Managing respiratory disease in finisher pigs: Combining quantitative assessments of clinical signs and the prevalence of lung lesions at slaughter

Abstract Background Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the main cause of mortality among 1-to-5 month old calves in Ireland, accounting for approximately one-third of deaths. Despite widespread use of clinical respiratory signs for diagnosing BRD, lung lesions are detected, using thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) or following post-mortem, in calves showing no clinical signs. This highlights the limitation of clinical respiratory signs as a method of detecting sub-clinical BRD. Using 53 purchased artificially-reared male dairy calves, the objectives of this study were to: (i) characterise the BRD incidence detected by clinical respiratory signs and/or TUS, (ii) investigate the association between clinical respiratory signs and lung lesions detected by TUS, and (iii) assess the effect of BRD on pre-weaning growth. Results Clinical BRD (based on Wisconsin clinical respiratory score and/or rectal temperature > 39.6 ºC) was detected in 43 % and sonographic changes (lung lesions) were detected in 64 % of calves from purchase (23 (SD; 6.2) days of age) until weaning, 53 days post-arrival. Calves with clinical BRD were treated. Sixty-one per cent calves affected with clinical BRD had lung lesions 10.5 days (median) before detection of clinical signs. Moderate correlations (rsp 0.70; P < 0.05) were found between cough and severe lung lesions on arrival day, and between rectal temperature > 39.6 ºC and lung lesions ≥ 2 cm2 on day 7 (rsp 0.40; P < 0.05) post-arrival. Mean average daily live weight gain (ADG) of calves from purchase to weaning was 0.75 (SD; 0.10) kg; calves with or without clinical BRD did not differ in ADG (P > 0.05), whereas ADG of those with severe lung lesions (lung lobe completely consolidated or pulmonary emphysema) was 0.12 kg/d less (P < 0.05) than calves without lung lesions. Conclusions Thoracic ultrasonography detected lung consolidation in calves that did not show signs of respiratory disease. The presence of severe lung lesions was associated with reduced pre-weaning growth. These findings emphasise the importance of using TUS in addition to clinical respiratory scoring of calves for an early and accurate detection of clinical and sub-clinical BRD.

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Growth performance and hematological changes of weaned beef calves diagnosed with respiratory disease using respiratory scoring and thoracic ultrasonography

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa345 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Inmaculada Cuevas-Gómez ◽

Mark McGee ◽

Matthew McCabe ◽

Paul Cormican ◽

Edward O’Riordan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Respiratory Disease ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Nasal Discharge ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Lung Lesions ◽

Beef Calves ◽

Lung Consolidation ◽

Hematological Changes

Abstract This study investigated 1) the effect of clinical bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and associated lung consolidations on growth performance and hematological profiles of recently weaned beef calves and 2) the relationship between clinical respiratory signs and lung consolidation detected by thoracic ultrasonography (TUS). One hundred and fifty-three weaned beef calves (209 days old [SD: 35.8] and 306 kg [SD: 26.3], at arrival) purchased and transported from auction markets were accommodated indoors in concrete slatted floor pens. Calves were weighed weekly from arrival until day 28 and on day 65 post-arrival. Assessment of BRD and blood sample collection for hematological profiles were performed on scheduled days (at arrival, on days 7, 14, and 28) and on other days upon BRD diagnosis. Animals were assessed for BRD using a total clinical respiratory score (CRS) of five clinical signs (rectal temperature, ear position, cough, nasal secretion, and eye secretion with each ranging from normal [0] to abnormal [3]) and TUS scores (normal [0] to lung consolidation ≥ 1 cm2 [2]). Based on CRS, 35% of calves were CRS+ (CRS ≥ 5) and 65% were CRS− (CRS < 5). Although no lung consolidations (TUS−) were detected at arrival, 34% of calves developed lung consolidation (≥1 cm2) (TUS+) during the first 28 d post-arrival. Only fever (>39.6 °C) and nasal discharge were weakly associated (r = 0.19, P <0.05) with lung consolidation. On the day of BRD detection, neutrophil number and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio were 58% and 73% greater, respectively, in BRD calves with lung consolidation compared with healthy calves. From day 0 to 65, calf average daily gain (ADG) did not differ (P >0.05) between CRS+ and CRS− calves but was 0.09 kg/d lower (P < 0.05) for TUS+ compared with TUS− calves. Calves classified as BRD (CRS + TUS ≥ 5) with lung consolidation had lower (P < 0.05) ADG from arrival until day 28 than healthy calves and BRD calves without lung consolidation (0.11 ± 0.10 vs. 0.53 ± 0.07 vs. 0.57 ± 0.10 kg/d, respectively); however, no differences in ADG were observed from day 0 to 65. Conventional methods to diagnose BRD failed to detect calves with lung lesions. TUS is a useful tool to detect lung lesions and its implementation in combination with CRS should provide a more accurate and early diagnosis of BRD, which is fundamental to successful treatment, animal welfare, and growth performance.

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Importance and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mycoplasma bovis in Clinical Respiratory Disease in Feedlot Calves

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11051470 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1470

Author(s):

Ana García-Galán ◽

Juan Seva ◽

Ángel Gómez-Martín ◽

Joaquín Ortega ◽

Francisco Rodríguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Disease ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Antimicrobial Treatment ◽

Mycoplasma Bovis ◽

Bacterial Disease ◽

Feedlot Calves ◽

Fixed Panel

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an important viral and/or bacterial disease that mainly affects feedlot calves. The involvement of Mycoplasma bovis in BRD can lead to chronic pneumonia poorly responsive to antimicrobial treatment. Caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia is a pulmonary lesion typically associated with M. bovis. In Spain, M. bovis is widely distributed in the feedlots and circulating isolates are resistant to most antimicrobials in vitro. However, the role of this species in clinical respiratory disease of feedlot calves remains unknown. Furthermore, available data are relative to a fixed panel of antimicrobials commonly used to treat BRD, but not to the specific set of antimicrobials that have been used for treating each animal. This study examined 23 feedlot calves raised in southeast Spain (2016–2019) with clinical signs of respiratory disease unresponsive to treatment. The presence of M. bovis was investigated through bacteriology (culture and subsequent PCR), histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The pathogen was found in 86.9% (20/23) of the calves, mainly in the lungs (78.26%; 18/23). Immunohistochemistry revealed M. bovis antigens in 73.9% (17/23) of the calves in which caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia was the most frequent lesion (16/17). Minimum inhibitory concentration assays confirmed the resistance of a selection of 12 isolates to most of the antimicrobials specifically used for treating the animals in vivo. These results stress the importance of M. bovis in the BRD affecting feedlot calves in Spain.

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Lungworms (Metastrongylus Spp.) Demonstrated in Domestic Pigs with Respiratory Disease - What was the True Relevance of that?

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1188679/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Per Wallgren ◽

Emelie Pettersson

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Disease ◽

Pasteurella Multocida ◽

Ascaris Suum ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae ◽

Disease Outbreak ◽

Domestic Pigs ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Routine Inspection ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundAn outdoor pig herd was affected by severe respiratory disease in one out of three pastures. At necropsy, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida were detected in the lungs, as well as the lung worm Metastrongylus apri. The life cycle of Metastrongylus spp. includes earth worms as an intermediate host, and since domesticated pigs mainly are reared indoors lungworms has not been diagnosed in domestic pigs in Sweden for decades, not even in pigs reared outdoors. Therefore, this disease outbreak was scrutinised from the view of validating the impact of Metastrongylus spp..ResultsAt the time of the disease outbreak, neither eggs of Metastrongylus spp. nor Ascaris suum were detected in faeces of pigs aged ten weeks. In contrast, five-months-old pigs at the pasture with respiratory disease shed large amounts of eggs from Ascaris suum, whereas Ascaris suum not was demonstrated in healthy pigs aged six months at another pasture. Low numbers of eggs from Metastrongylus spp. were seen in faecal samples from both these age categories.At slaughter, seven weeks later, ten normal weighted pigs in the preceding healthy batch were compared with ten normal weighted and five small pigs from the affected batch. Healing Mycoplasma-like pneumonic lesions were seen in all groups. Small pigs had more white spot liver lesions, and all small pigs shed eggs of Ascaris suum in faeces, compared to around 50% of the pigs in the normally sized groups. Metastrongylus spp. were demonstrated in 13 of the 25 pigs (52%), %), representing all groups included.ConclusionAs Metastrongylus spp. were demonstrated regardless of health status, and in another healthy outdoor herd, the impact of Metastrongylus spp. on the outbreak of respiratory disease was depreciated. Instead, Metastrongylus spp. was suggested to be common in outdoor production, although rarely diagnosed. The reason for this is because they will escape detection at routine inspection at slaughterhouses, and that they appeared to generally not induce clinical signs of respiratory disease. Instead, a possible association with a high burden of Ascaris suum was suggested to have preceded the severe outbreak with respiratory disease.

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Escherichia fergusonii Associated with Pneumonia in a Beef Cow

Journal of Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.1155/2013/829532 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Guillermo M. Rimoldi ◽

Robert B. Moeller

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Veterinary Medicine ◽

Respiratory Distress ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Postmortem Examination ◽

Histologic Examination ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Lung Lesions ◽

Beef Cow ◽

Acute Pneumonia

An adult Angus cow developed hyperthermia, prostration, and respiratory distress, dying 36 hours after the onset of clinical signs. The main finding during postmortem examination was a severe focally extensive pneumonia. Icterus and a chronic mastitis were also noticed. Histologic examination of the lungs detected fibrinonecrotic pneumonia, with large number of oat cells and intralesional Gram-negative bacterial colonies. Samples from lung lesions were collected, and a pure growth of Escherichia fergusonii was obtained. E. fergusonii is a member of Enterobacteriaceae, related to Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. In veterinary medicine, E. fergusonii has been reported in calves and sheep with clinical cases suggestive of salmonellosis; in a horse and a goat with enteritis and septicemia; and in ostriches with fibrinonecrotic typhlitis. To our knowledge, this report represents the first description of E. fergusonii associated with an acute pneumonia in cattle.

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ECHO II OUTBREAK IN NEWBORN INFANTS AND MOTHERS

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.33.4.534 ◽

1964 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 534-540

Author(s):

Sumner Berkovich ◽

Sidney Kibrick

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

Respiratory Disease ◽

Aseptic Meningitis ◽

Newborn Infants ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Late Summer ◽

Upper Respiratory

A late summer outbreak of illness involving newborn infants and mothers is described. Seven infants and five mothers were studied. Although three enterovirus types were recovered from the infants, the outbreak was associated with infection by a variant of ECHO 11. Clinical signs included fever, diarrhea, upper respiratory disease, and aseptic meningitis. In three infants the antibody response significantly exceeded that of the mother. The evidence for an etiologic association of ECHO 11 infection with disease is reviewed.

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Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae clinical signs and gross lung lesions, including monitoring.

Mycoplasmas in swine ◽

10.1079/9781789249941.0097 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 97-107

Author(s):

John Carr ◽

Marina Sibila ◽

Joaquim Segalés

Keyword(s):

Clinical Signs ◽

Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae ◽

Pathological Features ◽

Lung Lesions

Abstract The clinical signs, pathogenesis, diagnosis and pathological features of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection in pigs are described.

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Cellular and molecular insights on the regulation of innate immune responses to experimental aspergillosis in chicken and turkey poults

Medical Mycology ◽

10.1093/mmy/myaa069 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tobias Vahsen ◽

Laura Zapata ◽

Rodrigo Guabiraba ◽

Elise Melloul ◽

Nathalie Cordonnier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Lung Lesions ◽

Turkey Poults ◽

Cd8 T Lymphocyte ◽

Fungal Immunity

Abstract Across the world, many commercial poultry flocks and captive birds are threatened by infection with Aspergillus fumigatus. Susceptibility to aspergillosis varies among birds; among galliform birds specifically, morbidity and mortality rates seem to be greater in turkeys than in chickens. Little is known regarding the features of avian immune responses after inhalation of Aspergillus conidia, and to date, scarce information on inflammatory responses during aspergillosis exists. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to improve our understanding of the interactions between A. fumigatus and economically relevant galliform birds in terms of local innate immune responses. Intra-tracheal aerosolization of A. fumigatus conidia in turkey and chicken poults led to more severe clinical signs and lung lesions in turkeys, but leukocyte recovery from lung lavages was higher in chickens at 1dpi only. Interestingly, only chicken CD8+ T lymphocyte proportions increased after infection. Furthermore, the lungs of infected chickens showed an early upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-6, whereas in turkeys, most of these cytokines showed a downregulation or a delayed upregulation. These results confirmed the importance of an early pro-inflammatory response to ensure the development of an appropriate anti-fungal immunity to avoid Aspergillus dissemination in the respiratory tract. In conclusion, we show for the first time that differences in local innate immune responses between chickens and turkeys during aspergillosis may determine the outcome of the disease. Lay Summary Aspergillus fumigatus infection may cause mortality in poultry, depending on species sensitivity. This study confirms the earlier activation of chickens’ pro-inflammatory effectors to control Aspergillus dissemination, whereas turkeys’ immune response enables the exacerbation of lung lesions.

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Antibiotic resistance in bacteria associated with equine respiratory disease in the United Kingdom

Veterinary Record ◽

10.1136/vr.105842 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 187 (5) ◽

pp. 189-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Joana D Fonseca ◽

Daphne E Mavrides ◽

Alice L Morgan ◽

Jea G Na ◽

Peter A Graham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Tract ◽

Respiratory Disease ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Multiple Drug Resistance ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Multiple Drug ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Sensitivity Testing ◽

Commercial Laboratory ◽

First Choice

IntroductionRespiratory diseases account for the highest number of clinical problems in horses compared with other body systems. While microbiological culture and sensitivity testing is essential for certain cases, knowledge of the most likely bacterial agents and their susceptibilities is necessary to inform empirical antibiotic choices.MethodsA retrospective study of microbiological and cytological results from upper and lower respiratory samples (n=615) processed in a commercial laboratory between 2002 and 2012 was carried out. A further study of lower respiratory samples from horses with clinical signs of lower respiratory disease from May to June 2012 was undertaken.ResultsBoth studies revealed Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pasteurella species, Escherichia coli and Bordetella bronchiseptica as the most frequently isolated species. S equi subspecies zooepidemicus and subspecies equi were susceptible to ceftiofur (100 per cent) and erythromycin (99 per cent). Resistance to penicillin (12.5 per cent of S equi subspecies equi from upper respiratory tract samples) and tetracycline (62.7 per cent) was also detected. Gram-negative isolates showed resistance to gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline but susceptibility to enrofloxacin (except Pseudomonas species, where 46.2 per cent were resistant). Multiple drug resistance was detected in 1 per cent of isolates.ConclusionResistance to first-choice antibiotics in common equine respiratory tract bacteria was noted and warrants continued monitoring of their susceptibility profiles. This can provide information to clinicians about the best empirical antimicrobial choices against certain pathogenic bacteria and help guide antibiotic stewardship efforts to converse their efficacy.

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How to approach the bird with respiratory signs

Companion Animal ◽

10.12968/coan.2019.0011 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 194-198

Author(s):

Vicki Baldrey

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Respiratory Disease ◽

Systematic Approach ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Successful Outcome ◽

Inflammatory Drugs ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Work Up ◽

Hypovitaminosis A ◽

Underlying Risk

Respiratory disease is common in avian species. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are essential as birds tend to hide clinical signs of illness until disease is advanced and cases can deteriorate rapidly. Risk factors are frequently related to diet and environment, and include hypovitaminosis A and inhaled irritants. Birds presenting with respiratory signs should initially be stabilised with oxygen supplementation and supportive care before further diagnostics are pursued. Work up of these cases includes blood sampling for biochemistry and haematology, imaging including radiography and rigid endoscopy, and culture and polymerase chain reaction testing of respiratory secretions. Chlamydia and aspergillosis are common diagnoses encountered in practice. Treatment includes systemic antimicrobials, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and inhaled medications administered via nebulisation. Correction of underlying risk factors is also essential for a successful outcome. This article gives an overview of avian respiratory disease and describes a systematic approach to the investigation and treatment of these cases, achievable in general practice.

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