Body temperature and motion: evaluation of an online monitoring system in pigs challenged with PRRSv.

Res Vet Sci. 2017 Sep 28;114:482-488. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.09.021. [Epub ahead of print]

Body temperature and motion: Evaluation of an online monitoring system in pigs challenged with Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome Virus.

Süli T1, Halas M2, Benyeda Z2, Boda R2, Belák S3, Martínez-Avilés M4, Fernández-Carrión E4, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM4.

Author information

1

Prophyl Animal Health Ltd, Dózsa György u 18, 7700 Mohács, Hungary. Electronic address: tsuli@prophyl.hu.

2

Prophyl Animal Health Ltd, Dózsa György u 18, 7700 Mohács, Hungary.

3

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Almas Allé 8, Uppsala, Sweden.

4

Visavet Centre and Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Séneca 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain.

Abstract

Highly contagious and emerging diseases cause significant losses in the pig producing industry worldwide. Rapid and exact acquisition of real-time data, like body temperature and animal movement from the production facilities would enable early disease detection and facilitate adequate response. In this study, carried out within the European Union research project RAPIDIA FIELD, we tested an online monitoring system on pigs experimentally infected with the East European subtype 3 Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) strain Lena. We linked data from different body temperature measurement methods and the real-time movement of the pigs. The results showed a negative correlation between body temperature and movement of the animals. The correlation was similar with both body temperature obtaining methods, rectal and thermal sensing microchip, suggesting some advantages of body temperature measurement with transponders compared with invasive and laborious rectal measuring. We also found a significant difference between motion values before and after the challenge with a virulent PRRSV strain. The decrease in motion values was noticeable before any clinical sign was recorded. Based on our results the online monitoring system could represent a practical tool in registering early warning signs of health status alterations, both in experimental and commercial production settings.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS: 

Body temperature; Early detection; Motion; Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome virus

PMID:

 

28985615

 

DOI:

 

10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.09.021