Swine lymphadenitis due to Mycobacterium avium and atypical Mycobacteria. II. Studies on the role of littering in mycobacterial lymphadenitis incidence in large-scale pig units
Szabó, I.; Tuboly, S.; Széky, A.; Kerekes, J.; Udvardy, N.
Acta Veterinaria Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 25(1): 77-83
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-7205 PMID: 1190015 Document Number: 87431
The role of litter as an environmental factor in the incidence of mycobacterial swine lymphadenitis was studied chiefly under field conditions. Atypical Mycobacteria were demonstrated in samples of litter and in different food rations. Experiments conducted in several pig units clearly showed that under large-scale management systems, litter plays an important role in the spread and incidence of lymph-node mycobacteriosis in swine. The highest incidence was found in those units in which sawdust was used as littter, it was lower among pigs kept without litter, but still higher compared to those kept on straw. It appears that the origin and storage conditions of sawdust as well as the frequency of manure removal also have a significant influence on the incidence of swine mycobacteriosis. Since, however, the infection - although at a lower rate - also occurred in those units in which no sawdust litter had been used, other sources of infection should also be taken into consideration, and are discussed.