| 1. |
- Engelsen Etterlin, Pernille, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of free-range and confined housing on joint health in a herd of fattening pigs
- 2014
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Ingår i: BMC Veterinary Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1746-6148. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Free-range housing, in which pigs have access to both indoor and outdoor areas, is mandatory in organic pig production in Europe, but little is known about the effects of this housing on joint health in pigs. A high level of joint condemnations at slaughter has been reported in organic free-range pigs in Sweden, compared with pigs raised in conventional confined housing. We hypothesised that biomechanical forces imposed on the joints of pigs that range freely promote the development of osteochondrosis and lead to joint condemnation. We compared the prevalence of osteochondrosis and other joint lesions (e.g. arthritis, traumatic) in the elbow and hock joints of 91 crossbred Hampshire (Yorkshire x Landrace) fattening pigs that were housed in a free-range indoor/outdoor system with that in 45 pigs housed in confined indoor pens.Results: A larger proportion of free-range than confined pigs had osteochondrosis in the elbow joints (69 vs. 50%, p < 0.05), and a higher proportion of these joints in free-range pigs showed moderate or severe lesions (33 vs. 16%, p < 0.05). The free-range pigs also showed a higher prevalence of osteochondrosis in the hock joints (83 vs. 62%, p < 0.05) and a larger proportion of these joints had moderate or severe lesions (69 vs. 33%, p < 0.001). At slaughter, 4.2% of the free-range pigs had condemned joints, all of which showed severe osteochondrosis, while no joints of confined pigs were condemned.Conclusions: In this experiment the prevalence of osteochondrosis in the elbow and the hock was higher, and lesions were more severe, in free-range than in confined pigs, suggesting that free-range housing increases the risk of acquiring osteochondrosis. Increased biomechanical stress to vulnerable joint structures may be the mechanism behind this effect, however more studies are needed to verify these results. This study suggests that modification of housing, and breeding for joints that are more adapted to free-range movement may be needed in free-range pig production. Severe osteochondrosis is a cause of joint condemnation, but the condemnation rate at slaughter underestimates the actual frequency of joint lesions and hence is a poor assessment of joint health.
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| 2. |
- Engelsen Etterlin, Pernille, et al.
(författare)
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Osteochondrosis, but not lameness, is more frequent among free-range pigs than confined herd-mates
- 2015
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Ingår i: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-605X .- 1751-0147. ; 57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Organic pig production is expanding and amongst the objectives of organic farming are enhancing animal health and welfare. However, some studies have reported a higher prevalence of lameness and joint condemnation at slaughter in free-range/organic pigs than in conventionally raised pigs. Organic slaughter pigs have free-range housing in which indoor and outdoor access is compulsory, while in conventional farming the pigs are commonly confined to indoor pens. The present study evaluated the effects of free-range and confined housing on lameness prevalence in a herd of 106 finisher pigs, and whether osteochondrosis and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae associated arthritis influences these effects. We also evaluated the association between clinical lameness during the rearing period and joint condemnations at slaughter. Results: Seventy free-range and 36 confined housed fattener pigs were scored for their gait twice during the rearing period and 848 joints were evaluated post mortem. Osteochondrosis was more frequent among free-range than confined pigs (P < 0.05), and when present it was also more severe (P < 0.001). Pigs with more numerous and more severe osteochondral lesions had their gait affected more than did pigs with fewer such lesions (P < 0.05). Hence it was a paradox that we did not detect more lameness among the free-range pigs than the confined pigs. E. rhusiopathiae associated arthritis was not diagnosed. The association between gait remarks/clinical lameness and joint condemnations at slaughter was not significant. Conclusions: The results indicate that free-range housing may have both positive and negative effects on locomotory traits. Free-range pigs may be less clinically affected by osteochondrosis than are confined pigs. One explanation for this effect may be strengthening of joint supportive tissue and pain relief promoted by exercise. Visual gait scoring missed serious joint lesions that probably were harmful to the pigs, and should therefore not be used as a sole indicator of joint/leg health in welfare inspection of pigs. The association between gait scores and joint condemnation appeared to be poor. This study was limited to one herd, and so more and larger studies on the effects of free-range housing on lameness severity and osteochondrosis development in pigs are recommended.
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| 3. |
- Engelsen Etterlin, Pernille
(författare)
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Osteochondrosis in pigs : a study of the effects of free-range housing in a herd of fattening pigs
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Osteochondrosis (OC) is a growth cartilage disease initiated by ischemia which causes a focal delay in the endochondral ossification. It is a common joint disorder in fattening pigs causing lameness and joint condemnation at slaughter. Another cause of lameness and joint condemnation in fatteners is Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae arthritis (ERA). Pigs in organic production more often have joints condemned at slaughter than do pigs in conventional production. Outdoor access is mandatory in organic production, and the aim of this thesis was to examine whether a housing type that is common in organic production affects the prevalence of OC, ERA and joint condemnation at slaughter in fatteners. Fatteners were also scored for their gait to evaluate any association between lameness and OC, ERA and joint condemnation. Post-mortem examination of joints showed that 95% of examined fatteners had OC. Pigs that could range freely indoors and had access to pasture and an outdoor paddock had more prevalent and more severe OC than did pigs confined to conventional small indoor pens. One explanation may be that free-range pigs are more active and receive more load on their joints, which may promote OC development. Pigs with many and severe OC lesions had their gait affected more than did pigs with less OC. Free-range pigs did, however, not show more lameness than confined housed pigs. Exercise strengthens muscles, tendons and bone tissue, which may render the free-range pigs less clinically affected by OC. A 100% seroprevalence of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was detected in both free-range and confined pigs, but no joints with ERA were diagnosed. The association between lameness and joint condemnations was poor, and the joint condemnation rate appears to be a bad assessment of joint health. Computed tomography scans of hock joints in wild boars indicate that OC is rare in wild boars. As wild boars roam and are hunted, selection pressure may have favoured those with healthy joints that are well adapted to an active life. More research on wild boars and hybrids between domestic pigs and wild boars may help understand which features in domestic pigs need alteration to secure enhancement of their joint health. In summary, changes in housing systems and a pig breed with more robust joints may be needed for a sustainable organic pork production.
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| 4. |
- Engelsen Etterlin, Pernille, et al.
(författare)
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Osteochondrosis, Synovial Fossae, and Articular Indentations in the Talus and Distal Tibia of Growing Domestic Pigs and Wild Boars
- 2017
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Ingår i: Veterinary pathology. - : SAGE Publications. - 0300-9858 .- 1544-2217. ; 54:3, s. 445-456
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Articular osteochondrosis (OC) often develops in typical locations within joints, and the characterization of OC distribution in the pig tarsus is incomplete. Prevalence of OC is high in domestic pigs but is presumed to be low in wild boars. Postmortem and computed tomography (CT) examinations of the talus and distal tibia from 40 domestic pigs and 39 wild boars were evaluated for the locations and frequencies of OC, synovial fossae, and other articular indentations, and frequency distribution maps were made. All domestic pigs but only 5 wild boars (13%) had OC on the talus. In domestic pigs, OC consistently affected the axial aspect of the medial trochlea tali in 11 (28%) joints and the distomedial talus in 26 (65%) joints. In wild boars, all OC lesions consistently affected the distomedial talus. On the articular surface of the distal tibia, all domestic pigs and 34 wild boars (87%) had synovial fossae and 7 domestic pigs (18%) had superficial cartilage fibrillation opposite an OC lesion (kissing lesion). Other articular indentations occurred in the intertrochlear groove of the talus in all domestic pigs and 13 wild boars (33%) and were less common on the trochlea tali. The prevalence of tarsal OC in wild boars is low. In domestic pigs and wild boars, OC is typically localized to the distomedial talus and in domestic pigs also to the medial trochlea tali. Further investigations into the reasons for the low OC prevalence in wild boars may help in developing strategies to reduce OC incidence in domestic pigs.
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| 5. |
- Viberg, Frida, et al.
(författare)
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Hepatic emphysema associated with ultrasound-guided liver biopsy in a dog
- 2014
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Ingår i: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-605X .- 1751-0147. ; 56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An eleven-year-old Chinese Crested Powder Puff dog presented with polydipsia/polyuria, inappetence, diarrhea and vomiting underwent an ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy. Two days post-biopsy the clinical condition of the dog acutely deteriorated with fever, dyspnea, ataxia and subcutaneous emphysema. Radiographs and ultrasound showed focal severe hepatic emphysema in the region of the previous liver biopsy. Post-mortem examination revealed chronic hepatitis with dissecting fibrosis, acute hepatitis with hemorrhage and in the hindlimb musculature extensive hemorrhage and necrosis. Pure cultures of the gas producing bacteria Clostridium perfringens were isolated in samples from the hind limb musculature. We propose that the hepatic emphysema in the region of the biopsy site was a result of a clostridial infection.
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