Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T16:11:31.375Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Atrophic rhinitis: the influence of the aerial environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. F. Robertson
Affiliation:
Centre for Rural Building, Aberdeen AB2 9TR
D. Wilson
Affiliation:
Veterinary Investigation Laboratories, Aberdeen AB2 9TS
W. J. Smith
Affiliation:
Veterinary Investigation Laboratories, Aberdeen AB2 9TS
Get access

Abstract

Infectious atrophic rhinitis is a disease of the upper respiratory tract of pigs, characterized in the live animal by deformation of the snout and conchal atrophy. However, the severity of the disease in pigs on commercial units is highly variable and air quality may be implicated as a significant factor in addition to the recognized pathogens. In this study the aerial environment was monitored in 49 pig buildings on 12 commercial farrowing-finishing units. A total of 1117 pigs from the 12 farms were examined individually at commercial slaughter weight to quantify the severity of conchal atrophy, using snout scoring and morphometric techniques.

A number of significant relationships were shown between environmental variables in the farrowing house and the severity of conchal atrophy. Mean snout score (MSS) and the percentage of snouts from each herd sample with a score of three or more (SS3) were correlated with total bacterial counts (r = 0·78 (P < 0·01) and 0-83 (P < 0·01) respectively), counts of 10 [mi to >15 urn particles (r = 0·67 (P <0·05), 0·73 (P <0·05)) and concentrations of gravimetric dust (r = 0·65 (P <0·05), 0·64 (P <0·05)). Concentrations of ammonia were correlated with SS3 (r = 0·68 (P <0·05)).

Dust in the first-stage weaner houses was again a significant component of the aerial environment associated with the severity of the disease. MSS and SS3 were correlated with counts of 10 urn to >15 μm particles (r = 0·66 (P <0·05), 0·68 (P <0·05)), concentrations of respirable dust (r = 0·67 (P <0·05), 0·63 (P <0·05)), total dust (r = 0·75 (P <0·05), 0·87 (P <0·001)), and gravimetric dust (r = 0·83 (P <0·01), 0·88 (P <0·001)). The results support the theory that the mass or number of particles present as inspirable aerosols, and the presence of large numbers of viable bacteria may compromise the local defence mechanism of the upper respiratory tract in the pig and facilitate colonization by Bordetella bronchiseptica and Pasteurella multocida. Saturation deficit in the second-stage weaner houses was correlated with both mean morphometric index and SS3 (r = 0·860 (P <0·01) and 0·683 (P <0·05) respectively), and volumetric stocking density in the finishing houses was correlated with both MSS and SS3 (r = -0·84 (P <0·01), -0·64 (P <0·05)). It is hypothesized that the severity of the disease may be lessened by reducing the concentrations of dust, microbes and ammonia which may play a significant role in the development of the disease.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Anderson, D. P., Beard, C. W. and Hanson, R. P. 1964. The adverse effects of ammonia on chickens including resistance to infection with Newcastle disease virus. Avian Diseases 8: 369379.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Backstrom, L., Hoefling, D. C., Morko, A. C. and Cowart, R. P. 1985. Effect of atrophic rhinitis on growth rate in Illinois Swine Herds. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 187: 712715.Google ScholarPubMed
Blecha, F. and Kelley, K. W. 1981. Effects of cold and weaning stressors on the antibody-mediated immune response of pigs. Journal of Animal Science 53: 439447.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carpenter, G. A. 1982. The design of an internal ceiling-mounted air filter unit and its application in an early weaner unit. Division Note, National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Silsoe, DN/1128.Google Scholar
Carter, G. R. and Subronto, P. 1973. Identification of Type D strains of P. multocida with acriflavine. American Journal of Veterinary Research 34: 293294.Google ScholarPubMed
Clark, P. C. and McQuitty, J. B. 1988. Air quality in farrowing barns. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Engineering 30: 157164.Google Scholar
Curtis, S. E., Drummond, J. G., Kelley, K. W., Grunloh, D. J., Meares, V. J., Norton, H. W. and Jensen, A. H. 1975. Diurnal and annual fluctuations of aerial bacterial and dust levels in enclosed swine houses. Journal of Animal Science 41: 15021511.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Curtis, S. E., Hensen, A. H., Simon, J. and Day, D. 1974. Effects of aerial ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and swine house dust, alone and combined, on swine health and performance. Proceedings of the International Livestock Environment Symposium, Lincoln, Nebraska, pp. 209210.Google Scholar
Dennis, M. J. 1986. The effects of temperature and humidity on some animal diseases — a review. British Veterinary Journal 142: 472485.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doig, P. A. and Willoughby, R. A. 1971. Response of swine to atmospheric ammonia and organic dust. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 159: 13531361.Google ScholarPubMed
Done, J. T. 1983. Atrophic rhinitis: pathomorphological diagnoses. In Atrophic Rhinitis in Pigs (ed. Pedersen, K. B. and Nielsen, N. C.), pp. 312. Commission of European Communities, Luxembourg.Google Scholar
Done, J. T. 1985. Porcine atrophic rhinitis: an update. Veterinary Annual 25: 180191.Google Scholar
Done, J. T., Upcott, D. H., Frewin, D. C. and Hebert, C. N. 1984. Atrophic rhinitis: snout morphometry for quantitative assessment of conchal atrophy. Veterinary Record 114: 3335.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Donham, K. J., Popendorf, W., Palmgren, U. and Larsson, L. 1986. Characterisation of dusts collected from swine confinement buildings. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 10: 294297.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drummond, J. G., Curtis, S. E., Meyer, R. C., Simon, J. and Norton, H. W. 1981. Effects of atmospheric ammonia on young pigs experimentally infected with Bordetella bronchiseptica. American Journal of Veterinary Research 42: 463468.Google Scholar
Elling, F. and Pedersen, K. B. 1985. The pathogenesis of persistent turbinate atrophy induced by toxigenic Pasteurella multocida in pigs. Veterinary Pathology 22: 469474.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Giles, C. J., Smith, I. M., Baskerville, A. J. and Brothwell, E. 1980. Clinical bacteriological and epidemiological observations on infectious atrophic rhinitis of pigs in southern England. Veterinary Record 106: 2528.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodwin, R. F. W. 1980. Atrophic rhinitis of pigs. In Practice 2: (1), 511.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodwin, R. F. W. 1988. Monitoring for atrophic rhinitis: The problem of higher snout scores. Veterinary Record 123: 566568.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jong, M. F. de and Bartelse, A. 1980. Influence of management and housing on the isolation frequency of B. bronchiseptica and P. multocida in piglet populations. Proceedings of the International Pig Veterinary Society, Copenhagen, p. 212.Google Scholar
Jong, M. F. de, Oei, H. L. and Testenburg, G. J. 1980. AR — Pathogenicity tests for P. multocida isolates. Proceedings of the International Pig Veterinary Society, Copenhagen, p. 211.Google Scholar
Kelley, K. W. 1985. Immunological consequences of changing environmental stimuli. In Animal Stress (ed. Moberg, G. P.), pp. 193224. Bethesda, Maryland.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Little, T. W. A. 1975. Respiratory disease in pigs: a study. Veterinary Record 96: 540544.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Madec, F. 1987. Enzootic respiratory diseases in intensive pig units: an overall approach in veterinary practice. In Environmental Aspects of Respiratory Disease in Intensive Pig and Poultry Houses, Including the Implications for Human Health (ed. Bruce, J. M. and Sommer, M.), pp. 111118. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg.Google Scholar
Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 1978. Atrophic rhinitis: a system of snout grading. MAFF Booklet LPD 51. Pinner.Google Scholar
Neumann, R., Mehlhorn, G., Buchiiolz, I., Johannsfn, U. and Schimmel, D. 1987. Experimental studies of the effect of chronic aerogenous toxic gas exposure of unweaned piglets with ammonia of various concentrations. II. Reaction of cellular and humoral defence mechanisms of ammonia exposed unweaned piglets under conditions of experimental Pasteurella multocida infection with and without thermomotor stress. Journal of Veterinary Medicine B34: 241253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nielsen, J. P., Jorsal, S. E., Barfod, K. and Pedersen, K. B. 1987. The influence of environmental factors on the occurrence of respiratory disease in pigs. In Environmental Aspects of Respiratory Disease in Intensive Pig and Poultry Houses, Including the Implications for Human Health (ed. Bruce, J. M. and Sommer, M.), pp. 121126. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg.Google Scholar
Nilsson, C. 1982. Dust investigations in pig houses. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Farm Buildings, Report 25.Google Scholar
Oyetunde, O. O. F., Thomson, R. G. and Carlson, H. C. 1978. Aerosol exposure of ammonia, dust and Escherichia coli in broiler chickens. Canadian Veterinary Journal 19: 187193.Google ScholarPubMed
Pedersen, K. B. and Barfod, K. 1981. The aetiological significance of Bordetella bronchiseptica and Pasteurella multocida in atrophic rhinitis of swine. Nordisk Veterinaermedicin 33: 513522.Google ScholarPubMed
Rutter, J. M. 1981. Quantitative observations on Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in atrophic rhinitis of pigs. Veterinary Record 108: 451454.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rutter, J. M. and MacKfnzir, A. 1984. Pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis in pigs: a new perspective. Veterinary Record 114: 8990.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rutter, J. M. y1985. Atrophic rhinitis in swine. Advances in Veterinary Science and Comparative Medicine 29: 239279.Google Scholar
Rutter, J. M., Beard, M., Carpenter, C. A. and Fryer, J. T. 1986. The effect of air filtration on the performance and health of pigs. Proceedings of the International Pig Veterinary Society, Barcelona, p. 400.Google Scholar
Rutter, J. M. and Rojas, X. 1982. Atrophic rhinitis in gnotobiotic piglets: Differences in the pathogenicity of Pasteurella multocida in combined infections with Bordetella bronchiseptica. Veterinary Record 110: 531535.Google Scholar
Rutter, J. M., Taylor, R. J., Crighton, W. G., Robertson, I. B. and Benson, J. A. 1984. Epidemiological study of Pasteurella multocida and Bordelella bronchiseptica in atrophic rhinitis. Veterinary Record 115: 615619.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, J. E. 1977. Analysis of autopsy data on pig respiratory disease by multivariate methods. British Veterinary Journal 133: 281291.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, W. J. 1983a. Infectious atrophic rhinitis — non infectious determinants. In Atrophic Rhinitis in Pigs (ed. Pedersen, K. B. and Nielsen, N. C.), pp. 151162. Commission of European Communities, Luxembourg.Google Scholar
Smith, W. J. 1983b. Atrophic rhinitis — report from Britain. In Atrophic Rhinitis in Pigs (ed. Pedersen, K. B. and Nielsen, N. C.), pp. 6570. Commission of European Communities, Luxembourg.Google Scholar
Smith, W. J. 1988. Environment, stocking density and respiratory disease. Piq International, February, pp. 2022.Google Scholar
Siroik, M. and Heber, A. J. 1986. Characteristics of aerial dust in swine finishing houses. American Society of Agricultural Engineering, Paper No. 86–4027.Google Scholar
Switzer, W. P. 1956. Infectious atrophic rhinitis. V. Concept that several agents may cause turbinate atrophy. American Journal of Veterinary Research 17: 478484.Google ScholarPubMed
Switzer, W. P. and Farrington, D. O. 1975. Infectious atrophic rhinitis. In Diseases of Swine 4th ed. (ed. Dunne, H. W. and Leman, A. D.). pp. 687711Iowa State University Press, Ames.Google Scholar
Undkrdahi, N. R., Rhodes, M. B., Socha, T. E. and Shulte, D. D. 1982. A study of air quality and respiratory infections in pigs raised in confinement. Livestock Production Science 9: 521529.Google Scholar