title: Survey of pleuritis and pulmonary lesions in pigs at abattoir with a focus on the extent of the condition and herd risk factors.
abstract: Cranioventral pulmonary consolidation (enzootic pneumonia-like lesions) and chronic pleuritis (CP) are common findings in slaughtered pigs. Pleural lesions involving dorsocaudal lobes are suggestive of pleuropneumonia due to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. In this report the results of an abattoir survey of pleuritis and pulmonary lesions in pigs is presented with a focus on herd risk factors. A total of 4889 animals, ranging in age from 9 to 10 months, from 48 batches of pigs belonging to an equal number of herds, were included in the study. Bronchopneumonic lesions suggestive of enzootic pneumonia (EP-like lesions) were detected in 46.4% of the examined lungs. The EP-like lesion average value for all lungs was 1.03 (95% CI 0.98-1.08), ranging from 0.17 to 2.56 among the 48 batches; 47.5% of lungs showed chronic pleuritis. Dorsocaudal pleuritis suggestive of recovered pleuropneumonia (SPES score ≥2) was found in 25.1% of the lungs. The mean SPES (slaughterhouse pleuritis evaluation system) value of the overall 4889 lungs was 0.83 (95% CI 0.78-0.86). The mean SPES value of the batches ranged from 0.04 to 1.87. The mean Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae index of all studied batches was 0.61 (95% CI 0.51-0.71), ranging from 0 to 1.84. Blood samples were collected from each herd to evaluate antibody titres to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, A. pleuropneumoniae, Aujeszky's disease virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and swine influenza virus. Herd characteristics were recorded using a questionnaire given to the farmers. A multivariable analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for pleuritis and EP-like lesions. High dorsocaudal pleuritis was associated with A. pleuropneumoniae seroprevalence and history of A. pleuropneumoniae isolation from pneumonic lungs of dead animals. Vaccination of weaners at 3-5 weeks of age against PRRS using a modified live vaccine was associated with a reduction in the percentage of cranioventral pulmonary consolidation (EP-like lesions).
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merialdi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dottori
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonilauri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gozio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spaggiari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martelli
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004777:Environment; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010994:Pleura / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral