Farm characteristics and management routines related to neonatal porcine diarrhoea: a survey among Swedish piglet producers

Abstract

BackgroundIn recent years reports from a number of countries, including Sweden, describe problems with diarrhoea in newborn piglets despite the use of previously effective preventive measures. This seemingly altered disease pattern of neonatal porcine diarrhoea (NPD) warrants investigations on the magnitude and manifestation of the problem. The aim of the present study was to investigate the herd-level prevalence of NPD in Sweden and to describe disease characteristics and intervention strategies used in affected herds. To obtain this information a questionnaire was developed and sent out to 170 randomly selected herds. The presence of NPD in the herds was specified as “Yes”, “No” or “Occasional cases” during the preceding year.ResultsA response rate of 58% (98/170) was achieved. The total prevalence of farmer experienced NPD, including occasional cases was 79.6% (95% CI 70.6–86.4%). Most herds (85%; 83/98) employed maternal vaccination against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). The most common treatment regimens used in affected herds included antimicrobials only (43%; 18/42) or antimicrobials in combination with supplementary fluids (33%; 14/42). Trimethoprim in combination with a sulphonamide was the drug of choice in 57% (24/42) of the affected herds whereas the remaining herds used a broad range of other antimicrobials (neomycin, amoxicillin, fluoroquinolones, penicillin, and tylosin). Furthermore, the risk of experiencing NPD was found to be higher in herds with >200 sows (OR = 4.0) compared to herds with <200 sows and in herds where more ambitious efforts (such as providing supplemental colostrum or practicing split-suckling) were made to save weak-born piglets (OR = 4.4).ConclusionsThe results of the present study indicate that Swedish farmers commonly experience NPD in their herds, often despite vaccination against ETEC. Considering the extent of this problem and its contribution to antimicrobial usage, improving alternative control strategies for NPD needs to be prioritized.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13028-016-0261-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

On the Infectious Causes of Neonatal Piglet Diarrhoea—A Review

“…Similarly, E. hirae may induce diarrhoea, weight loss, and rough hair coat in 1-5 day old piglets [18,20,41]. In one study, more than half of the piglets in 1 to 3-day-old litters were affected, and the mortality was <10% [42].…”

Microbial content of non‐fermented liquid feed consumed by sows affects the occurrence of neonatal diarrhoea in their piglets: A case–control study

“…This was in accordance with a recent report on the aetiology of recurrent neonatal diarrhoea in Spain. 14 During recurrent neonatal diarrhoea cases investigation, all risk factors must be reviewed (including vaccination, 15 maternal immunity transfer, sow parity, 16 disease status of the farm, washing and disinfection protocols of the farrowing unit between batch 15 and environmental conditions). Among these critical points, the microbiological quality of liquid feed for sows is investigated in this study.…”

Feed additives for the control of post-weaning Streptococcus suis disease and the effect on the faecal and nasal microbiota

“…To the best of our knowledge, no other reports in the literature have described the effect of parity on the microbial composition of their offspring. However, several studies have reported increasing cases of diarrhea in litters born to gilts 36,37 , which could be a consequence of a lower microbiota diversity. In general, we found that piglets born to gilts contained less microbial diversity in all treatment groups in the nasal and faecal microbiota, perhaps as a consequence of the antimicrobial treatment performed to gilts for aclimatation to the farm.…”