Search Results (64)

Proactive disease transmission pathway analyses break complex transmission routes into simpler steps, making risks and uncertainties easier to identify. This approach is especially valuable for African Swine Fever (ASF), a difficult-to-control disease in low-biosecurity settings or when biosecurity practices are inconsistently applied. To support targeted biosecurity planning, a pathway analysis was conducted that is specific to pork harvest facilities in the United States. The analysis focused on two federally inspected plants that slaughter market hogs and produce primal cuts. Inputs, outputs, and potential transmission pathways were identified through a literature review, site visits, and facility personnel interviews. Because ASF virus remains stable at low temperatures and in many pork products, particular attention was given to pathways involving storage conditions, waste materials, and processing steps such as heating or pH modification. Processing steps were evaluated against existing process control plans and ASF inactivation thresholds to determine mitigation status. Of 42 identified pathways, 39 were classified as unmitigated or of unknown mitigation status. These unmitigated or unknown pathways—broadly involving pigs, people, vehicles, and waste—represent the highest priorities for further risk assessment work and for exploring ways to develop or strengthen biosecurity protocols that reduce ASF transmission. Full article

Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) is a pestivirus that infects swine and has been associated with congenital tremor (CT) in piglets in the field, as well as those born to experimentally infected sows. However, APPV has also been detected in swine of various ages without clinical signs. Experimental and field studies have demonstrated prolonged detection of viral RNA in serum, secretions, and tissues. For this work, nine gilts from a longitudinal APPV field study were selected based on birth in CT-positive litters and evidence of prolonged detection of virus in the sera. These six-month old animals were transported to a research facility for further sampling, breeding, and necropsy. The gilts were placed in contact with naïve animals for approximately one month at two different timepoints, prior to and during gestation, to assess transmission. After farrowing, litters were monitored for CT and tested for APPV. Following arrival, serum samples were PCR-negative for APPV; however, the gilts consistently tested positive in oral fluids and had detectable APPV in the cerebellum months later at necropsy. The gilts had a delayed humoral immune response, with the majority not seroconverting until approximately ten months of age. There were PCR-positive tissues and evidence of seroconversion in animals from both contact groups; however, none of the litters tested PCR-positive for APPV. These findings improve our understanding of the temporal dynamics and transmission potential of APPV infection and can help guide control measures to reduce viral spread. Full article

Irrigation with pig slurry has been employed to discharge large volumes of slurry and to recover resources. However, using swine wastewater for agricultural irrigation may cause the accumulation of heavy metals in soil and their potential leaching to groundwater. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are crucial to mitigate heavy metal contents in swine wastewater through physical, chemical, and biological processes. This study tracked the fate of eight heavy metals in industrial swine farms: arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). Zn reported the highest removal (82 to 99%) in all WWTPs and Cu the lowest (−5 to 97%). Cu (0.59–1.64 mg L⁻¹) and Zn (0.35–1.14 mg L⁻¹) were the metals reported in all samples for the target treatment stages (influent, after biodigester, and effluent). Comparing the heavy metal concentration in the effluents, Cu and Zn reached the highest concentrations in all WWTPs. As, Cd, and Pb reported values under the practical quantification limit. In groundwater, Cr reported the highest average concentration in farm GP19 for upstream (0.006 mg L⁻¹) and for downstream (0.032 mg L⁻¹) in GP1. In irrigated soil the Cu and Zn reported the highest concentrations in all farms, showing an enrichment compared to natural soil, indicating that wastewater is the main source of these metals in soil in the farm areas. Although all metals met the Mexican and international regulations, total suspended solids (TSSs) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) for effluent were above the reference limits (TSS ≤ 24 mg L⁻¹ and COD ≤ 72 mg L⁻¹) more than ten and four times, respectively, for all WWTPs evaluated. These two parameters were positively related and significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the presence of metals in the different water fractions, implying possible transport of metals in solids. Cd, Pb, and As, were never reported in treated wastewater and groundwater, but Cr and Hg were. This may be related to external activities such as agriculture for Cr. The enrichment of metals in irrigated soils can be related to the metal presence in groundwater due to leaching because of the karstic soil in the area. Full article

Gaseous emissions from livestock facilities pose environmental and health concerns. Monitoring pollutant gases is essential to mitigate impact and enhance the sustainability of livestock systems. Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies—particularly Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs)—offer advanced tools to address these challenges by improving livestock monitoring and management. Following PRISMA guidelines, 18 studies published between 2007 and 2024 were selected from Web of Science^® and Scopus^®. Most research was conducted in Europe (55%), primarily focusing on cattle and swine. Among gases, ammonia (NH₃) was predicted in 50% of studies and methane (CH₄) in 35%. The most common ANN architecture was the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), trained mainly with backpropagation algorithms and validated using the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The results show that ANN models consistently outperformed traditional statistical approaches, offering greater prediction accuracy. Future research should focus on identifying optimal ANN structures for precise emission prediction, accounting for environmental variability, reducing dataset bias, and combining ANN with statistical models to develop hybrid approaches that further improve livestock management and sustainability. Full article

Efficient, cost-effective and sustainable pork production remains a primary objective in modern pig farming. However, the extensive use of antibiotics in animal nutrition has raised significant concerns regarding food safety and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These challenges have prompted the search for safe and effective alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. Sodium butyrate (SB), the sodium salt of butyric acid, has gained considerable attention as a functional feed additive in swine production. Its supplementation has been shown to improve intestinal morphology, regulate gut microbiota composition and enhance immune competence, resulting in better nutrient utilization and growth performance. Moreover, SB supplementation may support environmental sustainability in livestock production by mitigating the emission of harmful gases in swine housing facilities. Although current evidence is limited, in vitro studies have reported promising reductions in NH₃, H₂S and total gas production by 17.96%, 12.26% and 30.30%, respectively. Comparable effects have also been observed in laying hens, where NH₃ emissions were reduced by 26.22%. This review summarizes current knowledge on the application of SB in pig nutrition, focusing on its mechanisms of action, effects on health and productivity, and potential environmental benefits. The findings indicate that SB represents a promising and safe alternative to antibiotics, supporting both animal welfare and sustainable pork production within modern livestock systems. Full article

Brachyspira hyodysenteriae is the primary cause of swine dysentery, characterized by bloody to mucoid diarrhea due to mucohaemorhagic colitis in pigs. The disease primarily affects pigs during the growth and finishing stage. The control and prevention of B. hyodysenteriae consists of the administration of antimicrobial drugs, in addition to management and adapted feeding strategies. A worldwide re-emergence of the disease has recently been reported with an increasing number of isolates demonstrating decreased susceptibility to several crucially important antimicrobials in the control of swine dysentery. This compromises the possibilities to eradicate B. hyodysenteriae from infected pig farms. A novel non-antibiotic zinc chelate has been reported to demonstrate positive effects on fecal quality and consistency, general clinical signs, average daily weight gain, and B. hyodysenteriae excretion during and after a 6-day oral treatment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the zinc chelate (IntraDysovinol^® 499 mg/mL; IntraCare) within an eradication schedule with naturally occurring swine dysentery due to B. hyodysenteriae resistant to pleuromutilins under field conditions in Belgium. We evaluated a 14-day treatment schedule combined with alternative management measures (including partial depopulation of post-weaning facilities and improved external and internal biosecurity measures) and thorough cleaning and disinfection (including 2% NaOH) of the buildings and the sows from day 7 of treatment onwards. This alternative approach for B. hyodysenteriae eradication was evaluated on 18 pig farms over a 5-year period. All enrolled eradication programs were evaluated as successful at least 6–9 months after the finalization of the protocol. In conclusion, the zinc chelate product has an excellent potential for application within an eradication protocol of B. hyodysenteriae that are diagnosed as resistant to pleuromutilins. The combined approach of zinc chelate treatment and alternative management measures is demonstrated to be successful in the eradication of farrow-to-wean, farrow-to-finish, and finishing pig farms under field conditions in Belgium. Full article

To prevent swine fever transmission, swine farms in China adopt enclosed management, making strict farm personnel biosecurity essential for minimizing the risk of pathogen introduction. However, current shower-in procedures and personnel movement records on many farms still rely on manual logging, which is prone to omissions and cannot support enterprise-level supervision. To address these limitations, this study develops a digital personnel management system designed specifically for the changing-room environment that forms the core biosecurity barrier. The proposed three-tier architecture integrates distributed identification terminals, local central controllers, and a cloud-based data platform. The system ensures reliable identity verification, synchronizes templates across terminals, and maintains continuous data availability, even in unstable network conditions. Fingerprint-based identity validation and a lightweight CAN-based communication mechanism were implemented to ensure robust operation in electrically noisy livestock facilities. System performance was evaluated through recognition tests, multi-frame template transmission experiments, and high-load CAN/MQTT communication tests. The system achieved a 91.4% overall verification success rate, lossless transmission of multi-frame fingerprint templates, and stable end-to-end communication, with mean CAN-bus processing delays of 99.96 ms and cloud-processing delays below 70.7 ms. These results demonstrate that the proposed system provides a reliable digital alternative to manual personnel movement records and shower duration, offering a scalable foundation for biosecurity supervision. While the present implementation focuses on identity verification, data synchronization, and calculating shower duration based on the interval between check-ins, the system architecture can be extended to support movement path enforcement and integration with wider biosecurity infrastructures. Full article

Despite existing biosecurity frameworks, there is limited empirical evidence on how US swine producers’ beliefs, behaviors, and risk perceptions influence enhanced biosecurity implementation. We conducted an online survey among US swine producers to understand their biosecurity beliefs, behaviors, and practices. We used descriptive, unsupervised machine learning, and Factor Analysis for Mixed Data (FAMD). Of fifty-four respondents, 48.1% reported implementing some biosecurity measures, and 72.2% valued having enhanced biosecurity protocols. Majority (53.7%) considered their veterinarian’s biosecurity opinion most important, and 37% were not concerned about African swine fever. Almost all (90.7%) felt confident they could contain an outbreak on their farms. However, none practiced enhanced biosecurity. The cluster analysis identified four distinct producer profiles (K = 4). Cluster A had young, inexperienced producers operating breeding facilities, with moderate biosecurity adoption. Cluster B included young, small-farm producers with variable biosecurity practices and low mortality rates. Cluster C comprised farms with moderate experience, higher mortality rates, and the lowest biosecurity adoption. Cluster D was composed of older, experienced, educated producers with the highest biosecurity standards and lowest mortality rates. FAMD revealed clustering along human capital and resource availability dimensions. Regular biosecurity assessments, tailored recommendations, and training would improve biosecurity in the swine industry. Full article

Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoan parasites that cause cryptosporidiosis, an enteric disease that can affect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. Pigs play a potential role in the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. to humans, although infections are most often subclinical. This study aimed to assess the occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in swine farms located in Aragón, northeastern Spain. Fecal samples (n = 72) were collected from 10 breeding farms, encompassing various production stages (lactation, nursery, fattening, and/or wean-to-finish). Data regarding the type of production system (two- or three-stage), production stages, and farming facilities (the type of flooring and water source) associated with the parasite presence were also analyzed using a questionnaire. The results showed that Cryptosporidium spp. were more frequently detected in fecal samples originating from three-stage production systems (21.9%) compared to two-stage systems (12.5%). Samples from the fattening stage exhibited the highest positivity rate and estimated oocyst count (3.0 oocyst/microscopic field). Furthermore, the molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. revealed the circulation of multiple species both among farms and within the same pig production flow, with Cryptosporidium scrofarum being the most prevalent species (7/72; 9.7%), followed by Cryptosporidium suis (1/72; 1.4%). These findings underscore the importance of the surveillance and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. for controlling infections in pigs, considering the potential for the zoonotic transmission of this parasite to humans. Full article

Precision livestock farming technologies support health monitoring on farms, yet few studies have evaluated their effectiveness under field conditions using reliable gold standards. This study evaluated a commercially available technology for detecting cough sounds in pigs on a commercial farm. Audio was recorded over six days using 16 microphones across two pig barns. A total of 1110 cough sounds were labelled by an on-site observer using a cough induction methodology, and 8938 other sounds from farm recordings and open-source datasets (ESC-50, UrbanSound8K, and AudioSet) were labelled. A hybrid deep learning model combining Convolutional Neural Networks and Recurrent Neural Networks was trained and evaluated using these labels. A total of 34 audio features were extracted from 1 s segments, including validated descriptors (e.g., MFCC), unverified external features, and proprietary features. Features were evaluated through 10-fold cross-validation based on classification performance and runtime, resulting in eight final features. The final model showed high performance (recall = 98.6%, specificity = 99.7%, precision = 98.8%, accuracy = 99.6%, F1-score = 98.6%). The technology tested was shown to be efficient for monitoring cough sounds in a commercial swine production facility. It is recommended to test the technology in other environments to evaluate the effectiveness in different farm settings. Full article

Following its initial documented emergence in Hunan’s swine facilities in 2017, GETV has inflicted considerable financial damage upon China’s pork production sector. Beyond its impact on swine, GETV also poses a potential risk to other animal species and public health, primarily due to its mosquito-borne transmission. Between September 2020 and May 2021, a GETV outbreak occurred on a commercial swine farm in Sichuan Province, where affected animals exhibited movement disorders, neurological symptoms, and mild diarrhea, with severe cases resulting in mortality. To elucidate the genetic characteristics and transmission dynamics of the virus, a comprehensive investigation of this outbreak was conducted. Clinical samples from diseased or deceased swine were collected and analyzed by PCR, confirming the presence of GETV infection. Additionally, differential diagnostic assays were performed for other common swine pathogens, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), pseudorabies virus (PRV), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), and atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV). All tests yielded negative results, confirming GETV as the sole etiological agent of the outbreak. The GETV-positive samples were inoculated into BHK-21 cells, leading to the isolation of a GETV strain (SC202009). Whole-genome sequence analysis revealed that SC202009 belongs to the GIII genotype of GETV, with a nucleotide sequence identity ranging from 95.1% to 99.8% compared to reference sequences in GenBank. This high level of sequence identity suggests that SC202009 is closely related to other circulating strains in the region, indicating potential local transmission networks and endemic viral circulation. The nucleotide sequence identity of the E2 gene ranged from 94.2% to 99.6%, while the E2 protein amino acid sequence identity ranged from 97.2% to 99.5%. Phylogenetic analysis further indicated that SC202009 is genetically distant from the original Malaysian prototype strain (MM2021) but shares high sequence identity with several strains isolated in Sichuan Province, including SC266, SC201807, and SC483. Notably, NMJA_F2_18-8L-NH-Cxp-Y-1-1 was isolated from Culex pipiens, suggesting a mosquito-borne transmission route. These findings provide novel insights into the regional dissemination patterns and genetic diversity of GETV in China. These results also highlight the importance of the continuous surveillance of viral genetic variations and the elucidation of transmission dynamics to develop effective control strategies and mitigate potential public health risks. Future studies should focus on the ecological and environmental factors influencing GETV transmission, particularly the role of mosquito vectors in cross-species viral spread, to enhance targeted prevention and control measures for this emerging arboviral threat. Full article

This study evaluated housing designs and bedding systems to improve air quality in swine facilities, focusing on odor and particulate matter (PM) reduction. Three experimental animal house designs (M1, M2, M3) were tested: M1 used circulating airflow with negative pressure, M2 featured a plug flow air pattern with a perforated plastic bed, and M3 employed a sawdust bedding system with recirculating ventilation. Nine fattening swine were housed in each 12 m² house over 110 days (6 May to 26 August 2018). Appropriate air samples were collected, and odorous compounds, volatile organic acids (VOA), PM, and bacterial concentrations measured. Results showed that M3 had the lowest ammonia (NH₃) levels (5.9 ± 1.5 ppm) and undetectable hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), while M1 recorded the highest NH₃ (9.1 ± 2.2 ppm). VOA concentrations were significantly lower in M3 (75 ± 1.3 ppbv) compared to M1 (884 ± 15 ppbv) and M2 (605 ± 10.3 ppbv). PM10 levels were highest in M3 (312 ± 11 μg/m³) and lowest in M1 (115 ± 3 μg/m³), and thus bacterial counts were elevated in M3 (2117 ± 411 cfu/min), whereas M1 showed the lowest bacterial count of 1029 ± 297 cfu/min. The sawdust bedding system effectively reduced odorous compounds, highlighting its potential for odor control. However, higher PM levels in M3 emphasize the need to balance environmental management with animal welfare. These findings suggest that optimizing housing designs and bedding systems can enhance air quality in swine facilities while addressing sustainability and welfare concerns. Full article

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are emerging as significant environmental contaminants, posing potential health risks worldwide. Intensive livestock farming, particularly swine production, is a primary contributor to the escalation of ARG pollution. In this study, we employed metagenomic sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to analyze the composition of microorganisms and ARGs across four vectors in a typical swine fattening facility: dung, soil, airborne particulate matter (PM), and fodder. Surprisingly, soil and PM harbored a higher abundance of microorganisms and ARGs than dung. At the same time, fodder was more likely to carry eukaryotes. Proteobacteria exhibited the highest propensity for carrying ARGs, with proportions 9–20 times greater than other microorganisms. Furthermore, a strong interrelation among various ARGs was observed, suggesting the potential for cooperative transmission mechanisms. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing soil and PM as significant reservoirs of ARGs in swine facilities alongside dung. Consequently, targeted measures should be implemented to mitigate their proliferation, mainly focusing on airborne PM, which can rapidly disseminate via air currents. Proteobacteria, given their remarkable carrying capacity for ARGs with the primary resistance mechanism of efflux, represent a promising avenue for developing novel control strategies against antibiotic resistance. Full article

Precision feeding is an excellent alternative to conventional phase feeding systems for growing-finishing pigs, especially with increasing feeding costs and environmental sustainability concerns. However, precision feeding strategies sometimes require advanced technologies such as electronic devices and the modernization of pig facilities. In addition to hardware implementation, precision feeding is frequently related to mathematical difficulties due to a lack of professionals trained in decision making. Therefore, this study compares a conventional phase feeding model (CON) and a daily fit model (DFM) with a simplified approach to the conscious use of nutrients for pig production. A simulation study was conducted using growth curves of barrow pigs, following three nutritional recommendations for conventional phase feeding. Once the nutrient requirements for CON were determined, these diets were used for the DFM by anticipating a proportional percentage of the next phase diet in the current diet. This simple adjustment does not impair the growth performance of pigs. However, in this study, the DFM showed promise during the growing-finishing phases to reduce pigs’ costs and nutrient intakes, such as crude protein, lysine, and digestible phosphorus, up to 5.58, 7.11 and 9.13%, respectively. In conclusion, the DFM can effectively reduce costs, minimize environmental impact, and promote sustainable practices. Also, this industry-wide adoption of this simplified precision feeding strategy could play a vital role in swine farmers’ challenges, fostering broader environmental benefits and improved resource efficiency. Full article

This study aimed to assess the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) residues in the blood serum of slaughtered pigs in Greece. Samples were obtained from 1695 healthy slaughtered pigs originating from 113 different farms located in 21 geographic regional units in 8 different geographic regions of Greece and were analyzed using an immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FD). OTA contamination assessment showed that 782 (46.1%) and 1233 (72.7%) samples were OTA-positive, with a concentration range of 0.20–5.38 μg/L and 0.15–5.96 µg/L according to ELISA and HPLC-FD analysis, respectively. Also, 88 (77.9%) and 108 (95.6%) of farms were found to be OTA-positive by ELISA and HPLC-FD analysis, respectively. The highest OTA serum positivity rate (>98%) and toxin level (5.96 µg/L) determined by HPLC-FD were observed in the Thessaly region, whereas a high prevalence of up to 100% (range 75–100%) was found on farms in the Crete Island region. The detection of OTA in the serum of slaughtered pigs in different regions in Greece poses a risk for animal and human health and highlights the need for constant OTA monitoring in the swine industry and pork meat production facilities. Full article