Differentiation of porcine Eimeria spp. by morphologic algorithms.

Oocysts of Eimeria spp. were isolated from feces of naturally infected sows by conventional flotation. Saturated sodium chloride solution was superior to zinc chloride, zinc chloride/sodium chloride or sugar solution to isolate oocysts. Seven species, namely Eimeria scabra, E. polita, E. perminuta, E. debliecki, E. suis, E. porci and E. spinosa, were identified. The dimensions of oocysts (n = 4088) and sporocysts (n = 3594) were measured with an image analysis system; colour and shape of oocysts were estimated and transformed to numerical values. Of the 4088 oocysts approximately 99% were allocated to the correct species by algorithms calculated on the basis of these values. Rough-walled oocysts (E. scabra, E. polita, E. perminuta, E. spinosa) could be distinguished without previous sporulation in most cases (>97%). Smooth-walled oocysts require sporulation for further classification and were accurately allocated to species in at least 93% of cases.

[Status of swine flu in livestock trading law]. / Zur Stellung der Ferkelgrippe im Tierkaufrecht.

In contrast to the opinion found in current textbooks, ferkelgrippe (also called enzootic pneumonia or mycoplasmal pneumonia) is to be considered part of the legal deficit known as "swine fever (including hog cholera)" in the Imperial Order of 1899. Modern diagnostic procedures make it possible to successfully rule out or confirm suspected cases of this legal deficit. The diagnostic certainly made possible by PCR and ELISA procedures could give new impetus to efforts to reform stock-trading law.

[Strategies for the assurance of health in swine production]. / Strategien der Gesundheitssicherung in der Schweineproduktion.

Healthcontrol in swineproduction has to aspire as a new focus the maintenance or recovery of the healthstatus of sows in order to reduce the prevalence of growth-suppressing sowborne infectious diseases in suckling piglets and in weanlings. Weaned piglets which are free from parasites and agents of enzootie infectious diseases make the basis for rearing fatteners under minimal or without application of remedies and thus for producing uncontaminatet meat. Strategies for care of health in breeding herds must include elements of structural and zootechnical hygiene, of serological and parasitological controls of infections, of a vaccination program for sows and weaned piglets, or prophylactic treatment of MMA and iron deficiency as well as elimination of sows suffering from chronic organic diseases (udder, bladder, claw). The availability of such strategies needs a regional all herds including application combined with a well organized cooperation between veterinarians and producers.

[Clinical signs and differential diagnosis of foot and mouth disease in pigs]. / Klinik und Differentialdiagnose der MKS der Schweine.

FMD in pigs is primarily a foot disease. It is dominated by rather painful formation of vesicles in the epidermis of the feet (coronary band, interdigital clefts, bulbs) combined with severe lameness. Complications will be seen as detachment of the hoof and secondary infection of disrupted aphthae which may cause purulent arthritis of the pedal joint. Concerning differential diagnosis are to be considered all cases of acute lameness, vesicle-formation as typical lesions of exudative epidermites of pemphigus in the course of infections with S. hyicus or S. aureus as well as degenerative changes after selenium-intoxication, specially near the coronary band, sometimes linked with exungulation.

[Motivation and proposals for revising the stock trading law]. / Begründung und Vorschläge zur Neuordnung des Viehkaufrechts.

The German stock-trading law is a special statute that has been put into effect at the end of the last century (sections 482-492 BGB, i.e. civil code, and Kaiserliche Verordnung, i.e. imperial regulation). It promotes agricultural interests and contains guarantees which are out-of-date. This state had led to serious irritabilities with the general law of trade (sections 459-480 BGB). The difference in legal treatment of persons buying stock (i.e. equines, cattle, sheep and swine) or those buying other animals (e.g. dogs, cats, poultry) seems to be unsupportable any longer. For this reason the constitutional principle of equality in legal matters (section 3.1, German constitution) will be used and interpreted as a motivation for the importance to revise the antiquated stock-trading law.

[Toxicity of the combination of salinomycin and tiamulin in swine]. / Zur Toxizität der Kombination von Salinomycin und Tiamulin beim Schwein.

The toxicity of the combination of salinomycin (sal.) and tiamulin (tia.) was investigated in dependence upon dosage and feeding method. In addition the efficacy of a safe dose for prophylactic treatment of dysentery was controlled. Following feed medications were tested for toxic effects in pigs: a) 3 mg sal. + 5 mg tia./kg BW, b) 3 mg sal. + 3 mg tia./kg BW, c) 3 mg sal. + 1 mg tia./kg BW, d) 3 mg sal./kg BW, e) 10 mg tia./kg BW, f) 30 mg tia./kg BW. The daily dose was given for 2 weeks by restricted feeding (twice a day) either as bolus or mixed in the whole ration or by feeding ad libitum. Animals were controlled for clinical symptoms and activities of creatine phosphokinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) were evaluated daily. Main clinical signs of poisoning were loss of appetite and locomotor disturbances and could be noticed for dosages of 8, 6 and 4 mg sal. + tia./kg BW. Activities of CK and ASAT were increased dose-related, the feeding method also had an influence on the degree of intoxication. Some animals showed locomotor disturbances without any corresponding changes of CK and ASAT levels. Single pigs remaining without any symptoms even at high dosage pointed to differences in individual susceptibility. Toxicity was not found to be age dependent. Feed medication with 60 ppm sal. + 20 ppm tia. (feeding ad libitum) did not result in any signs of toxicity, however, the transmission of Serpulina hyodysenteriae from infected pigs to healthy, treated control animals could not be inhibited efficiently. Therefore the simultaneous application of salinomycin and tiamulin should be avoided generally, because the risk of intoxication is high and subtherapeutical dosage has an insufficient effectiveness against Serpulina hyodysenteriae.

[Hints concerning the dosage of Glauber's salt for breeding sows]. / Hinweise zur Dosierung von Glaubersalz bei Zuchtsauen.

Feeding a laxative like sodium sulphate before parturition is often reported as an effective MMA prophylaxis. In this study pigs were treated with different doses of Na2SO4. Consistency variations of feces were controlled by recording the dry matter contents. To provoke a significant increase in fecal water content 0.6 g Glauber's salt per kg bodyweight is successful in not constipated sows. The increased fluid content of the feces leads by multiplication of colon volume to rising distension stimuli and therefore increased peristaltic. Even with restricted feeding (1 kg per sow and day) accelerated discharge of feces is possible instead of constipation, 15 g sodium sulphate per sow is recorded as an underdose causing increases in fecal dry matter or even obstipation.

[The effect of bacterial interference phenomena in experimental Staphylococcus hyicus infections of gnotobiotic piglets]. / Untersuchungen über die Wirkung bakterieller Interferenzphänomene bei der experimentellen Staphylococcus-hyicus-Infektion gnotobiotischer Ferkel.

The prevention of exudative epidermitis could be confirmed in experimental investigations with gnotobiotic piglets when the skin first was colonized with avirulent strains of Staphylococcus (Staph.) hyicus and subsequently exposed to virulent strains of Staph. hyicus. However, locally restricted cutaneous lesions in the area of application corresponding to exudative epidermitis were seen in five of nine piglets. Using the strain Staph. sciuri the spread of virulent Staph. hyicus could not be suppressed. Such infected two piglets developed generalized exudative epidermitis. In another experiment with four piglets it could be shown, that the relative protective mechanism correlating to bacterial interference on the one hand can be influenced by the virulence of causative organisms. On the other hand it even can be abolished when skin lesions are involved. For that reason probably the utilization of bacterial interference in prevention of exudative epidermitis under field conditions is considerably limited.

[Vaccination trial against Aujeszky's disease: development of antibody titers in sow serum, colostrum and the serum of suckling piglets and the influence of maternal antibodies on the serologic vaccination reaction of weaned piglets]. / Impfversuche gegen die Aujeszkysche Krankheit: Entwicklung der Antikörpertiter in Sauenserum, Kolostrum und Serum der Saugferkel sowie der Einfluss maternaler Antikörper auf die serologische Impfreaktion von Absatzferkeln.

In two vaccination trials the influence of different vaccination schedules of gifts on the colostral immunity of their offspring and the influence of maternally derived antibodies on the active formation of antibodies after vaccination in weanlings were tested. It could be shown, that vaccination of gifts 6 and 3 weeks prior to farrowing led to higher blood levels of maternally derived antibodies in their offspring than vaccination earlier during gestation or prior to mating. Correlation between antibody level of sow, colostrum and offspring was good, the halflife of the antibodies was 11.3 days. Low levels of maternally derived antibodies did not influence the active formation of antibodies after vaccination, higher levels reduced antibody-formation, but did not suppress it completely. Sow colostrum and blood of piglets are generally adequate substrates for the serologic control of breeding units regarding Aujeszky's disease. Existing problems are mentioned. The results of this study are discussed concerning their importance for the eradication of Aujeszky's disease with vaccination programs.

[Piglet castration--pain sensation and pain elimination]. / Ferkelkastration--Schmerzempfindung und Schmerzausschaltung.

Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings performed in piglets during Trapanal anaesthesia showed distinct changes in bioelectrical brain activity in some piglets when castration was carried out. Only an additional extradural anaesthesia seemed to interrupt the transmission of peripheral pain stimuli to the central nervous system. Based on the protocol used EEG did not reveal a marked response to noxious stimulation. Castration of piglets up to two weeks of age were performed during general anaesthesia with Trapanal or Disoprivan or local anaesthesia with Hostacain or without any anaesthesia. The different modes of anaesthesia have had no effects to postoperative wound healing and weight gain between groups as well as between males and females within single groups. With regard to insufficient analgesia and/or partially extreme secondary effects the application of investigated anaesthetic methods on the occasion of castration of piglets is not justifiable at present. Castration in piglets up to an age of two month without anaesthesia is allowed by the animal protection law. However, due to improved wound healing and decreased response to surgical stimulus we suggest to perform castration during the first 10 days after delivery.

[Drug residues in untreated swine]. / Arzneimittelrückstände bei unbehandelten Schweinen.

The concentration of sulfadimidine was measured in the urine of pigs which were housed (over five days) in boxes where other pigs have been treated orally with sulfadimidine before. Sulfadimidine was measured in the urine of the unmedicated pigs in a concentration of up to 4 micrograms/ml. Considering these urine concentrations, violative sulfadimidine tissue residues would be expectable in the carcass after slaughter. The practice of fixing withdrawal times must be considered again to ensure that drug residues in tissues are below the MRL before slaughter also in unmedicated animals.

[The battle against Aujeszky's disease with the help of country-wide vaccination and the elimination of infected swine. III. Eradication of Aujeszky's disease in infected swine herds with the example of restoration proceedings in the area of Osnabrück/Lower Saxony]. / Die Bekämpfung der Aujeszkyschen Krankheit mit Hilfe der Flächenimpfung und der Ausmerzung infizierter Zuchtschweine. III. Mitteilung. Eradikation der Aujeszkyschen Krankheit in infizierten Schweineherden am Beispiel des Sanierungsverfahrens Im Landkreis Osnabrück/Niedersachsen.

The eradication of Aujeszky's disease in an enzootic infected area of North-West-Germany (Landkreis Osnabrück) is successfully treated by a combined vaccination, check and slaughter program as described. The important factors are the type of herd, herd size, pig density in the region and the completeness of vaccination which influence the eradication are also explained. To prevent future outbreaks of Aujeszky's disease in an area with high pig density it is necessary to vaccinate herds for at least two years after eradication. The importance of the further use of marker vaccines in a limited area around the outbreak even after stopping the area wide vaccination program is essential.

[Investigations on clinical diagnosis and pathogenesis of otitis media et interna in swine]. / Untersuchungen zur Diagnostik und Pathogenese der Otitis media et interna beim Schwein.

A total of 25 pigs with a head tilt as clinical sign of otitis media et interna were examined. The majority were weaner-pigs with respiratory tract disorders. In lateral and ventrodorsal radiographic views of the bulla tympanica, there was an increased opacity, often accompanied by marginal destruction or thickening of the bulla wall. The findings confirmed the clinical diagnosis in each affected pig. In the case of leptomeningitis an examination of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed a drastic increase in the cell count. In 20 of 23 microbiologically examined empyemic bullae a polyinfection was seen. The results indicate that the route of infection of the middle ear is by the auditory tube. Mange on the other hand plays only a minor role in the pathogenesis of otitis media.

[The control of Aujeszky's disease using surface vaccination. 2. Serologic studies of the occurrence of latent infection by Aujeszky's disease virus in fattening swine]. / Die Bekämpfung der Aujeszkyschen Krankheit mit Hilfe der Flächenimpfung. 2. Mitteilung: Serologische Untersuchungen zum Vorkommen der latenten Infektion mit dem Virus der Aujeszkyschen Krankheit bei Mastschweinen.

The aim of the study was to prove in a region in the North-West of Germany that there is the possibility to decrease the prevalence of latent Aujeszky's Disease infections by means of a systematic vaccination. For this, the most important precondition of the success in a high population immunity that is maintained also in the finishing pig until slaughter. Since it is known that maternal antibodies interfere with the active immunization in the prefattening period, procedures were to be found that guarantee a high immunity in spite of the colostral antibodies. The results of the study show that the existing recommendation for vaccinating fattening pigs are sufficient for the prevalence of latent infections. They also confirm the necessity to carry out a check- and slaughter policy at the end of the eradication program.