Post mortem findings in sows and gilts euthanised or found dead in a large Swedish herd

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to get information on post mortem diagnoses of sows found dead or euthanised and to understand the diagnoses aetiology (causative background). Moreover, the study was to evaluate the association between the clinical symptoms observed on farm and post mortem findings.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A large Swedish herd was studied from January to September 2006. During the 32-week period 3.9% of the removed sows and gilts (old enough to be mated) were found dead, 12.0% were euthanised and the rest were sent to slaughter. Of 32 sows/gilts found dead 17 (53%) were post mortem examined, and of 98 sows euthanised 79 (81%) were examined. The 96 examined carcasses were after 70 sows and 26 gilts. The findings at examination were together with data from the herd monitoring program PigWin Sugg the base for the descriptive statistics presented.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The average parity number at removal was 2.8 for those found dead and 2.1 for those euthanised. The highest number euthanised and found dead was in parity 0 (gilts). The main proportion of post mortem examinations was made on sows being in the period = 28 d of gestation at death (37.5%), followed by weaning to next service period (24.0%). Arthritis, with an incidence of 36.4% was the most common main finding of pathological-anatomical diagnosis (PAD). Of sows/gilts found dead were circulatory/cardiac failure (23.5%) and trauma related injuries (23.5%) most common PAD. The most commonly observed clinical symptom and reason for euthanasia of the sows/gilts was lameness. Notably, in 43% of the cases with PAD arthritis, the clinical symptoms suggested it being a fracture. Further one or more abscesses (38.5%) and teeth injuries (31.0%) were common findings when also incidental findings were included.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This post mortem study based on carcasses from sows/gilts found dead or euthanised showed that arthritis was a significant problem in the studied herd and that post mortem examination was important to get proper diagnosis.</p

Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection in mothers and birth weight

The original publication can be found at www.springerlink.comHelicobacter pylori infection may cause intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). However, it is unknown whether the growth of children from H. pylori-infected mothers is also affected or whether transmission of infection from mother to child occurs. This study aimed to determine if maternal H. pylori infection was associated with IUGR and low birth weight in a mouse model, and whether transmission of infection from mother to infant occurs. Female C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with H. pylori (n = 18) or water (control; n = 18) via gavage. Mice were mated at 6 weeks postinfection, with half of the mice sacrificed after 2 weeks of gestation. The remaining mice gave birth and a third of the litter was weighed and sacrificed at birth, during milk feeding (1.5 weeks), and during solid feeding (4 weeks). Stomachs of all mice and whole foetuses were cultured for the presence of H. pylori. There were no differences in litter size or foetus weight between control and H. pylori-infected mice. Pups from infected mothers had a lower weight during milk feeding (control, 5.91 ± 0.23 g; H. pylori, 4.59 ± 0.16 g; p &lt; 0.05) and solid feeding (control, 12.73 ± 0.58 g; H. pylori, 10.01 ± 1.02 g; p &lt; 0.05). H. pylori was not detected by culture in the pups at any age. H. pylori infection in mothers was associated with a decrease in infant weight during milk feeding and after weaning. Transmission of infection from mother to infant was not detected by culture, suggesting that decreased baby weight may be due to decreased milk supply or altered nutrition from the mother.Rikke Gøbel, Erin L. Symonds, Ross N. Butler and Cuong D. Tra