Assessment of respiratory herd health in weaner pigs by measuring cellular composition of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
Cell differentiation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was compared among 11 herds having a history of recurrent respiratory disease in weaner pigs and nine herds lacking such a history. In every herd, 20 pigs aged 8-10 weeks were lavaged. The two groups differed significantly on median percentage of macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes, but not on white blood cell count of the BALF. Logistic regression showed the percentage of samples per herd exceeding the reference value for neutrophils of 0-8% to be the most promising parameter to assess the health status in weaner pigs.
Mombarg
M J
MJ
Department of Herd Health and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands. mombarm@fdah.com
Niewold
T A
TA
Stockhofe-Zurwieden
N
N
van Leengoed
L A M G
LA
Verheijden
J H M
JH
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D016015:Logistic Models; D008954:Models, Biological; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014886:Weaning