Swine respiratory disease is associated with productive losses. We evaluated the prevalence of lung lesions with an emphasis on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), as well as the impact on productive parameters in 108 finishing pigs at slaughter. Pathologic, immunohistochemical (IHC) and serologic analyses were performed. Pneumonic processes were observed in 73.1% of the animals. They mainly consisted of cranioventral bronchopneumonia (CBP) (46.3%) and pleuritis (17.6%). Microscopically, bronchointerstitial pneumonia (67.4%) was common and was occasionally combined (27.9%) with interstitial pneumonia (IP). Mh and PCV2-antigens were detected in bronchointerstitial pneumonia (70.7%) and IP cases (33.3%). There were low titers against Mh (18%) and high titers against PRRSV (100%) and PCV2 (65%). Animals with CBP remained at the farm longer; those with >10% of lung parenchyma involvement were sent later (208.8 days old) and had a lower average carcass weight (74.1 kg) and a lower daily weight gain (500.8 gr/day) compared with animals without lesions (567.2 gr/day, 77.7 kg, 200.8 days old). We suggest that animals that do not reach the weight at slaughter should be sent to slaughter regardless to avoid further negative impacts of respiratory disease in productive parameters.

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections are a serious drawback on small ruminant production. Since anthelmintic resistance has extended, optimisation of alternative non-chemical control strategies has attracted interest. Recently, a prototype recombinant vaccine protected immunologically mature sheep from Texel-cross and Canaria Sheep breeds against Teladorsagia circumcincta. The level of protective immunity stimulated by the vaccine varied between individuals and with age. Previous studies suggest that Canaria Hair Breed (CHB) sheep is naturally resistant to GIN infection, with some evidence suggesting that this protection is present in young lambs. Here, we sought to enhance this resistance by immunising three-month-old CHB lambs with a T. circumcincta prototype recombinant vaccine. Following vaccination and a larval challenge period, levels of protection against T. circumcincta infection were compared in CHB lambs with Canaria Sheep (CS) lambs (a breed considered less resistant to GIN). Lambs from the resistant CHB breed appeared to respond more favourably to vaccination, shedding 63% fewer eggs over the sampling period than unvaccinated CHB lambs. No protection was evident in CS vaccinated lambs. At post-mortem, CHB vaccine recipients had a 68% reduction in mean total worm burden, and female worms were significantly shorter and contained fewer eggs in utero compared to unvaccinated CHB lambs. A higher anti-parasite IgG₂ level was detected in immunised CHB lambs compared to unvaccinated control CHB animals, with data suggesting that IgA, globular leucocytes, CD45RA⁺, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells are implicated in this protective response. The development of effective immunity in vaccinated CHB lambs did not reduce lamb growth rate as immunised CHB lambs had a significantly higher average daily weight gain after challenge than their unvaccinated counterparts. Therefore, the protection of CHB lambs was enhanced by immunisation at weaning, suggesting a synergistic effect when combining vaccination with presumed genetic resistance.

Cetaceans greatly depend on their hearing system to perform many vital activities. The spiral ganglion is an essential component of the auditory pathway and can even be associated with injuries caused by anthropogenic noise. However, its anatomical location, characterized by surrounding bony structures, makes the anatomical and anatomopathological study of the spiral ganglion a difficult task. In order to obtain high-quality tissue samples, a perfect balance between decalcification and the preservation of neural components must be achieved. In this study, different methodologies for spiral ganglion sample preparation and preservation were evaluated. Hydrochloric acid had the shortest decalcification time but damaged the tissue extensively. Both formic acid and EDTA decalcification solutions had a longer decalcification time but exhibited better preservation of the neurons. However, improved cell morphology and staining were observed on ears pretreated with EDTA solution. Therefore, we suggest that decalcifying methodologies based on EDTA solutions should be used to obtain the highest quality samples for studying cell morphology and antigenicity in cetacean spiral ganglion neurons.