Altrenogest during early pregnancy modulates uterine glandular epithelium and endometrial growth factor expression at the time implantation in pigs

This study evaluated the effects of supplying altrenogest from day 6-12 of pregnancy on the endometrial glandular epithelium, corpora lutea (CL) morphology, and endometrial and CL gene expression. A total of 12 crossbred females (Landrace × Large White) were used. The females were assigned to 4 treatments according to a random design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with two categories (sow or gilt) and two treatments (non-treated and treated with altrenogest). On day 6 of pregnancy, animals were allocated to one of the following groups: non-treated (NT, n = 6; 3 sows and 3 gilts), and (T, n = 6; 3 sows and 3 gilts) treated daily with 20 mg of altrenogest, from day 6-12 of pregnancy. All animals were euthanized on day 13 of pregnancy. All CLs were individually weighed, and their volume were determined. The endometrial glandular density (GD), mean glandular area (MGA), and vascular density (VD) were determined by histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses. Endometrium samples were collected and analyzed by qRT-PCR to evaluate the abundance of transcripts for VEGF and IGF-I. Females in the T group had higher MGA (P < 0.05) compared to the NT group. There was no effect of treatment on GD or VD for both experimental groups. Sows in the T group had augmented expression of IGF-I (P < 0.05). Progestagen had no detrimental effect on CL morphology. In conclusion, altrenogest improves the uterine environment during the peri-implantation period in pigs without compromising corpora lutea development

Evaluation of sow mortality in a large scale operation

O grande avanço genético na seleção de matrizes suínas, associado a intensificação dossistemas de produção impulsionou o aumento da produtividade da indústria suinícola. Apesar disso, dadosrecentesindicam que a taxa de mortalidade dematrizes vem se tornando um ponto crítico na produção, gerando custos de reposição, de estabilização da imunidade do rebanho e custos de oportunidade. Embora este problema venha crescendo em vários países, a literatura ainda é escassa em relação a causas de morte espontânea de reprodutoras, bem como dos agentes bacterianos associados. O presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar a necropsia e avaliação de dados zootécnicos de um grupo de 100 matrizes que apresentaram morte espontânea, de um rebanho suíno que aloja 16.000 fêmeas. Desses animais foram coletadas amostras de diversos sistemas para isolamento e identificação bacteriológica por espectrometria de massa MALDI- TOF, além de PCR para os principais agentes respiratórios e entéricos. Foram avaliadas as possíveis associações entre os dados zootécnicos coletados dasfêmeas, lesões identificadas nas necropsias, e o isolamento e identificação bacteriana. Durante o periparto foi observada maior parte da mortalidade de matrizes (53%), além de aumentar as chances de mortes por lesões em sistema genitoúrinários, e a ocorrência de falhas cardíacas e prolapsos (p &#60;0.05). As principais lesões observadas durante a necrópsia foram: aderência pulmonar (50%); cistite (35%); edema pulmonar (29%); úlcera estomacal (26%); congestão pulmonar (23%); metrite (22%); presença de restos fetais ou anexos em útero (11%); choque circulatório/falha cardíaca (15%); consolidação pulmonar (15%); pielonefrite (14%); artrite (11%); miosite supurativa (9%); torção/ruptura lobo hepático (7%); prolapso uterino (6%); ruptura cérvix (6%); prolapso retal (4%). A mortalidade de matrizes possuí um aspecto multifatorial, sendo que em 70% dos casos foram observadas lesões em mais de um sistema no momento da necropsia. Além disso, foi observado que lesões de casco aumentam a chance (p &#60;0.05) de ocorrência de artrites e miosites supurativas no momento da morte, e fêmeas com baixa condição corporal possuem maiores chances (p &#60;0.05) de terem lesões infecciosas em membros locomotores no momento da morte. A realização excessiva de palpações aumentou a taxa de mortalidade do rebanho,seja de forma direta por rupturas de cérvix/útero, seja de forma indireta, pelo aumento da chance de morte (p &#60;0.05) por metrites. O uso de ocitócitos e palpações não interferiu (p &#62;0.05) na ocorrência de prolapsos no momento da morte. Foi observado uma associação positiva (p &#60;0.05) entre cistites e pielonefrites, indicando uma possível rota ascendente da infecção. Foi observado que as infecções são majoritamente de ordem polimicrobiana. Os principais agentes bacterianos identificados naslesões em membros locomotores, sistema genitoúrinário, e lesões pulmonares foram: Trueperella pyogenes, Escherichia coli, e Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, respectivamente. As causas de mortalidade de matrizes são complexas, e possuem diversos fatores de risco e agentes infecciosos associados, indicando que esse tema é um grande desafio para a suinocultura. Desse modo, estudos constantes são necessários a fim de elucidar melhor estes quadros e orientar a implantação de boas práticas de produção, visando reduzir a mortalidade nos plantéis e melhorar as condições de bem-estar animal.There has been a steady increase in sow mortality rate over the past decade. Increased mortality of breeding sows results in substantial financial losses and raises ethical and animal welfare concerns. In spite of the rise in mortality, the literature is still scarce regarding the causes of spontaneous death of sows in large pig operation enterprises and the associated bacterial agents involved. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the cause of sow mortality by performing post-mortem examination and evaluation of individual sow records from 100 sows that died spontaneously in a breeding herd with an inventory of 16,000 dams. Samples from cardiorespiratory, genitourinary, locomotor and gastrointestinal systems were collected to identify possible association between the cause of death and observed gross lesions. The samples were also subjected to microbiological examination using mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). PCR analyses were performed to identify respiratory and enteric agents. Correlation analysis was carried out using data from individual sow records, pathological findings and microbiological test results. The majority of sow deaths occurred in peripartum (53%). The peripartum increased (p&#60;0.05) odds of death from genitourinary lesion, heart failures and prolapses. The main pathological findings were pleurisy (50%); cystitis (35%); lung edema (29%); gastric ulcers (26%); lung congestion (23%); metritis (22%); retained piglets or placentas (11%); heart failure (15%); lung consolidation (15%); pyelonephritis (14%); arthritis (11%); suppurative myositis (9%); lobe hepatic torsion (7%); uterine prolapse (6%); cervix/uterus rupture (6%); rectal prolapse (4%). Sow mortality had a multifactorial etiology, and in 70% of the deaths lesions in more than one system were observed. Furthermore, claws injuries increased (p&#60;0.05) the odds for arthritis and suppurative myositis at the time of death. Sows with low body condition score had higher odds (p&#60;0.05) for locomotor septic disorders. The excessive use of manual obstetric interventions increased sow deaths resulting from cervix/uterus ruptures and also increase the odds of death (p&#60;0.05) due to metritis. The use of uterotonics and manual obstetric interventions did not (p&#62;0.05) affect prolapses occurrence at the time of death. A positive association (p&#60;0.05) between cystitis and pyelonephritis, indicating a possible ascending infection, was observed. Infections were mainly polymicrobial. The main microbial agents identified from septic lesion in locomotor, genitourinary and respiratory systems were: Trueperella pyogenes; Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, respectively. In conclusion, sows mortality had multiple risk factors and numerous bacterial agents involved. This topic warrants further studies to better elucidate sow deaths and guide the implementation of strategies to reduce mortality in breeding herds, thereby improving animal welfare and reducing financial losses

Altrenogest Supplementation during Early Pregnancy Improves Reproductive Outcome in Pigs

Progesterone plays an important role in initial conceptus development and in a successful pregnancy, but results related to progesterone or its analogues (altrenogest) supplementation in early pregnancy of pigs are conflicting. The present study evaluated the effects of altrenogest supplementation in sows during days 6 and 12 of pregnancy on reproductive performance. On day 6 of pregnancy, 301 females were allocated at random to one of the following treatments: CON (Control: non-supplemented females, n = 163) or ALT (females daily supplemented with 20 mg of altrenogest, orally, from day 6 to 12 of pregnancy, n = 138). Ovulation was considered as occurred at 48 h after the first estrus detection to standardize the first day of pregnancy. The supplementation increased the number of total piglets born (ALT: 17.3 &plusmn; 0.4; CON: 16.6 &plusmn; 0.4), piglets born alive (ALT: 15.6 &plusmn; 0.4; CON: 14.8 &plusmn; 0.3), and placenta weight (ALT: 4.2 &plusmn; 0.1; CON: 3.8 &plusmn; 0.1) and decreased the stillbirth rate (ALT: 5.9 &plusmn; 0.6; CON: 7.6 &plusmn; 0.6) and the number of piglets born weighing less than 800 g (ALT: 6.6 &plusmn; 0.6; CON: 8.0 &plusmn; 0.6), without impairment on farrowing rate. These results demonstrated that altrenogest supplementation on swine females between days 6 and 12 of pregnancy may be used to improve reproductive performance

Estrus Synchronization of Replacement Gilts Using Estradiol Cipionate and PGF2&alpha; and Its Effects on Reproductive Outcomes

In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of using estrogen-induced prolonged luteal function followed by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2&alpha;) treatment to synchronize estrus in gilts. On day12 of the estrus cycle (D0 = first day of standing estrus), 52 gilts were assigned at random to two experimental groups: non-treated gilts (CON, n = 22), serving as controls, and prolonged luteal function group (CYP, n = 30), receiving a single treatment with 10 mg of estradiol cypionate intramuscularly Starting on day 12, blood samples were collected for estradiol and progesterone assays. Estrus detection started on day 17. Gilts from the CON group were inseminated at the onset of natural estrus. On day 28 CYP gilts were treated with PGF2&alpha; to induce luteolysis and inseminated at the onset of estrus. Gilts were slaughtered 5 d after the last insemination. A single treatment with estradiol cypionate prolonged luteal function in 90% of treated gilts. The duration of the estrous cycle was longer (p &lt; 0.0001) for CYP gilts compared to CON gilts. CYP gilts showed synchronized estrus 3.96 &plusmn; 0.19 d after induction of luteolysis. The conception rate was similar (p = 0.10) for CON and CYP gilts. No difference was observed in the embryo recovery rate (p = 0.18) and total number of embryos per female (p = 0.06). The percentage of unfertilized oocytes, fragmented embryos and viable embryos was similar among females from CON and CYP groups (p &gt; 0.05). The treatment of gilts with a single application of 10 mg of estradiol cypionate on day 12 of the estrous cycle was effective in prolonging luteal function and treatment with PGF2&alpha; resulted in synchronized estrus. Additionally, the synchronization protocol had no deleterious effect on fertility and embryonic development

Causes of Sow Mortality and Risks to Post-Mortem Findings in a Brazilian Intensive Swine Production System

The present study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for post-mortem findings and causes of sow mortality. A post-mortem examination and microbiological investigation were conducted on 123 sows from a breeding herd with 15,000 dams. The mortality of spontaneous death in sows occurred mostly in the peripartum period (53%; p &lt; 0.05). The spontaneous deaths were associated with heart failures, hemorrhagic and perforating gastric ulcers, and liver torsion, while in the euthanized sows, the post-mortem findings were associated with locomotor disorders. A higher body condition score (BCS &ge; 3.5) increased (p &lt; 0.05) heart failure on the post-mortem examination. The excessive use of manual obstetric interventions increased sow deaths resulting from cervix/uterus ruptures and increased the odds of death (p &lt; 0.05) due to metritis. Sow mortality had a multifactorial etiology. Infections were polymicrobial. The main microbial agents identified from a septic lesion in locomotor, genitourinary, and respiratory systems were Trueperella pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, respectively. In conclusion, sow mortality involved multiple risk factors and several bacterial agents. These results indicate that better management practices can reduce sow mortality in swine production and increase sow welfare