EVALUATION OF THE IMMUNE STATUS OF SOWS

BY MEASURING SERUM IMMUNOGLOBULIN LEVELS

Brygo M.3, Chito C.2, Houlbert J.2, Sallé E.1, Laval A.3, Auvigne V.4
(1) CEVA, BP 126, F-33501 Libourne, France
(2) SELARL de Vétérinaires CLD et Associés, F-03420 Marcillat-en-Combraille, France
(3) ENVN, BP 40706, F-44307 Nantes Cedex 03, France
(4) EKIPAJ, E-28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain

Introduction Between the 3rd and 5th litter, the IgG level increases
Colostrum plays a fundamental role in newborn piglets, by slightly but significantly (p<0.05, R2=0.09). At farm level,
its contribution to the energy supply and immune protection. there is a correlation between concentrations found in gilts
It is characterised by a high protein and low fat and and in sows (p=0.05, R2=0.46). For the farm variables, only
carbohydrate content, in contrast to milk. IgG is the main the size of the farm is linked to IgG levels: the serum IgG
immunoglobulin. Contrary to IgA, which is mainly produced levels are higher in large-size farms, both for gilts and for
in the udder, IgG originates from the serum of the dam. In multiparous sows (table 1).
colostrum, they represent 80% of all Ig and in serum, 83%. IgG (mg/ml)
Colostral IgG levels are linked to the serum levels of the Gilts Sows
pregnant sow (1). In this context, the aim of the study was: Presence of neonatal No 24.2 31.4
diarrhoea Yes 23.9 33.1
(a) to set up a field method for the evaluation of the immune
Contamination of gilts No 23.7 30.4
status of the breeding herd, by measuring the serum IgG; and
Yes 24.3 33.1
(b) to study the factors related to this status. Nb of contaminations <2 23.6 31.4
during quarantine 2 or more 24.7 33.1
Materials and methods
Number of sows < 300 23.1 29.6
The study was carried out in 9 breeding-finishing farms (100
> 300 25.3* 34.4**
to 2200 sows). All farms vaccinated their sows against Replacement Buying-in 23.8 32.1
neonatal diarrhoea (using Neocoli Por®, Porcilis Porcoli® Self R. 24.5 32.3
or Gletvax®). Four out of 9 farms recorded neonatal Nb of sows vaccines 2 23.4 32.0
diarrhoea in the first 24 to 48 hours after farrowing. In 15 3 or more 24.5 32.2
gilts (first-litter sows) and 15 sows (3rd to 5th litter), the IgG Lysine / Threonine ratio < 1.37 24.2 30.8
levels were measured using radial immunodiffusion plates > 1.37 23.9 33.9
(Triple J Farms, Washington, USA). This test is based on the Genetics (number of 1 ou 2 24.3 30.5
centrifugal diffusion of serum IgG on a gel plate. breed lines per sow) 3 23.8 33.6
Weaned piglets / sow / < 26 25.0 33.1
Precipitation of IgG with anti-IgG renders the gel opaque
year > 26 23.4 31.4
(2). The concentration is calculated by interpolating the
results of 4 reference sera. For each farm, the average IgG Table 1: Relationship between farm variables and IgG levels
concentration was calculated, one for gilts and one for (Mann & Whitney test: *: p<0.1, **: p<0.05)
multiparous sows. Surveys of the farms were based on 9 Discussion
variables that, according to literature, are susceptible to have This study confirms the large difference in immune status
an impact on IgG levels (contamination of gilts, number of between gilts and multiparous sows. This corroborates the
contaminant introductions in quarantine, farm size, need to respect a balanced age pyramid. There was no
replacement method, number of vaccine administered to the evidence that a quarantine and acclimatisation strategy
breeding animals, lysine/threonine ratio in the feed for allowed a quicker achievement of immunity in gilts.
pregnant sows, female line genetics and number of weaned However, it is worth noting that the farm where the
piglets per productive sow per year). difference between gilts and multiparous sows was not
Results significant was the only farm without quarantine (the
259 sera were analysed. The overall average IgG replacement gilts were introduced directly in the pregnant
concentration was 24.2 mg/ml in gilts and 32.2 mg/ml in sow unit). The hypothesis proposed to explain the higher
multiparous sows (Fig 1). This difference is significant immune status in farms with over 300 sows are that the
(Mann & Whitney test, p=0.001). The difference between contact between animals, as well as the movement of people
gilts and multiparous sows was found in all farms, with one and animals, increases with the size of the farm. This might
exception. lead to an increase of immune stimuli and thereby a higher
production of IgG in the sows. The study did not show a link
between the IgG levels in sows and the presence of neonatal
G ilts M u ltip a r o u s sows diarrhoea on the farms. In absence of a link between serum
b e r o f s o w s

50
45 IgG levels and health status, it is difficult to conclude
40 whether it is desirable or not that sows have elevated IgG
35 levels. It would also be of interest to analyse the IgA
30
variation, since this immunoglobulin is particularly involved
25
20
in the local intestinal immunity. However, there is no
N u m

15 commercial test method available for measuring IgA levels.

10
5 References
0 (1) VoisinF., (2005) Thèse ENVT, 3- 4040 : 94 pages.
11 16 21 26 31 36 41 46 51 56 (2) Mancini G., et al. (1965),. Immunochemistry; 2: 235-254.
Ig G
Figure 1: Distribution of IgG concentrations