title: Association of Fusarium mycotoxicosis with failure in applying an induction of parturition program with PGF2alpha and oxytocin in sows.
abstract: This trial was conducted in a farrow-to-finish pig unit from November 1999 to February 2000. Since November 1998 an induction-of-parturition program was applied in gilts and sows with PGF2alpha (2 mL Dinolytic, i.m.) 113 d post service, followed by oxytocin (1 mL Intertocine-S, i.m.) 24 h later. This program resulted in a high proportion of animals farrowing within the working hours of the day. At mid December 1999 splay-legs and edematous swelling and reddening of the vulva started to be observed in newborn piglets. A concurrent decline of parameters related to parturition also was noticed. Mycotoxicological analyses of the feeds revealed a co-occurring contamination with deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. For a 4-week period, sows were divided into two groups: (a) an induction-of-parturition and (b) a non-induction-of-parturition group. Significant differences were found between the two groups relating to prevalence of dystocia (<.05) and pregnancy duration (<.05). Moreover, it was found that prevalence of splay-legs and swelling of the vulva were highly correlated (<.05) with reduction of percentage of sows farrowing within the working day and increase of pre-weaning mortality. It was concluded that such an induction-of-parturition program should be avoided during a Fusarium mycotoxicosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Obstetrics and AI, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece. kalex@vet.auth.gr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005670:Fusarium; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015651:Mycotoxicosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins; D010121:Oxytocin; D015237:Dinoprost