Isolation of Aeromonas hydrophila in piglets

The production of Alentejano breed pig started a recovery two decades ago due to increasing demand for gourmet products. These pigs are raised in rotational semi-extensive or extensive outdoor production systems in the “Montado” (green and cork oak forest), grazing and feeding acorns and other associated food resources. Bacteria of the genus Aeromonas are considered as emerging pathogens of importance for man and animals, but its involvement in swine is not well documented. In the context of a study made at the University of Évora to assess the specific diseases of Alentejano swine, diseased piglets from two farms were submitted for pathological and bacteriological examinations. Pathological examinations revealed changes characteristic of septicemia, and Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated in pure culture from multiple organs of piglets from both farms. Antibiotic sensitivity tests showed that the isolates from one of the farms were susceptible to gentamicin, oxitetracycline, neomycin, enrofloxacin, colistin sulfate, trimethoprim, ceftiofur, and amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid. In contrast, the A. hydrophila isolated in the other farm was resistant to all drugs tested but enrofloxacin. This is the first report in the world showing the relationship between septicemia and A. hydrophila infection in piglets. The importance of this finding is further reinforced by the fact that these bacteria can be highly resistant to antimicrobial agents.

Utilização de n-alcanos e álcoois de cadeia longa para estimar a ingestão e a digestibilidade em porcos alentejanos

O número diminuto de estudos sobre a técnica dos n-alcanos para porcos Alentejanos motivou o interesse em realizar um ensaio que simulasse as ingestões reais dos animais em Montanheira, no sentido de se compreender melhor o comportamento alimentar destes animais em condições extensivas. Para validar a técnica dos n-alcanos com altos níveis de ingestão em porcos Alentejanos, realizou-se um ensaio in vivo, em caixas metabólicas, com nove machos castrados da raça suína Alentejana com peso médio de 97,64 kg. O delineamento do ensaio experimental foi efectuado segundo o quadrado latino e os suínos foram alimentados três vezes por dia com bolota e luzerna desidratada foi também fornecido a cada animal diariamente, dois bolinhos contendo alcanos sintéticos (C32 e C36). No período experimental foram realizadas colheitas de fezes, refugos e alimento, para se estimar pelo método in vivo a digestibilidade e a ingestão. Calcularam-se as taxas de recuperação fecal para os n-alcanos e para os álcoois de cadeia longa, com o intuito de se identificar aqueles que apresentaram valores mais elevados e semelhantes entre si. O alcano que mostrou apresentar uma taxa de recuperação mais elevada e semelhante aos alcanos sintéticos foi o C29. Em relação aos álcoois de cadeia longa o que mostrou a taxa de recuperação fecal mais alta foi o C280H. Os n-alcanos naturais que melhor forneceram uma estimativa da digestibilidade foram o C25 e o C27. Na estimativa da ingestão os pares de alcanos que mais se aproximaram do valor real foram o C 29: C32 e o C29:C36· ABSTRACT; The miniature number of studies of the n-alkanes for Alentejano pigs motivated the interest in carrying 1hrough an essay that it simulated the real intake of the animal in "Montanheira”, the direction of to better understand the alimentary behavior of these animals in extensive conditions. To validate the technique of the n-alkanes with high levels of intake in Alentejano pigs, an in vivo essay was become fulfilled, in metabolic cages, with nine castred males of Alentejana swine race with average weight of97,64 kg. The delineation of the experimental essay was effected according to latin square and the swines had been fed 1hree times per day with acorn and deshydrated lucerne (Medicago sativa). Also it was supplied to each animal daily, two cookies contend synthetic alkanes (C32 e C36). ln experimental period had been carried through harvests of faeces, rubbishes and foods, to estimate digestibility and intake. The fecal recoveries for the n-alkanes and the long chain alcohols had been calculated, with the intention to identifying those that had presented higher and similar values. The alkane that showed to present a tax of higher and similar fecal recovery to synthetic alkanes was the C29. The long chain alcohol that it showed the higher fecal recovery was the C28OH. The natural alkanes that had better supplied an estimate of digestibility had been the C25 and C27. ln the estimate of intake the pairs of alkanes that been more come close to the real value had been the pair C29:C32 and the C29:C36.

First reproductive and productive results on “Ribatejano pig”

The present trail aimed to study the effect of crossbreeding between Alentejano (AL) and Bísaro (BI) swine breeds (“Ribatejano pig”) on some reproductive and productive traits. Nine AL gilts and sows and six BI gilts were crossed with BI and AL boars, respectively. Mating and farrowing dates, prolificacy and litter size at 28d were registered for all sows. The pregnancy length of AL sows was shorter (111±0.4d vs 113.7±0.5d; p=0.002) than the observed on BI females. The BI gilts presented higher prolificacy rate than AL on both total born (11.0±1.0 vs 6.7±0.8; P=0.004) and born alive piglets (10.0±1.0 vs 6.7±0.8; p=0.026). The mortality rate was similar in both genotypes (p=0.255) being on average 12%, therefore at 28d after farrowing the litter size remained higher in BI sows (8.5±0.8 vs 6.1±0.6; p= 0.032). A subset of each genotype (4 gilts) was supervised during farrowing and lactation (until 28d) and piglets were weighed at birth, 24h and 28d of live. Farrowing length was not significantly different (p=0.253) between genotypes, averaging 97±22 min. When compared to ALBI (AL x BI) piglets, the BIAL (BI x AL) piglets were heavier at birth (1402±46g vs 1209±36g; p=0.002). Colostrum intake of piglets per kg of birth weight on the first 24h of life was similar between genotypes (p=0.735) being 289±15g for ALBI and 281±19g for BIAL piglets. The growth rate of piglets from birth to 28d and piglet weight at 28d was not different between genotypes (p=0.161 and p=0.091) averaging 195±6g and 6761±181g, respectively. Litter weight at 28d tended (P=0.06) to be higher on ALBI litters (56.6±4.0kg) than BIAL litters (43.2±4.0kg). This results obtained within the frame of Treasure project* are, at our knowledge, the first data of these crossbred piglets and could be used in future as reference for further studies and also for farmers that may try these cross on a commercial basis.