Evaluation of a microwave method for dry matter determination in faecal samples from weaned pigs with or without clinical diarrhoea

Pedersen, Ken Steen; Stege, Helle; Nielsen, Jens Peter

doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2011.04.014

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Faecal consistency was clinically assessed by one observer using a clinical faecal consistency scale with four categories as previously described [13]. Further, all pigs with a faecal dry matter content below 18% on the first day of the study were considered diarrhoeic [14]. Only individual pigs without diarrhoea or any other visual clinical signs were selected for the study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between average daily gain, faecal dry matter content and concentration of Lawsonia intracellularis in faeces

et al. 2012

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BackgroundThe objective of this study was to investigate the association between average daily gain and the number of Lawsonia intracellularis bacteria in faeces of growing pigs with different levels of diarrhoea.MethodsA longitudinal field study (n = 150 pigs) was performed in a Danish herd from day 29 to 47 post weaning. Every third day all pigs were weighed, subjected to a clinical examination and faecal samples were obtained. Faecal samples were subjected to dry matter determination and absolute quantification by PCR for L. intracellularis and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Association between average daily gain, faecal dry matter content, numbers of L. intracellularis bacteria and PCV2 genome copies in faeces was investigated in a multilevel mixed-effects linear model.ResultsIncreasing numbers of L. intracellularis log10 bacteria/g faeces were significantly associated with decreasing average daily gain (P < 0.001). The association was decreasing with increasing faecal dry matter content (P < 0.01). The number of PCV2 log10 copies/g faeces was not significantly associated with average daily gain of the pigs (P > 0.5).ConclusionThe results suggest a potential application of a PCR quantifying L. intracellularis in growing pigs. Faecal dry matter content must be taken into consideration in interpretation of such test results.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between average daily gain, faecal dry matter content and concentration of Lawsonia intracellularis in faeces

et al. 2012

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“…The individual faecal samples were mixed with a spoon and faecal dry matter content was determined by drying to constant weight using a microwave oven as previously described [33]. Only pigs with faecal dry matter content below 0.18 were considered diarrhoeic in the statistical analysis as previously described [33]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between faecal load of lawsonia intracellularis and pathological findings of proliferative enteropathy in pigs with diarrhoea

et al. 2012

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BackgroundThe study was designed to investigate correlation between histological findings of Lawsonia intracellularis in porcine cases of diarrhoea and the quantitative detection of Lawsonia intracellularis in faeces. A total of 156 pigs (10 to 70 days post weaning) with diarrhoea were randomly selected from 20 herds: The pigs were subjected to necropsy, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and faecal quantification of Lawsonia intracellularis by real time PCR.ResultsThe median Lawsonia intracellularis excretion was significantly higher in pigs with gross lesions of proliferative enteropathy (median excretion: 5.92 log10 bacteria/g faeces) compared to pigs without gross lesions of proliferative enteropathy (median excretion: <3.3 log10 bacteria/g faeces) (P<0.001). Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the measureable PE lesions and L. intracellularis excretion was 0.50 (P<0.001). A significantly increasing trend in Lawsonia intracellularis excretion level for increasing proliferative enteropathy histopathology and immunohistochemistry scores was demonstrated (P<0.001; P<0.001). Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the histopathology scores and L. intracellularis excretion was 0.67 (P<0.001). Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the IHC scores and L. intracellularis excretion was 0.77 (P<0.001).ConclusionsThe histological and quantitative PCR detection of Lawsonia intracellularis were correlated in pigs with diarrhoea. Overall the results suggest that clinically important levels for Lawsonia intracellularis excretion in faeces may be established. Such clinical threshold levels may be used in practice to confirm a diagnosis of Lawsonia intracellularis associated diarrhoea.

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“…The faecal samples were stored overnight at 4°C and further processed the following day. Each of the obtained faecal samples was subjected to faecal dry matter determination using the microwave procedure as previously described [10]. One person (corresponding author) performed all faecal dry matter determinations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The true diarrhoea status of the selected and photographed faecal pools was determined using the faecal dry matter content (diarrhoea: faecal dry matter ≤ 18%) [10]. Following the faecal dry matter determination and quality assessment of the pictures a total of 16 pictures were selected for the faecal consistency test.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of farmers’ diagnostic performance for detection of diarrhoea in nursery pigs using digital pictures of faecal pools

Pedersen

Strunz

2013

Acta Vet Scand

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BackgroundOverconsumption of antibiotics in the pig industry is of concern in relation to antimicrobial resistance. False positive disease diagnosis may result in the treatment of healthy animals. In Denmark, diarrhoea is the most common cause of antibiotic treatment in pigs. Farm personnel are not professional clinicians, which could result in inappropriate antibiotic treatments of diarrhoea.The primary objectives of this pilot study using digital pictures of faecal pools was to evaluate farmers’ diagnostic performance in the assessment of faecal consistency in nursery pigs and to investigate the effect of different co-variables, including practical experience. A secondary objective was to compare the diagnostic performance of farmers with that of veterinarians.At a pig congress, observers (farm personnel and veterinarians) working professionally with pigs participated in a faecal consistency test consisting of 16 pictures of faecal pools (eight diarrhoeic and eight non-diarrhoeic). The faecal pools had previously been collected and subjected to faecal dry matter determination. The true status of the faecal pools was determined by the faecal dry matter content (diarrhoea: faecal dry matter ≤ 18%). The true status was used to evaluate the farmers’ and veterinarians’ diagnostic performance.ResultsA total of 119 farmers and 18 veterinarians were included in the statistical analysis. For the farmers, the mean proportion of faecal pools assessed as diarrhoeic was 0.48, the mean proportion of correctly classified faecal pools was 0.84, the mean diagnostic sensitivity was 0.83 and the mean diagnostic specificity was 0.86. Farmers with less than four years of practical experience detected clinical diarrhoea more accurately than farmers with more than four years of practical experience (p < 0.05). No significantly differences between farmers and veterinarians was observed (p > 0.20).ConclusionsThe results, using digital pictures of faecal pools, suggest that farmers and veterinarians have similar diagnostic performance in relation to diarrhoea. False positive classification of non-diarrhoeic pigs appears to be a larger problem than false negative classification of diarrhoeic pigs under Danish conditions. If these results can be confirmed under practical conditions, training in, and validation of, clinical diagnoses may be an important factor in reducing antibiotic consumption in the pig industry.

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Evaluation of a microwave method for dry matter determination in faecal samples from weaned pigs with or without clinical diarrhoea

Cited by 25 publications

References 26 publications

Association between average daily gain, faecal dry matter content and concentration of Lawsonia intracellularis in faeces

Association between average daily gain, faecal dry matter content and concentration of Lawsonia intracellularis in faeces

Association between faecal load of lawsonia intracellularis and pathological findings of proliferative enteropathy in pigs with diarrhoea

Evaluation of farmers’ diagnostic performance for detection of diarrhoea in nursery pigs using digital pictures of faecal pools

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