRSV-1 in tongue fluids under experimental and field conditions and comparison of different sampling material for PRRSV sow herd monitoring

Abstract Background Infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) leads to significant economic losses worldwide. One of the initial measures following an outbreak is to stabilise the herd and to prevent vertical transmission of PRRSV. The objective of this study was to detect PRRSV in different sampling material, both in an experimental model and on a commercial piglet producing farm, with a focus on evaluating the suitability of tongue fluid samples. Results In the experimental model, PRRSV negative pregnant gilts were infected with PRRSV-1 AUT15-33 on gestation day 85 and necropsy of gilts and foetuses was performed three weeks later. 38.3% of individual foetal serum and 39.4% of individual foetal thymus samples were considered PRRSV RT-qPCR positive. Tongue fluids from individual foetuses showed a 33.0% positivity rate. PRRSV RNA was detected in all but one sample of litter-wise pooled processing fluids and tongue fluids. In the field study, the investigated farm remained PRRSV positive and unstable for five consecutive farrowing groups after the start of the sampling process. Tongue fluid samples pooled by litter in the first investigated farrowing group had a 54.5% positivity rate, with the overall highest viral load obtained in the field study. In this farrowing group, 33.3% of investigated litter-wise pooled processing fluid samples and all investigated serum samples (pools of 4–6 individuals, two piglets per litter) were considered positive. Across all investigated farrowing groups, tongue fluid samples consistently showed the highest viral load. Moreover, tongue fluid samples contained the virus in moderate amounts for the longest time compared to the other investigated sampling material. Conclusion It can be concluded that the viral load in individual foetuses is higher in serum or thymus compared to tongue fluid samples. However, litter-wise pooled tongue fluid samples are well-suited for detecting vertical transmission within the herd, even when the suspected prevalence of vertical transmission events is low

T-Cell Cytokine Response in Salmonella Typhimurium-Vaccinated versus Infected Pigs

Vaccination with the live attenuated vaccine Salmoporc is an effective measure to control Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) in affected swine populations. However, the cellular immune response evoked by the Salmoporc vaccine including differences in vaccinated pigs versus non-vaccinated pigs upon STM infection have not been characterized yet. To investigate this, tissue-derived porcine lymphocytes from different treatment groups (vaccination-only, vaccination and infection, infection-only, untreated controls) were stimulated in vitro with heat-inactivated STM and abundances of IFN-γ, TNF-α and/or IL-17A-producing T-cell subsets were compared across organs and treatment groups. Overall, our results show the induction of a strong CD4+ T-cell response after STM infection, both locally and systemically. Low-level induction of STM-specific cytokine-producing CD4+ T cells, notably for the IFN-γ/TNF-α co-producing phenotype, was detected after vaccination-only. Numerous significant contrasts in cytokine-producing T-cell phenotypes were observed after infection in vaccinated and infected versus infected-only animals. These results suggest that vaccine-induced STM-specific cytokine-producing CD4+ T cells contribute to local immunity in the gut and may limit the spread of STM to lymph nodes and systemic organs. Hence, our study provides insights into the underlying immune mechanisms that account for the efficacy of the Salmoporc vaccine

Additional file 1 of Demodicosis in a Kunekune pig and molecular characterisation of porcine demodectic mites involved: a case report

Additional file 1. Left orbital and periocular region of the affected Kunekune pig with severe hyperplastic skin (A). Skin presented with nodules and comedones in the axillar (B) and inguinal (C) region. Case animal 1 month after surgical and antiparasitic intervention. The eyelids are opened and the eye clearly can be seen (D). Thickened skin around the orbits still is present but without reducing the visual field or vision respectively

A single, episodic event of unilateral/bilateral scrotal swelling in a group of adult boars at an Austrian boar stud

Scrotal swelling is a clinical situation which can be caused by different aetiologies. In this case report, we describe a multi-week episode of unilateral and bilateral scrotal swelling in boars at an Austrian boar stud and its diagnostic work-up. In the summer of 2020, the herd veterinarian of an Austrian boar stud reported that over a period of six weeks, five out of 70 boars presented with unilateral severe swelling of the left scrotum and three out of 70 boars with bilateral severe swelling of the left and moderate swelling of the right scrotum, respectively. A complete history was obtained and an on-site evaluation of the facility was done. Five boars were necropsied, and a variety of samples harvested for further diagnostic investigations. Infectious differential diagnoses associated with unilateral swelling of the scrotum or the testis were excluded through serological and tissue testing. In three of the five boars, histopathology revealed complete acute haemorrhagic necrosis of the left testis concurrent with strongly congested blood vessels. Review of the collected information with a group of experts in the field of boar stud management resulted with consensus that, most likely, trauma was the etiologic event causing the clinical signs and pathology. Coincident with discussion of implementing video recording cameras in the boar housing area, no further clinical cases followed. As this case occurred during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose that the distress and travelling restrictions may have contributed to frustration among boar stud workers, which was consequently expressed as misbehaviour against boars. Once all known infectious causes of unilateral swelling of the scrotum were excluded, a critical diagnostic work-up focused on non-infectious causes. Non-infectious causes, such as trauma, need to be carefully evaluated, as it may also include human misbehaviour against boars. Summarizing all findings of this case report, the authors hypothesize that a blunt trauma was the reason for the series of mainly unilateral swelling of the scrota of boars. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40813-023-00313-1

DataSheet_1_Characterization of the immune system of Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs - An important large animal model in experimental medicine.docx

Interest in Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs (EGMs) as a model in experimental medicine is continuously growing. The aim of this project is to increase the knowledge of the immune system of EGMs as information is still scarce. Therefore, we studied the postnatal maturation of their immune system from birth until 126 weeks of age. For the first 26 weeks of the study, animals were kept under pathogen-reduced conditions (SPF) and afterwards under conventional housing conditions. The development of the immune system was analyzed by monitoring changes in total numbers of leukocytes and lymphocytes of ten individuals and the composition of leukocyte populations by multi-color flow cytometry (FCM). We followed the presence of monocytes using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD172a+ and CD163+ and B cells based on the expression of CD79a. NK cells were distinguished as CD3-CD16+CD8α+/dim cells and further subdivided using NKp46 (CD335) expression into NKp46-, NKp46+, and NKp46high NK cells. T-cell receptor (TCR) γδ T cells were defined by the expression of TCR-γδ and different subsets were determined by their CD2 and perforin expression. TCR-αβ T cells were classified by their CD8β+ or CD4 expression. For monitoring their differentiation, expression of CD27 and perforin was investigated for CD8β++ T cells and CD8α together with CD27 for CD4+ T cells. We clearly detected a postnatal development of immune cell composition and identified phenotypes indicative of differentiation within the respective leukocyte subsets. Examination of the development of the antigen-specific immune system after transfer to different distinct housing conditions and after vaccination against common porcine pathogens such as porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) revealed a markedly increased presence of more differentiated CD8+ and CD4+ T cells with central and effector memory T-cell phenotypes. To complement the findings, a PCV2 vaccine-specific antigen was used for in vitro restimulation experiments. We demonstrated antigen-specific proliferation of CD4+CD8α+CD27+ central and CD4+CD8α+CD27- effector memory T cells as well as antigen-specific production of TNF-α and IFN-γ. This study of postnatal immune development defines basic cellular immune parameters of EGMs and represents an important milestone for the use of EGMs for immunological questions in experimental medicine.</p