Several enteropathogens are circulating in suckling and newly weaned piglets suffering from diarrhea in the province of Villa Clara, Cuba.

Intestinal contents of suckling (n = 45) and newly weaned (n = 45) piglets, suffering from diarrhea in the province of Villa Clara in Cuba, were tested for viral, bacterial, and parasitic enteropathogens from May to June 2008. At least one enteropathogen was identified in 53.3 % of piglets and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC; 25.6 %) was the major pathogen; mostly STa(+)/STb(+) or F4(+)/STa(+)/STb(+) ETEC were isolated. The overall occurrence of the rest of pathogens was 10 % for transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and Cryptosporidium parvum, 6.7 % for rotavirus A and Isospora suis, 5.6 % for α-toxigenic Clostridium perfringens, 3.3 % for verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC), and 2.2 % for Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Newport. TGEV and α-toxigenic C. perfringens were only identified in suckling piglets, while Salmonella Newport and VTEC were only detected in weaned pigs. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), ß-toxigenic C. perfringens, Eimeria spp., and helminths were not identified. Eight kinds of mixed infections were detected in 25 % of enteropathogen positive piglets. ETEC was present in 10 of 12 mixed infections, and TGEV infections were never combined. This survey demonstrates that several enteropathogens are circulating in piggeries located in the province of Villa Clara in Cuba, and that is necessary to improve surveillance, prevention, and control of enteric infections in order to increase production efficiency.

Bacterial contamination of boar semen affects the litter size.

One hundred and fifteen semen samples were collected from 115 different boars from two farms in Cuba. The boars belonged to five different breeds. Evaluation of the semen sample characteristics (volume, pH, colour, smell, motility of sperm cells) revealed that they meet international standards. The samples were also tested for the presence of agglutinated sperm cells and for bacterial contamination. Seventy five percent of the ejaculates were contaminated with at least one type of bacteria and E. coli was by far the major contaminant, being present in 79% of the contaminated semen samples (n=68). Other contaminating bacteria belonged to the genera Proteus (n=31), Serratia (n=31), Enterobacter (n=24), Klebsiella (n=12), Staphylococcus (n=10), Streptococcus (n=8) and Pseudomonas (n=7). Only in one sample anaerobic bacteria were detected. Pearson's analysis of the data revealed that there is a positive correlation between the presence of E. coli and sperm agglutination, and a negative correlation between sperm agglutination and litter size. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey analysis of 378 litters showed that the litter size is significantly reduced when semen is used that is contaminated with spermagglutinating E. coli above a threshold value of 3.5x10(3)CFU/ml.