Serum acute phase proteins and swine health status.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between swine health status and the concentration of the serum acute phase proteins, haptoglobin (HP), and C-reactive protein (CRP). A total of 378 clinically healthy pigs from farms A and B, plus 20 pigs culled from farm A due to poor growth, were used in this experiment. Each pig was examined and blood samples were collected during slaughter. The HP concentration was measured by using an HP-hemoglobin binding assay. The CRP concentration was measured by using a CRP enzyme immunoassay. Gross and histopathological lesions were examined and recorded at slaughter. Representative samples were then collected in order to isolate pathogens. Swine enzootic pneumonia, found in 47.7% of the pigs, was the most common lesion. Other lesions included pleuropneumonia (32.7%), suppurative pneumonia (10.3%), fibrinous pericardititis (4.3%), Ascaris migration in the liver (33.9%), and intestinal serositis (3.0%). On farm A, the percentage of pigs with 1 or more lesions was 88.2%. For culled pigs from farm A, the mean serum concentrations of HP and CRP were 2.23 +/- 0.14 mg/mL and 252.93 +/- 11.62 microg/mL, which were significantly higher than concentrations in clinically normal pigs (1.42 +/- 0.02 mg/mL and 84.88 +/- 2.61 microg/mL, respectively, P < 0.01). Moreover, among clinically normal farm A pigs, the mean HP concentration in pigs with lesions (1.43 +/- 0.02 mg/mL) was significantly higher than in pigs without lesions (1.32 +/- 0.07 mg/mL) (P < 0.05). However, the mean serum CRP concentrations in these animals were not significantly different. On farm B, the percentage of pigs with one or more lesions was 50.0%. Interestingly, the mean serum HP concentration in clinically normal pigs with lesions was significantly lower in farm B pigs (1.23 +/- 0.07 mg/mL) than in the farm A pigs (1.43 +/- 0.02 mg/mL; P < 0.01). However, serum CRP concentrations in farm A and B pigs were not significantly different. Serum HP concentration, which is a better indicator of inflammatory reactions in pig herds than serum CRP concentration, provides an important marker for swine health status.
Chen
Hsin-Hsin
HH
Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
Lin
Jyh-Hung
JH
Fung
Hang-Pong
HP
Ho
Lin-Lin
LL
Yang
Ping-Chin
PC
Lee
Wen-Chuan
WC
Lee
Yan-Pai
YP
Chu
Rea-Min
RM
D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
D006242:Haptoglobins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein