title: Serum-haptoglobin concentration in Danish slaughter pigs of different health status.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 617 finishing pigs aged 10-25 weeks in 11 commercial herds of different health statuses as defined by the Danish monitoring program for specific-pathogen-free (SPF) herds. A standard clinical examination was performed and a blood sample was obtained from each pig for determination of haptoglobin concentration in serum. Pigs aged 10-14, 15-19 and 20-25 weeks in conventional herds had higher haptoglobin concentrations than high-health SPF (SPF-x) pigs of the same age. There was no significant difference between SPF-x pigs of different ages. Conventional pigs aged 15-19 and 20-25 weeks had higher haptoglobin concentrations than conventional pigs aged 10-14 weeks. Herd influenced the haptoglobin concentration. Lame pigs and pigs with tail or ear bite had elevated haptoglobin concentrations. No significant effect of respiratory symptoms or umbilical hernia was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Swine Medicine, Dyrlaegevej 88, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. hhp@kvl.dk
authors.forename: Henrik Hagbard
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Annette Kjaer
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ersbøll
authors.forename: Charlotte Sonne
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000662:veterinary; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006304:Health Status; D015994:Incidence; D007794:Lameness, Animal; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006242:Haptoglobins