Impact of hygiene of housing conditions on performance and health of two pig genetic lines divergent for residual feed intake.

Pigs selected for high performance may be more at risk of developing diseases. This study aimed to assess the health and performance of two pig lines divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI) (low RFI (LRFI) v. high RFI (HRFI)) and housed in two contrasted hygiene conditions (poor v. good) using a 2×2 factorial design (n=40/group). The challenge period (Period 1), started on week zero (W0) when 12-week-old pigs were transferred to good or poor housing conditions. At week 6 (W6), half of the pigs in each group were slaughtered. During a recovery period (Period 2) from W6 to W13 to W14, the remaining pigs (n=20/group) were transferred in good hygiene conditions before being slaughtered. Blood was collected every three (Period 1) or 2 weeks (Period 2) to assess blood indicators of immune and inflammatory responses. Pulmonary lesions at slaughter and performance traits were evaluated. At W6, pneumonia prevalence was greater for pigs housed in poor than in good conditions (51% v. 8%, respectively, P<0.001). Irrespective of hygiene conditions, lung lesion scores were lower for LRFI pigs than for HRFI pigs (P=0.03). At W3, LRFI in poor conditions had the highest number of blood granulocytes (hygiene×line, P=0.03) and at W6, HRFI pigs in poor conditions had the greatest plasma haptoglobin concentrations (hygiene×line, P=0.02). During Period 1, growth rate and growth-to-feed ratio were less affected by poor hygiene in LRFI pigs than in HRFI pigs (hygiene×line, P=0.001 and P=0.02, respectively). Low residual feed intake pigs in poor conditions ate more than the other groups (hygiene×line, P=0.002). Irrespective of the line, fasting plasma glucose concentrations were higher in poor conditions, whereas fasting free fatty acids concentrations were lower than in good conditions. At the end of Period 2, pneumonia prevalence was similar for both housing conditions (39% v. 38%, respectively). During Period 2, plasma protein concentrations were greater for pigs previously housed in poor than in good conditions during Period 1. Immune traits, gain-to-feed ratio, BW gain and feed consumption did not differ during Period 2. Nevertheless, at W12, BW of HRFI previously housed in poor conditions was 13.4 kg lower than BW of HRFI pigs (P<0.001) previously housed in good conditions. In conclusion, health of the most feed efficient LRFI pigs was less impaired by poor hygiene conditions. This line was able to preserve its health, growth performance and its feed ingestion to a greater extent than the less efficient HRFI line.

In vitro release of gentamicin from beads, an original galenic form, and in vivo efficacy in abdomino-perineal surgery.

The kinetics of the in vitro release of gentamicin by beads, an original galenic form (Gentabilles, Laboratoires Unicet-Unilabo France) was studied for 85 d during which time considerable quantities of antibiotic were released. A very large quantity was released on the 1st d (415 micrograms every 24 h per bead) and overall-there was a considerable time-effect, since on the 85th d, an average of 10 micrograms per 24 h per bead was still being released. The assessment of criteria of bacteriological effectiveness in the use in the in vivo treatment of abdomino-perineal excisions has shown that the MIC of gentamicin determined in relation to isolated organism is much lower than the tissue concentrations. The very low serum concentrations eliminate the possibility of an eventual cochleovestibulary toxicity or renal toxicity. The clinical results, the absence of infectious complications, the shortening of healing time and of duration of hospitalization are in favour of the extended use of this antibiotic prophylaxis in colo-rectal surgery.

[Comparative bactericidal kinetics of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin alone and in combination against strains of group D Streptococcus]. / Cinétiques de bactéricidie comparées de la ciprofloxacine, de l'ofloxacine et de la péfloxacine seules et en association sur des souches de streptocoques du groupe D.

Killing curves method was used to study bactericidal activity of the three quinolones, alone and in combination with penicillin, amoxicillin, fosfomycin, netilmicin, vancomycin against six isolates of enterococci. Alone, ofloxacin showed the most initial bactericidal effect but ciprofloxacin was the most frequently bactericidal without any regrowth in 24 hours. The combinations with beta-lactams and netilmicin were sometimes synergistic in 24 hours; fosfomycin increased initial bactericidal effect.

[Diffusion of piperacillin in the healthy human peritoneum after administration of a prophylactic dose]. / Diffusion de la pipéracilline dans le péritoine sain de l'homme après administration à dose prophylactique.

The passage of piperacillin into the omentum was evaluated in 23 patients who received one single intravenous injection of 2 grams. Median concentrations were 7.05 micrograms.g-1 at 30 min, 7.2 micrograms.g-1 at 60 min., 4.65 micrograms.g-1 at 90 min. and 3.53 micrograms.g-1 at 120 min. The corresponding maximal values were 36 micrograms.g-1, 59.7 micrograms.g-1, 36 micrograms.g-1 and 32 micrograms.g-1 respectively. Specimens collected beyond 2 hours showed that the concentrations obtained were maintained.