NEWS ▶▶▶ Flies may transmit PCV2 and Mycoplasma
The stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) has been found to be a carrier of Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) and haemothropic Mycoplasma. That became clear from recent research by the Uni- versity of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Aus- tria. The study was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Microorganisms. The stable fly is abundantly found worldwide and resembles the common housefly. The big- gest difference is that the stable fly (pictured) has a bayonet-like proboscis for blood sucking. While feeding, these flies can transmit diseases to the host animals, including humans. The Austrian pilot study, led by Lukas Schwarz, aimed to investigate the extent to which pigs are at risk of disease transmitted by the stable fly. The team examined stable flies from Austri- an pig farms for the presence of swine patho- gens such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus, PCV2, haemotrophic Mycoplasma bacteria and culti- vable bacterial pathogens. Schwarz said, “In total, we found 69 different micro-organisms on the surface of tested S.
The search for ideal sow feed continues
The common stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans).
calcitrans from 20 different pig farms. Escheri- chia coli was the most common bacterium and could be found on flies from seven farms. Also at seven farms, haemotrophic Mycoplasmas were detected in stable flies. PRRSv could not be found in any of the samples, but PCV2 was detected in six farms.” The results of the study suggest that stable flies in Austrian pig farms are carriers of several different bacterial species and may also serve as vectors for PCV2 and haemotrophic Myco- plasma. Schwarz stressed that more attention should therefore be paid to stable flies and their role as a disease vector in pigs.
Europe declares Belgium free from ASF
The European Commission has declared Bel- gium formally free from African Swine Fever (ASF), which means that the country will regain its status “free from ASF”. The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain ( FASFC) stated that all restrictions will be lifted, and Belgium will no longer be included in Europe’s maps of areas affected by ASF. ASF emerged in 2018 in wild boar in the south- ern province Luxembourg. To fight the epidem- ic, a large area was shut down to tourists, and a limited number of pig producers had to depopulate for preventive reasons. On 27 October, through the FASFC, Belgium posted a petition to remove all ASF-restricted zones at the European Commission. That date was exactly one year after the last traces of virus circulation had been confirmed. On Friday 20 November, EU member state ex- perts gave their permission to lift all constrict- ing measures. Pig meat trade can also be re- sumed, which is a signal to third countries (outside the EU) that have imposed a ban on
Belgian pigmeat. Belgium will therefore start work to resume this trade. China is among the countries maintaining a ban on imported Belgian pigmeat. The positive advice means that pig producers in the restricted zones will be allowed to restart the business they had to abandon for preven- tive reasons in 2018. The formal decision ar- rangements are being processed, and it is ex- pected the decision will be published before the end of 2020. In total, 833 wild boar were found infected with ASF in Belgium between 9 September 2018 and 4 March 2020. The last six carcasses that were found in Belgium in the autumn of 2019 and winter 2020 were all of animals that had been dead for months. So far, the Czech Repub- lic has been the only country in recent years to successfully eradicate the virus. Just like in Bel- gium, the virus never reached domestic farms. The news is a welcome message at a time when pig prices have hit a historic low in Belgium, because of a combination of Covid-19 and ASF.
At Kansas State University (KSU) in the United States, swine nutritionists have been examin- ing better strategies for feeding pregnant sows. KSU swine nutritionist Jason Woodworth and his team have already conducted a couple of large studies with commercial swine part- ners and have another underway. The finished studies have focused on nutrition in the ten days before farrowing. While Woodworth noted recently that no spe- cific diet formulation change found so far “is the magic bullet to resolving the challenges faced by the sow prior to giving birth”, he asserted that “how we feed the sow is impor- tant. Increasing the frequency of meals has shown the greatest benefit. Instead of feeding one meal per day, which is common, feeding sows two to four meals results in better performance.” Trials at KSU involved providing increased lev- els of energy and protein (lysine) to sows and gilts, along with meal size/timing. In one trial, groups of sows and gilts were given 13.3 Mcal metabolisable energy and 40g SID lysine per day, double what the control sows and gilts received. Body weight and back fat gains were higher in the treatment groups. Stillborn rates were also lower in treatment groups compared to pigs in the control group, but no differences were found in litter size, colostrum yield, number of piglets born alive or in the rate of survival of piglets in the first 24 hours after birth. The weights of live-born piglets were higher in the treatment gilt group but not the treatment sow group; piglets with higher birth weights are much more likely to survive until weaning.
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▶PIG PROGRESS | Volume 36, No. 10, 2020 41
PHOTO: VETMEDUNI
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