Report on the First African Swine Fever Case in Greece

African swine fever (ASF) poses a major threat to swine health and welfare worldwide. After several European countries have reported cases of ASF, Greece confirmed officially the first positive case on 5 February 2020. The owner of a backyard farm in Nikoklia, a village in Serres regional unit, Central Macedonia, reported a loss of appetite, weakness, dyspnea, and the sudden death of 6 domestic pigs. Necropsy was performed in one gilt and findings were compatible with acute to subacute septicemic disease. Predominantly, hyperemic enlargement of spleen and lymph node enlargement and/or hemorrhage were observed. Description of vague clinical signs by the farmer suggested a limited resemblance to ASF-acute infection. However, the disease could not be ruled out once septicemic condition including splenomegaly, was diagnosed macroscopically at necropsy. In addition, considering the farm’s location near to ASF protection zones, a further diagnostic investigation followed. Confirmation of the disease was obtained using a series of diagnostic tests on several tissue samples. Further clinical, molecular, and epidemiologic evaluation of the farm was performed. According to the contingency plan, authorities euthanized all 31 pigs on the farm, whilst blood testing revealed ASF virus infection. Further emergency measures were implemented to contain the spread of the disease

Effects of palygorskite dietary supplementation on back fat mobilization, leptin levels and oxidative stress parameters in sows

© 2016 Elsevier B.V. The effects of dietary supplementation of palygorskite on the metabolic and oxidative parameters during the peripartal period and performance of sows were assessed. Upon insemination sows were allocated to treatments: a) CON (n = 23): sows were fed a basal diet; b) PAL (n = 21): sows were fed the basal diet supplemented with 7 g/kg feed palygorskite; and c) PAL + (n = 23): sows were fed the basal diet supplemented with 8 g/kg feed of a palygorskite compound product. Sow plasma samples (n = 10/treatment) were obtained at days 108 of gestation, 1 and 14 postpartum. Leptin levels were higher in PAL and PAL + groups (P < 0.001). The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were higher in the CON group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). PAL sows exhibited higher back fat (BF) loss from late gestation to weaning (P = 0.015). Litter weight at weaning and litter weight gain during lactation were higher in CON sows (P < 0.001). Overall, palygorskite supplementation affected peripartal energy balance of sows, which was characterized by the increased leptin levels and BF mobilization and accompanied by a decreased oxidative stress.status: publishe

Investigation of the Effect of Three Commercial Water Acidifiers on the Performance, Gut Health, and <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> Colonization in Experimentally Challenged Broiler Chicks

This study investigated the effect of three commercial water acidifiers on the performance, gut health, and C. jejuni colonization in experimentally challenged broiler chicks. A total of 192 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308®) were randomly allocated into 6 treatment groups with 4 replicates according to the following experimental design: group A, birds were not challenged and received tap water; group B, birds were challenged and received tap water; groups C, D, E, and F, birds were challenged and received tap water treated with 0.1% v/v SPECTRON®, with 0.1–0.2% v/v ProPhorce™ SA Exclusive, with 0.1–0.2% v/v Premium acid, and with 0.1–0.2% v/v Salgard® Liquid, respectively. The continuous water acidification evoked undesirable effects on broilers’ performance and to an increased number of birds with ulcers and erosions in the oral cavity and the upper esophageal area. ProPhorce™ SA Exclusive and Premium acid significantly reduced the C. jejuni counts in the crop, whereas Salgard® Liquid significantly reduced the C. jejuni counts in the ceca of birds. At slaughter age, only Premium acid significantly reduced C. jejuni counts in the ceca of birds. All the tested products ameliorated the changes induced by C. jejuni infection in the pH in the ceca of birds. It can be concluded that besides the effectiveness of the tested products in controlling C. jejuni in broilers, their continuous application evoked undesirable effects on broilers’ performance, leading to the need to modify the dosage scheme in future investigations