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Standardization of Diagnostics in Swine Diseases

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A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2022) | Viewed by 29168

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lukas Schwarz

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Guest Editor

Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Wien, Austria
Interests: swine medicine; porcine infectious diseases; swine herd management; antimicrobial resistance; parasitology

Dr. Christine Unterweger

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Guest Editor

scientific staff, Clinic for Swine, Vetmeduni Vienna
Interests: Chlamydia spp.; Mycoplasma hyorhinis; Streptococcus spp.; fertility problems in sows; diagnostics; transmission of diseases; biosecurity; antimicrobial resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Swine practitioners have to deal with a variety of emerging, reemerging and well-known diseases. Coming to a diagnosis – in order to make the right decision regarding therapeutic and prophylactic measures – necessitates appropriate diagnostic tools and methods. Over the last decades, technologies were modernized, diagnostic methods improved and new innovative techniques and sampling procedures were established. Now, standardization and harmonization of diagnostics in swine medicine would be beneficial or rather would be needed in order to allow comparison of data between different laboratories, countries and in general worldwide.

The aim of this Special Issue is to get a collection of new innovative proposals about possible standardizations of diagnostics in swine medicine. All bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens or disease complexes as well as non-infectious factors can be topic of the paper. This could be original articles, case reports, review articles, technical notes or short communications. We are looking for new approaches or even applied methods, which have never been published before. This issue should offer the opportunity to learn from each other and make the future diagnostic settings easier comparable and understandable for everyone.

Dr. Lukas Schwarz
Dr. Christine Unterweger
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

standardization of diagnostics
pigs
bacterial diseases
viral diseases
parasitic diseases
non-infectious diseases
detection of pathogens
swine medicine

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 1254 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A New Sampling Approach for the Detection of Swine Influenza a Virus on European Sow Farms

by Kathrin Lillie-Jaschniski, Marina Lisgara, Emanuela Pileri, Agnes Jardin, Eduardo Velazquez, Monika Köchling, Michael Albin, Carlos Casanovas, Vassilis Skampardonis and Julia Stadler

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(7), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9070338 - 4 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3420

Abstract

Swine influenza A virus (swIAV), which plays a major role in the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), is eliminated from the respiratory tract within 7–9 days after infection. Therefore, diagnosis is complicated in endemically infected swine herds presenting no obvious clinical signs. This study aimed to investigate the right time point for sampling to detect swIAV. A cross-sectional study was performed in 131 farms from 12 European countries. The sampling protocol included suckling piglets, weaners, and nursery pigs. In each age group, 10 nasal swabs were collected and further examined in pools of 5 for swIAV by Matrix rRT-PCR, followed by a multiplex RT-PCR to determine the influenza subtype. SwIAV was detected in 284 (37.9%) of the samples and on 103 (78.6%) farms. Despite the highest number of animals with clinical signs being found in the nursery, the weaners were significantly more often virus-positive compared to nursery pigs (p = 0.048). Overall, the swIAV detection rate did not significantly differ between diseased or non-diseased suckling and nursery piglets, respectively; however, diseased weaners had significantly more positive pools than the non-diseased animals. Interestingly, in 9 farms, different subtypes were detected in different age groups. Our findings indicate that to detect all circulating swIAV subtypes on a farm, different age groups should be sampled. Additionally, the sampling strategy should also aim to include non-diseased animals, especially in the suckling period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standardization of Diagnostics in Swine Diseases)

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10 pages, 1459 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pathogens Detected in 205 German Farms with Porcine Neonatal Diarrhea in 2017

by Nicolas Mertens, Tobias Theuß, Monika Köchling, Karen Dohmann and Kathrin Lillie-Jaschniski

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(2), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9020044 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2708

Abstract

Neonatal diarrhea (ND) is still a frequently observed problem in modern industrial pig production. ND is predominantly caused by bacterial and viral pathogens. The objective of this study was to give an overview of different pathogens involved in ND in Germany. In 2017, a total number of 555 litters from 205 German pig farms with clinical ND were sampled with pooled fecal samples. All samples were analyzed regarding bacterial pathogens by culture and viral pathogens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Isolated strains of Clostridium (C.) perfringens, Escherichia (E.) coli, and C. difficile were further characterized by molecular techniques (e.g., PCR). There were 200 litters (36%), out of 555 sampled litters of 205 farms, which were positive for at least one, while most of them were positive for two or more pathogens. Toxin-producing C. perfringens type A could be detected in 122 farms (59.2%), C. difficile in 116 (56.1%), pathogenic E. coli in 79 (38.6%), and Rotavirus type A in 72 (35%). Among E. coli isolates, enterotoxigenic (8.8%) (F4 fimbriae positive (60.0%)) and necrotoxigenic E. coli (5.3%) were the most frequently detected pathotypes. In conclusion, in most of the farms with porcine ND it turned out to be a disease mainly caused by multiple pathogens, predominantly C. perfringens type A, pathogenic E. coli, and Rotavirus type A. Nevertheless, C. difficile and necrotoxigenic E. coli might be emerging pathogens in ND. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standardization of Diagnostics in Swine Diseases)

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9 pages, 1236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Surveillance in breeding Herds and Nurseries Using Tongue Tips from Dead Animals

by Jordi Baliellas, Elena Novell, Vicens Enric-Tarancón, Carles Vilalta and Lorenzo Fraile

Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(11), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8110259 - 2 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3199

Abstract

The detection capacity of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) in tongues from dead animals in breeding herds (stillborns and piglets dying during the lactating period) and nursery farms (naturally dead animals) for PRRSV surveillance was evaluated. The samples were selected if pairs of serum and tongues were available from 2018 to 2020. Serum (pools of five) and exudate from tongues (one bag) were analyzed by PRRSV RT-PCR. The agreement between the serum sample procedure versus tongues exudate was assessed using a concordance test (Kappa statistic) at batch level. A total of 32 submissions, corresponding to 14 farms, had PRRSV diagnostic information for serum and tongues exudate. The overall agreement of batch classification as positive or negative, based on RT-PCR PRRSV results, between serum and tongue exudate of the 32 pairs was 76.9%. Cohen’s Kappa was 0.55. The main discrepancy came from the presence of positive samples in tongues exudate and not in serum, suggesting that tongue exudate to monitor PRRSV seems to be more sensitive than serum. These results suggest that this sample procedure could be also used for PRRSV surveillance and monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standardization of Diagnostics in Swine Diseases)

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11 pages, 3721 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Situ Hybridization of PRRSV-1 Combined with Digital Image Analysis in Lung Tissues of Pigs Challenged with PRRSV-1

by Lilla Dénes, Dávid G. Horváth, Oliver Duran, Poul H. Ratkhjen, Christian Kraft, Balazs Acs, Attila M. Szász, Till Rümenapf, Marton Papp, Andrea Ladinig and Gyula Balka

Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(10), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8100235 - 15 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2732

Abstract

Betaarterivirus suid 1 and 2 are the causative agents of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which is one of the most significant diseases of the swine industry, causing significant economic losses in the main pig producing countries. Here, we report the development of a novel, RNA-based in situ hybridization technique (RNAscope) to detect PRRS virus (PRRSV) RNA in lung tissues of experimentally infected animals. The technique was applied to lung tissues of 20 piglets, which had been inoculated with a wild-type, highly pathogenic PRRSV-1 strain. To determine the RNAscope’s applicability as a semi-quantitative method, we analysed the association between the proportion of the virus-infected cells measured with an image analysis software (QuPath) and the outcome of the real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) tests performed in parallel. The results of the quantitative approach of these two molecular biological methods show significant association (pseudo R² = 0.3894, p = 0.004). This is the first time RNAscope assay has been implemented for the detection of PRRSV-1 in experimental animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standardization of Diagnostics in Swine Diseases)

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14 pages, 3246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Selective Agents (EMJH-STAFF), Sample Filtration and pH on Leptospira interrogans Serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae Cultivation and Isolation from Swine Urine

by Romana Steinparzer, Tamara Mair, Christine Unterweger, Adi Steinrigl and Friedrich Schmoll

Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(6), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8060090 - 25 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4157

Abstract

Leptospira spp. cause the zoonotic disease leptospirosis, which occurs in numerous mammalians worldwide. Isolation is still important for serotyping and genotyping of Leptospira, which in turn is essential for epidemiological surveillance of leptospirosis and the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines. However, isolation of Leptospira from clinical specimens is inherently insensitive. This study was conducted to examine the influence of selective agents, sample filtration, sample pH and the use of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer for sample storage to improve the success of cultivation and isolation of Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae from swine urine. EMJH (Ellinghausen McCullough, Johnson and Harris) medium including the selective agents sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, amphotericin, fosfomycin and 5-fluorouracil (STAFF) increased the success of Leptospira isolation from spiked swine urine samples. Sample filtration yielded only negative results. Isolation in EMJH-STAFF was successful from swine urine with a density as low as 10⁴ Leptospira/mL, and urine with pH ≤ 7 impaired the cultivation rate. Cultivation and isolation were not improved by the addition of PBS to spiked urine samples prior to storage for 24 h at 4 °C. The results of the study demonstrate that cultivation and isolation of leptospires from swine urine can be improved by enhanced methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standardization of Diagnostics in Swine Diseases)

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Review

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14 pages, 864 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Revisiting Porcine Circovirus Disease Diagnostic Criteria in the Current Porcine Circovirus 2 Epidemiological Context

by Joaquim Segalés and Marina Sibila

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(3), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9030110 - 2 Mar 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4035

Abstract

Current knowledge on porcine circovirus diseases (PCVD) caused by Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) includes the subclinical infection (PCV-2-SI), systemic (PCV-2-SD) and reproductive (PCV-2-RD) diseases, and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS). Criteria to establish the diagnosis of these conditions have not changed over the years; thus, the triad composed by clinical signs, lesions and viral detection in lesions are still the hallmark for PCV-2-SD and PCV-2-RD. In contrast, PCV-2-SI diagnosis is not usually performed since this condition is perceived to be controlled by default through vaccination. PDNS is diagnosed by gross and histopathological findings, and PCV-2 detection is not recognized as a diagnostic criterion. Molecular biology methods as a proxy for PCVD diagnoses have been extensively used in the last decade, although these techniques should be mainly considered as monitoring tools rather than diagnostic ones. What has changed over the years is the epidemiological picture of PCV-2 through the massive use of vaccination, which allowed the decrease in infectious pressure paralleled with a decrease in overall herd immunity. Consequently, the need for establishing the diagnosis of PCVD has increased lately, especially in cases with a PCV-2-SD-like condition despite vaccination. Therefore, the objective of the present review is to update the current knowledge on diagnostic criteria for PCVDs and to contextualize the interest of using molecular biology methods in the overall picture of these diseases within variable epidemiological scenarios of PCV-2 infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standardization of Diagnostics in Swine Diseases)

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17 pages, 7708 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Pathology in the Diagnosis of Swine Respiratory Disease

by Giuseppe Sarli, Giulia D’Annunzio, Francesca Gobbo, Cinzia Benazzi and Fabio Ostanello

Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(11), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8110256 - 29 Oct 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 7557

Abstract

The definition “porcine respiratory disease complex” (PRDC) is used to indicate the current approach for presenting respiratory pathology in modern pig farming. PRDC includes pneumonias with variable pictures, mixed with both aerogenous and hematogenous forms with variable etiology, often multimicrobial, and influenced by environmental and management factors. The notion that many etiological agents of swine respiratory pathology are ubiquitous in the airways is commonly understood; however, their isolation or identification is not always associable with the current pathology. In this complex context, lung lesions registered at slaughterhouse or during necropsy, and supplemented by histological investigations, must be considered as powerful tools for assigning a prominent role to etiologic agents. In recent years, the goal of colocalizing causative agents with the lesions they produce has been frequently applied, and valid examples in routine diagnostics are those that indicate pulmonary involvement during porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standardization of Diagnostics in Swine Diseases)

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