483 Current Knowledge Gaps in Swine Reproduction

Identifying swine reproduction research opportunities, especially those that add value by addressing industry challenges and leveraging assisted reproductive technologies (ART) will be the focus of this talk. ART and genetic selection to increase pork production efficiency have been intertwined since the use of artificial insemination (AI) became widely adopted 30 years ago. Tremendous efficiency gains have been made in part by increasing litter size which is nearly 6 to 7 pigs larger today than it was in 1990. The increased farrowing duration and stillbirths, and decreased piglet birth weight, colostrum intake, and survival to weaning that has been associated with these larger litters are prime targets to be ameliorated with sow and pig management solutions. There is also clear evidence that pigs from smaller litters have the advantage of superior reproductive performance compared to those from larger litters. Thus, litter size and pre-weaning growth may need to be managed, or at least taken into account, to select the best boars and gilts for breeding stock and replacements. Any other accurate, early indicators of boar and gilt puberty, fertility, and lifetime productivity could add significant value. The seasonal fluctuation in fertility that has plagued pig production is costly and may be smoothed out by strategies that mitigate heat stress and improve health. Another opportunity to improve both pig and sow welfare may be intermittent suckling and induction of a fertile estrus and ovulation for breeding during lactation. Even more genetic and pig growth value could be added via AI with sex-sorted semen, if methods to better estimate boar fertility, deliver increased sperm quality, and more precisely synchronize or predict ovulation can be found to reduce the number of sperm required per female. Existing and evolving ART will synergize with genomics and gene editing technologies to unlock new levels of production efficiency.

Seroprevalence of Taenia solium and Trichinella spiralis among Humans and Pigs in Ghana

In this study, the seroprevalence of the intestinal worms Taenia solium and Trichinella spiralis in humans and pigs was assessed. A cross-sectional serological study design was performed. Blood samples were collected from 322 humans and 245 pigs used in the study. These were tested for markers of antibodies for Taenia solium and Trichinella spp. Demographic data such as sex, age, education, pig farming practices, and water source used were also obtained. An overall seroprevalence of 3.1% was recorded for Taenia solium in humans. There was also a statistical association between pig management system employed by pig farmers and seropositivity to Taenia solium ( p = 0.005 ). Factors such as mode of waste disposal ( p = 0.003 ) and water source used statistically correlated with Taenia solium seroprevalence among humans. For the pig samples, a Taenia solium seroprevalence of 24.9% was recorded. All the pig samples which tested positive for Taenia solium were reared on the free-ranged system. This study also recorded a seroprevalence of 0.31% for Trichinella spp. for humans and a seroprevalence of 4.5% for Trichinella spp. for pigs. Again, all the samples that showed serological evidence of Trichinella spp. among pigs came from those pigs which were raised on the free-ranged system. Proper pig management practice is a very important tool for controlling these intestinal parasites in both humans and animals. This study recommends public health education among the general public and good pig farming practices.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Vaccination Program against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Based on Lung-Scoring at Slaughter

Porcine pleuropneumonia is of serious concern regarding lung health in pig production. Besides optimizing hygiene and pig management, specific vaccination against the causative agent, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, is an important tool in the fight against this disease. As porcine pleuropneumonia may present with different clinical courses of disease, it is not always easy to objectively assess herd lung health state or to monitor improvements following specific therapeutic or prophylactic measures. Here, the effects of specific vaccination on lung health in a chronically diseased farrow-to-finish farm in Lower Austria experiencing an acute episode were monitored by means of an app-based electronic tool, enabling the scorers to document lung pathologies real-time at slaughter. At the time, when vaccination measures took effect, percentages of lungs affected by dorsocaudal pleurisy had decreased from 43 to 5 and the APP-index from 1.2 to 0.1, respectively. But not only pleurisies were diminished, also incidences and severities of bronchopneumonic alterations had dramatically decreased and exhibited interesting trends when set in connection to clinical signs. Overall, vaccination measures against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae proved to be very effective in restoring herd lung health.

Stakeholder perspectives towards the use of toxicants for managing wild pigs

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most detrimental invasive mammals in the US. Lack of adequate population control has allowed pigs to become established across the landscape, causing significant ecological and economic damage. Given the need for additional tools for reducing wild pig populations, two toxicants, warfarin and sodium nitrite, are at the forefront of the discussion regarding future wild pig management. However, no research has examined stakeholders’ perspectives towards the use of toxicants in wild pig management. Given the lack of knowledge, our goal was to determine stakeholders’ perspectives towards the legal use of toxicants for managing wild pigs. We surveyed 1822 individuals from three stakeholder groups (hunters, farmers, and forestland owners) across Alabama during February 2018 using an online survey following the Tailored Design Method. All three stakeholder groups were generally supportive of toxicant use, though their views differed slightly by group. Furthermore, all stakeholder groups were supportive of toxicant purchasing and use regulations, while accidental water contamination, human health impact, and incorrect usage of a toxicant were stakeholders’ greatest concerns. These results indicate that these groups would likely be in support of using toxicants for wild pig management in Alabama and could be a model for other states or locations. Consequently, these results have direct implications for shaping policy and possible use of toxicants as a future wild pig management tool.

Porcine Cysticercosis Control in Western Kenya: The Interlink of Management Practices in Pig Farms and Meat Inspection Practice at Slaughter Slabs

This study assessed the management practices for controlling porcine cysticercosis (PC) on pig farms and in pork at the slaughter slabs in two counties (Busia and Kakamega) of Western Kenya. A total of 162 pig-rearing households at the farm level, 26 butcher owners, and 26 slaughter slab workers at the slaughter slab level were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the “Statistical Analysis System” (SAS) programme. Results indicated that the frequent management practices used at the farm level (p<0.05) were rearing pigs under free range (69.1%), latrine ownership by households (87.7%), and use of pit latrines (72.8%) in households. At the slaughter level (p<0.05), results of the butcher owners (76.9%) and slaughter slab workers (62.5%) revealed that meat inspection was not practiced adequately in the two areas of study. The results imply that slaughtered pigs for human consumption were not adequately inspected, and thus, the study recommends for implementation of effective pig management practices at the farm level and pork meat inspection at slaughter slabs to prevent PC infections and assure food safety along the pork value chain.

Search for the Occurrence of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens in Pigs Within Zaria and Environs, in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Animals have been known to be the main study subjects when investigating the epidemiology of zoonotic Gram-positive Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens. This cross-sectional study was aimed at determining the occurrence of C. difficile and C. perfringens in pigs as well as the associated risk factors within Zaria and environs, in Kaduna State of Nigeria. A pre-sampling survey led to the selection of Shika, Samaru and Ungwan Mangu in the pig farming communities of Zaria and environs in Kaduna North as the study sites. Rectal swabs from 132 pigs were obtained and anaerobically cultured in fluid thioglycolate and further grown on reinforced clostridia agar. The colonies obtained were sub-cultured in Clostridium difficile moxalactam norfloxacin agar and reinforced clostridia agar containing egg yolk tellurite. C. difficile was not detected. However, C. perfringens was detected at a prevalence of 16.7 % (22/132). Isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 13 antimicrobials. Only 1 isolate (4.55 %) demonstrated susceptibility to vancomycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol and erythromycin. Of the bivariate analyses of the risk factors studied, only the type of piggery and pig management were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for C. perfringens. Therefore, it should be recognized that there is a need for pig farmers to be enlightened about this pathogen and its prevention through good management practices and hygiene.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of pig farmers post African swine fever outbreaks in Ogun and Oyo states of Nigeria

The experience during African swine fever (ASF) virus outbreak can be devastating. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practise among pig farmers to avoiding resurgence of ASF outbreaks in Oyo and Ogun States of Nigeria where ASF outbreaks had been earlier reported. Non participatory observations and participatory interviews using pre-tested structured questionnaire were conducted in 2016 among 92 consenting pig farms post-ASF outbreak. The study showed that one in two of pig farms studied had suffered from ASF outbreak before. Meanwhile, several bio-security breaches that facilitate ASF and other infectious agents spread were still maintained including ‘farm restocking with ASF survivor pigs’ (61.5%; 32/52), ‘boar lending among farms for breeding purposes without examination’ (54.3%; 50/92), ‘extensive system and semi-intensive pig management’ (21.7%; 20/92), ‘farm attendants sharing among pig farms’ (19.6%; 18/92), ‘farm equipment/ implements/ facilities sharing among farms’ (22.8%; 21/92), selling of pig carcass (9.8%; 9/92), ‘carcass disposal in the bush’ (19.6%; 18/92). In this study we found out that management and bio-security activities in the pig farms studied were still poor and could place them at high risk of infection and repeated disease outbreaks in the future. The study suggests that pig farmers had not learnt from the previous ASF outbreaks. Therefore, proper sensitization on ASF epidemiology, public health significance and socioeconomic impact should be carried out. This study calls for swift action to prevent future calamities in pig production facilities in the study areas. Keywords: African swine fever, Biosecurity, Nigeria, Outbreak, Sensitization