Evaluation of alternative antemortem diagnostic samples for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of two minimally invasive methods of blood collection and a reference method. Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected from 30 pigs at 7 and 8 weeks of age. Fifteen pigs were then inoculated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) VR-2332 and 15 remained uninoculated. Pigs were sampled weekly for 7 weeks post inoculation (PI) using a reference sample (jugular vein sample) and two index samples (whole blood from the auricular vein collected either with a sterile polyester swab or using a capillary tube system). All samples were tested by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using established protocols. Continuous sample data for the three sampling methods were compared by analysis of the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Results: Sensitivity and specificity of qPCR testing for all samples ranged from 93% to 100% for weeks 1 through 3 PI. Results of ELISA testing depended on cutoff selection. Optimized ELISA sample:positive (S:P) ratio cutoffs for swab-sample data were significantly lower (mean S:P ratio cutoff = 0.08, SD = 0.05) than the industry standard (0.4). When the industry standard cutoff of 0.4 was utilized, swab-sample sensitivity ranged from 20.0% to 55.6% over weeks 2 through 7 PI. Implications: Diagnosis of viremic animals using qPCR can be equivalently accomplished using any of the sampling methods. PRRS ELISA status can be determined using any of the sampling methods if an alternative S:P ratio cutoff is used

Plasma concentrations of sodium salicylate in nursery pigs treated orally

Objectives: To determine stability of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and sodium salicylate (SS) stock solutions, and to determine plasma concentrations of SS in swine after administration in drinking water. Materials and methods: Stock solutions of liquid ASA and SS products were placed in a nursery environment for 24 hours (Trial One). Salicylate concentrations were measured at 0, 8, 16, and 24 hours using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). In Trial Two, SS was metered into the drinking water of four groups of pigs in a commercial nursery, at stock solution concentrations of 2268 mg per L (T1), 4913 mg per L (T2), 9827 mg per L (T3), and 19,654 mg per L (T4). Controls received nonmedicated water. Plasma salicylate concentrations in 10 pigs per group were measured at 0, 24, 60, and 72 hours. Results: Salicylate concentration ranges of stock solutions in Trial One were 4.04 to 4.61 g per L (ASA) and 8.19 to 9.34 g per L (SS). In Trial Two, mean plasma salicylate concentration ranges for treated groups over the 72-hour study were 0.17 to 0.41 mg per L (T1), 0.03 to 1.28 mg per L (T2), 0.44 to 1.41 mg per L (T3), and 0.62 to 7.22 mg per L (T4). Mean concentrations increased at 24 hours post study initiation, then decreased for all treated groups at 60 hours. Implications: Solubilities of ASA and SS products differ. Sodium salicylate administered via a water-medication system reaches measurable plasma concentrations in nursery pigs. Consistency of dosing may be variable

The Impact of Translactational Delivered Meloxicam Analgesia on Biomarkers of Pain and Distress after Piglet Processing

Oral meloxicam was administered to sows post-farrowing to investigate a novel route of providing analgesia to processed piglets via translactational drug transfer. Physiologic indicators of piglet pain were analyzed to determine the effects on pain control. An effective meloxicam dosage was reached in 4/5 sow litters with no adverse clinical effects. Both piglet cortisol and cranial skin temperature measured by infrared thermography indicated significant differences in pain biomarkers between treatment groups. This study demonstrates the successful transfer of meloxicam in sow’s milk and description of physiologic pain indicators after processing. It provides the foundation for future research into refining a novel, efficacious, and practical method of providing analgesia to piglets during processing

The Effects Of Prophylactic Probiotic Use On Reducing Group B Streptococcus Colonization In Pregnant People

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a gram-positive coccus that normally colonizes the digestive and genital tract (Puopolo & Madoff, 2023). Worldwide, approximately 18% of pregnant people[1] carry GBS, and in the United States of America (USA), approximately 25% of pregnant people are GBS positive (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). GBS can be passed onto an infant during birth when it travels through the vaginal canal, a process called vertical transmission. Unfortunately, for newborns who have an immature immune system, GBS can result in early onset GBS disease requiring a lengthy stay in the NICU or even death. Currently, in the USA, the treatment for pregnant people positive for GBS is intravenous antibiotics during labor, which reduces the risk of vertical transmission (Baker, 2023). While effective at decreasing GBS, the systemic antibiotics wipe out beneficial bacteria throughout the body and, most importantly for pregnant people, the genital tract. As a result, both the pregnant person’s and infant’s microbiome are negatively impacted, thereby subjecting them to other infections. Because of the negative effects of antibiotics, researchers have explored alternative treatments to reduce GBS colonization. One such alternative is using prophylactic probiotics during pregnancy, which is the question discussed here. [1] For the purpose of this paper, pregnant persons/people are those who are assigned female at birth regardless of gender presentation

Health Challenges in Midwestern “Niche” Pork Production Systems

Organic pork production is increasing in popularity in the Midwest. Little information is available to identify specific disease pressures associated with this unique method of pork production. This project was initiated to identify health challenges within these production systems to enable veterinarians to implement management plans specifically designed to combat the individual farms’ pathogens while staying within the guidelines of the Niche production company. This project was initiated in late 2005 and outlined two specific goals at inception. The first was to analyze Niche pork production and financial records. The second goal of the project was to identify herd health challenges through targeted diagnostic analysis. 26 producers representing 5 Midwestern states submitted samples for standardized diagnostic analysis to Iowa State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL). Internal parasites were present in all age groups. Ileitis (Lawsonia intracellurlaris) lesions were present in pigs as young as seven weeks old. Swine Influenza virus (SIV) levels ranged from 50-80% in the project’s submissions. Vaccination and wormer use in these herds is variable and the use of these products is not prohibited by most Niche marketing companies. Knowledge of what pathogens are present in Niche herds will better prepare veterinarians to control these problems

Marketing the Masters of Executive Management program

MBA Professional ReportThe purpose of this MBA project was to review the current Masters of Executive Management education curriculum at NPS. An internal analysis of the current program was conducted to fully understand the strategic goals of the program and the existing curriculum. An environmental scan of current and potential military customers was conducted to assess requirements for junior executive education and determine whether the MEM program corresponds with these requirements and, if not, what changes to curriculum should be considered. Information collected was then used to determine prospective customers while creating a detailed marketing strategy for the GSBPP. Once information was collected, it was possible to construct a marketing plan to increase the NPS brand awareness in hopes of attracting students. Marketing plan recommendations include: (1) Package its various products/programs and market under one primary GSBPP brand; (2) Abandon current traditional and passive marketing efforts for an active recruiting approach by utilizing relationship marketing strategies; (3) Develop alumni networks that provide marketing labor and tools to stimulate demand for the GSBPP.http://archive.org/details/marketingmasters1094510184Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Gender Equality, Drinking Cultures and Second-Hand Harms from Alcohol in the 50 US States.

BackgroundGender inequality and cultures of binge drinking may increase the risk of second-hand harms from alcohol.MethodsUsing the 2014-2015 National Alcohol Survey and 2015 National Alcohol's Harm to Others Survey (N = 7792), we examine associations of state-level gender equality measures (contraceptive access, abortion rights, women's economic equality) and binge drinking cultures (rates of men's and women's binge drinking) with individual-level indicators of second-hand harms by drinking strangers and partners/spouses.ResultsIn main effects models, only male binge drinking was associated with greater odds of harms from drinking strangers. There were significant interactions of gender equality with male binge drinking: High male binge drinking rates were more strongly associated with stranger-perpetrated harms in states low on contraceptive access or abortion rights compared to states high on these measures. Conversely, male binge drinking was more strongly associated with spouse/partner-perpetrated second-hand harms in states with more economic equality, compared to states lower on this measure.ConclusionsDetrimental effects of high male binge drinking rates may be modified by gender equality. Targeted interventions may reduce alcohol-related harms experienced by women in states with high rates of male binge drinking. Restrictions in access to contraception and abortion may exacerbate harms due to men's drinking

Investigation of Bacterial Load in Multi-Species Laboratory Workspaces

Multi-purpose/multi-species laboratories in veterinary clinics may have an increased risk for bacterial contamination due to the possibility for high traffic and diverse exposures from different farms and species. The goal of this trial was to investigate the level of possible contamination in the shared areas and to evaluate the efficacy of the current SOPs (standard operating procedures) in minimizing microbial contamination of laboratory areas. Specific objectives were to: (1) identify which areas of the laboratory and shared resources have the highest level of contamination and (2) determine whether the current cleaning and decontamination methods are effective and in use. Two trials, totaling 115 samples, were conducted over a two week period using Replicate Organism Detection and Counting (RODAC) surface contact agar plates. The first trial consisted of randomized sampling within the field laboratory, field equipment shared between species and veterinary service vehicles. The second trial further sampled identified problem areas before and/or after cleaning/disinfection procedures. The experimenter was blinded to the status of the surfaces tested. Commercially available disinfectants typically found in homes, farms, and/or clinic laboratories were used at recommended rates and contact times during testing. Samples collected were incubated for 24 hours at 37°C with 5% CO2. Following identification processes, the most common species of bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus sp. These were most frequently isolated in the service vehicles. Hard surfaces in the vehicle were able to be cleaned and disinfected sufficiently, but the carpeted areas retained contamination even after cleaning. The findings of this project suggest that fomite transfer of bacterial organisms through the use of a multi-purpose service vehicle could potentially spread undesirable pathogens from farm to farm unknowingly. Increased adherence to strict biosecurity standards at the farm level can help to prevent this transfer

Developing and Utilizing Visual Tools to Assist Pork Producers in Employee Training in the Evaluation of Sow Body Condition

The article describes development of a bilingual poster to assists pig producers in classifying body condition scores (BCS) in sows. Sows of the lowest body condition score were purchased, fed for 96 days, and photographed as each sow incrementally increased to the maximum BCS of 5. Pictures from two sows of each BCS of 1 through 5 were professionally arranged on a poster and published in a nationally distributed swine magazine. The poster was designed to assist producers in employee training at the farm level. Similar posters could be developed to improve selection and/or management skills in other livestock species