Piglet coccidiosis due to Cystoisospora suis is a major cause of diarrhea and poor growth worldwide. It can effectively be controlled by application of toltrazuril (TZ), and oral formulations have been licensed for many years. Recently, the first parenteral formulation containing TZ in combination with iron (gleptoferron) was registered in the EU for the prevention of coccidiosis and iron deficiency anemia, conditions in suckling piglets requiring routine preventive measures. This study evaluated the absorption and distribution of TZ and its main metabolite, toltrazuril sulfone (TZ-SO2), in blood and intestinal tissues after single oral (20 mg/kg) or single intramuscular (45 mg/piglet) application of TZ. Fifty-six piglets were randomly allocated to the two treatment groups. Animals were sacrificed 1-, 5-, 13-, and 24-days post-treatment and TZ and TZ-SO2 levels were determined in blood, jejunal tissue, ileal tissue, and mixed jejunal and ileal content (IC) by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Intramuscular application resulted in significantly higher and more sustained concentrations of both compounds in plasma, intestinal tissue, and IC. Higher concentrations after oral dosing were only observed one day after application of TZ in jejunum and IC. Toltrazuril was quickly metabolized to TZ-SO2 with maximum concentrations on day 13 for both applications. Remarkably, TZ and TZ-SO2 accumulated in the jejunum, the primary predilection site of C. suis, independently of the administration route, which is key to their antiparasitic effect.

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of buccal and parenteral administration of azaperone in order to achieve pig sedation. The type of study was prospective randomized and double blinded. A total of 40 weaned piglets were divided into 4 groups (10 each) and monitored. Group A was injected intramuscularly (i.m.) with azaperone (Stresnil®, 40 mg/ml inj., Elanco Animal Health) at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). Group B (control) was given 1 ml of saline buccally. Group C received a dose of 2 mg/kg b.w. of azaperone buccally. Group D was given azaperone buccally at a dose of 4 mg/kg b.w. The response to defined stimulus (a blunt blow of a metal rod into the metal edge of the pen), degree of salivation, movement level, blood plasma azaperone concentration, and the haematological and biochemical variables were included in the study. We found that the buccal administration of azaperone is effective, however, a dose of 4 mg/kg b.w. is required to induce a sedation level comparable to the standard 2 mg/kg b.w. i.m. administration.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of iron deficiency on the thyroidal function and hormone T 3 and T 4 concentration in piglets before weaning. We used 40 Landrace × Czech Large White piglets before weaning in this trial. They were divided into two groups. The control group was supplemented with iron after birth, the experimental group was without iron supplementation after birth. Iron, T 3 and T 4 and haematology indicators were observed. Piglets in the experimental group developed serious anaemia. The iron serum concentration in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group. Significant difference in T 3 and T 4 hormone concentration was found between the experimental and the control group. At the age of 17 and 25 days we found the negative effect of iron deficiency on the thyroid hormone production.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of iron deficiency on the oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses in suckling piglets. Piglets in the experimental group were given no iron supplement till the age of 21 days. Piglets in the control group were injected i.m. with gleptoferronum at the age of 3 days. Blood samples were taken at 3, 21, 28, and 35 days of age and examined for haematological and biochemical indices. Iron deficiency in the experimental group resulted in the development of anaemia. Significantly lower ceruloplasmin activities in blood plasma were found in the anaemic piglets. The other biochemical indices of the oxidative status (thiobarbituric acid reacting substances, carbonyl proteins, super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) were comparable between the experimental and the control group. It can be concluded that apart from lower ceruloplasmin activities the oxidative status of piglets was not affected negatively by iron deficiency.

We evaluated the prevalence and epidemiology of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase (ESBL)‐producing Escherichia coli isolates in pigs during production cycle on a Czech farm with the history of previous use of ceftiofur. ESBL‐producing E. coli isolates were obtained from rectal swabs from pigs of different age groups (suckling piglets, weaned piglets, growers and sows). Collected samples were directly cultivated on MacConkey agar with cefotaxime (2 mg l−1), whereas intestinal swabs of slaughtered pigs and surface swabs from pig carcasses were also pre‐enriched in buffered peptone water without antimicrobials before the cultivation. Clonal relationship of selected isolates was determined by XbaI pulse‐field gel electrophoresis and multi‐locus sequence typing. The transferability of plasmids carrying blaCTX‐M genes was tested by conjugation experiments. From all examined samples, 141 (43·7%, n = 323) were positive for ESBL‐producing E. coli. All ESBL‐producing isolates showed resistance to multiple antimicrobials and were positive for blaCTX‐M genes. The blaCTX‐M‐1 was carried by conjugative IncN/ST1 plasmids (c. 40–45 kb) while the blaCTX‐M‐15 was located on conjugative F plasmids with F:18:A5:B1 formula (c. 165 kb). This study demonstrated the persistence of CTX‐M‐positive E. coli isolates 2 months after banner of ceftiofur usage and indicated possible risk of transmission of these isolates to humans via the food chain.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of achieving more effective and prolonged sedation in pigs by the oral administration of increased doses of azaperone and to evaluate its safety. This was performed through a prospective randomised and double blinded study. A total of 32 weaned piglets were divided into 4 groups (8 in each group). Group A was given 1 ml of saline orally and served as the control group. Group B received azaperone orally at a dose of 4 mg/kg b.w. Group C received azaperone orally at a dose of 8 mg/kg b.w. Group D was given azaperone orally at a dose of 12 mg/kg b.w. The response to the defined stimulus, movement level, degree of salivation, body temperature, respiratory frequency, blood plasma azaperone concentration and biochemical variables were included in the trial. We found that by increasing the dose of the orally administered azaperone, the onset of the sedation is faster, the end of the sedation starts later and the sedation time is longer. However, the use of higher doses of oral azaperone is not suitable for piglets because the doses negatively affect the respiratory rate, body temperature, some biochemical parameters and cause the immobility of the piglets.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of additional selenium injection after weaning on the selenium (Se) status of piglets and to find whether the selected dose would be appropriate with respect to the level of oxidative stress. Another goal was to compare the efficacy and safety of sodium selenite and selenopyran as selenium sources for parenteral administration to piglets. Altogether 30 piglets were divided equally into three groups. Piglets in group 1 were injected i.m. with sodium selenite, piglets in group 2 were injected with selenopyran. The dose was 0.42 mg Se/kg body weight for both groups. Piglets in group 3 were given only saline. As expected, the study revealed low Se serum concentrations in weaned piglets. The injection of sodium selenite increased Se serum concentrations but did not have a positive effect on the peroxidase activities. Administration of selenopyran did not influence Se concentrations and gluthation peroxidase activities. The selected dose did not have a significant impact on the level of the oxidative stress. The piglets receiving Se only from the feed achieved comparable gluthation peroxidase activities during the trial. It seems that despite initially low Se concentrations, the physiological requirements for gluthation peroxidase synthesis were met with the feed consumption as the only Se source. The results of the study are important because until now it was unclear whether the selected dose would have negative effects on the organism with respect to the induction of oxidative stress in piglets.

The aim of the present study was to monitor the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli on farm A with the history of previous use of ceftiofur in suckling pigletsand to analyse the risk factors of selection and dissemination of ESBL producers in the production herd. In the year of 2014, a total of 411 samples (rectal swabs or faeces)from pigs of various age categories (sows, gilts and suckling piglets) were collected. The sampling was performed more than 24 months after the ban of ceftiofur on the farm.The sows and gilts were sampled repeatedly before and after farrowing. All collected samples were directly cultivated on MacConkey agar (MCA) containing cefotaxime (2 mg/l) and obtained sub-cultures were tested for ESBL production by double disc synergy test. According to our results, all gilts were negative for ESBL-producing E. coli in the introduction period, however, the excretion of ESBL-producing E. coli was observed before and after delivery. Most of the new-born piglets from positive sows and gilts shed ESBL-producing E. coli early after birth. All tested ESBL-producing isolates were resistant to multiple antimicrobials, suggesting that antibiotics from other groups used for therapy co-select for ESBL producers in pigs on the studied farm. Intestinal colonization of lactating sows and their offspring as well as survival of ESBL-producing E. coli in the farm environment should be recognised as important risk factors of circulation and long-time persistence of ESBL producers in the herd.