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Survey of pleuritis and pulmonary lesions in pigs at abattoir with a focus on

the extent of the condition and herd risk factors

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 The Veterinary Journal 193 (2012) 234–239

Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect

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journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/tvjl

Survey of pleuritis and pulmonary lesions in pigs at abattoir with a focus

on the extent of the condition and herd risk factors
G. Merialdi a, M. Dottori a, P. Bonilauri a, A. Luppi a,⇑, S. Gozio b, P. Pozzi b, B. Spaggiari a, P. Martelli c
a
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
b
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Wim de Körverstraat 35, 5831 AN Boxmeer, The Netherlands
c
Department of Animal Health, University of Parma, Via del Taglio10, 43125 Parma, Italy

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Cranioventral pulmonary consolidation (enzootic pneumonia-like lesions) and chronic pleuritis (CP) are
Accepted 9 November 2011 common findings in slaughtered pigs. Pleural lesions involving dorsocaudal lobes are suggestive of pleu-
ropneumonia due to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. In this report the results of an abattoir survey of
pleuritis and pulmonary lesions in pigs is presented with a focus on herd risk factors. A total of 4889 ani-
Keywords: mals, ranging in age from 9 to 10 months, from 48 batches of pigs belonging to an equal number of herds,
Pigs were included in the study.
Enzootic pneumonia
Bronchopneumonic lesions suggestive of enzootic pneumonia (EP-like lesions) were detected in 46.4%
Pleuritis
Pleuropneumonia
of the examined lungs. The EP-like lesion average value for all lungs was 1.03 (95% CI 0.98–1.08), ranging
Risk factors from 0.17 to 2.56 among the 48 batches; 47.5% of lungs showed chronic pleuritis. Dorsocaudal pleuritis
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae suggestive of recovered pleuropneumonia (SPES score P2) was found in 25.1% of the lungs. The mean
PRRS SPES (slaughterhouse pleuritis evaluation system) value of the overall 4889 lungs was 0.83 (95% CI
0.78–0.86). The mean SPES value of the batches ranged from 0.04 to 1.87. The mean Actinobacillus pleu-
ropneumoniae index of all studied batches was 0.61 (95% CI 0.51–0.71), ranging from 0 to 1.84.
Blood samples were collected from each herd to evaluate antibody titres to Mycoplasma hyopneumo-
niae, A. pleuropneumoniae, Aujeszky’s disease virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
(PRRSV), and swine influenza virus. Herd characteristics were recorded using a questionnaire given to the
farmers. A multivariable analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for pleuritis and EP-like lesions.
High dorsocaudal pleuritis was associated with A. pleuropneumoniae seroprevalence and history of A.
pleuropneumoniae isolation from pneumonic lungs of dead animals. Vaccination of weaners at 3–5 weeks
of age against PRRS using a modified live vaccine was associated with a reduction in the percentage of
cranioventral pulmonary consolidation (EP-like lesions).
Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Introduction The abattoir is a useful endpoint to collect data on herd health

The porcine respiratory disease complex which is still one of the
most challenging issues in the pig industry worldwide, results from
the interaction of infectious agents (viruses, mycoplasmas and
bacteria), environmental conditions and host factors. Enzootic
pneumonia (EP)-like lesions, characterized by cranioventral pul-
monary consolidation, caused by many different bacteria, particu-
larly Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida, and
pleuritis are the most frequent findings in pig lungs at slaughter.
EP-like lesions are associated with significant economic loss,
primarily due to the reduction in growth performance and feed
efficiency (Grest et al., 1997; Martelli et al., 2009) and the require-
ment for antibiotic treatment to prevent economic losses (Maes
et al., 1996; Kyriakis et al., 2001).
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 0522 921733.
E-mail address: andrea.luppi@izsler.it (A. Luppi).
status which can be used to evaluate the risk factors for disease.
Moreover, abattoir measurements are a valuable tool for monitor-
ing the effect of disease control measures. In pigs, the recording of
lung lesions at slaughter is a common practice in many countries,
indeed scoring systems for EP-like lesions have been developed,
standardized and modified (Madec and Derrien, 1981; Mousing
et al., 1990). Abattoir recording has thus been widely used for esti-
mating the prevalence and severity of respiratory disease (RD),
particularly EP, and has been used to evaluate RD risk factors. Herd
management, housing type and air quality have previously been
identified as the most important non-infectious risk factors associ-
ated with RD in pigs (Paisley et al., 1993; Huey, 1996; Maes et al.,
2001; Ostanello et al., 2007). However, as herd management prac-
tices are continuously changing and RD remains a problem, contin-
ued investigations in this area are essential.
Chronic pleural lesions (CP) are commonly detected at the abat-
toir, since the resolution of pleural lesions associated with pleuritis

1090-0233/$ - see front matter Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.11.009
 G. Merialdi et al. / The Veterinary Journal 193 (2012) 234–239
can take 3 months or more, and very often the process is not
completed prior to slaughter (Andreasen et al., 2000). A clear
association between CP lesions at the abattoir and decreased
performances in pigs has been described in many studies
(Cleveland-Nielsen et al., 2002; Pagot et al., 2007; Meyns et al.,
2011). The most important cause of pleuritis in pigs is Actinobacillus
pleuropneumoniae, but several other bacterial pathogens are also
involved, particularly Haemophilus parasuis, Pasteurella multocida
and Streptococcus suis (Christensen and Mousing, 1999; Enoe
et al., 2002; Meyns et al., 2011).
The localization of pleuritis can be cranioventral or dorsocaudal
and the border between the two areas is lined by the dorsal
endpoints of interlobar fissures. Cranioventral pleural lesions are
strongly associated with complicated EP-like lesions, whilst
dorsocaudal lesions are considered suggestive of recovered pleuro-
pneumoniae (Christensen and Enoe, 1999), severely affecting
respiratory function (Christensen and Mousing, 1999).
The aims of the present study were to investigate the preva-
lence of lung and pleural lesions at abattoirs in Italy and to identify
major factors potentially associated with the prevalence and the
severity of the lesions, combining environmental conditions, herd
history for RD, management practices, vaccination schedules and
serology to different swine respiratory pathogens.
Materials and methods
Animal and lung examinations at abattoir
The examinations took place from April to June 2008. A total of 61 batches were
inspected All herds produced heavy pigs (160 kg slaughter weight, aged 9–
10 months) and were located in the Po Valley where >80% of Italian pig production
occurs. A batch (100 pigs on average) was defined as a group of pigs from the same
farm that were slaughtered on the same day. Herds were randomly selected at the
abattoir on a given day of the week; permission was then sought for a herd visit,
which, if permission was forthcoming was undertaken within 2 weeks of the abat-
toir investigation.
Lung and pleural examinations were performed by two veterinarians trained to
follow the same scoring criterion in order to avoid individual considerations, in six
different abattoirs located in Northern Italy with a capacity of slaughtering ranging
from 300 to 400 animals per hour. Bronchopneumonic lesions, suggestive of EP
were scored according to Madec’s grid (Madec and Derrien, 1981). Each lobe was
scored from 0 to 4, to a maximum possible score of 28. An EP-like lesion average
value (sum of single lung EP-like lung score/number of scored lungs) was then
calculated.
CP lesions were evaluated according to the slaughterhouse pleuritis evaluation
system (SPES) (Dottori et al., 2007). The SPES grid has five different scores (Table 1)
depending on the extension and location of pleural adherences (Fig. 1) and provides
two major outputs: (1) The SPES average value, i.e. the sum of each lung score/num-
ber of scored lungs, and (2) the A. pleuropneumoniae index (APPI), i.e. the frequency
of pleuritis lesions with a SPES score P2 in a batch  mean pleuritis lesion score of
animals with SPES P2. The APPI ranges from 0 (no animal in the batch showing
dorsocaudal pleuritis) to 4 (all animals with severely extended bilateral dorsocau-
dal pleuritis) (Table 1).
Farmer questionnaire
Each farm was visited by a swine veterinarian and data about farm characteris-
tics (i.e. operation type), herd size (number of fattening pigs on the farm), herd flow,
type of floor and ventilation, description of RD on the farm, including occurrence,
onset and frequency, history of pleuropneumoniae in the previous 2 years and
Table 1
The slaughterhouse pleuritis evaluation system grid for chronic pleuritis (CP).
Score Lesion characterization
0 Absence of CP lesions
1 Cranioventral lesion: pleural adherence between lobes or at ventral
border of lobes
2 Dorsocaudal unilateral focal lesion
3 Bilateral lesion of type 2 or extended unilateral lesion (at least 1/3 of
one diaphragmatic lobe)
4 Severely extended bilateral lesion (at least 1/3 of both diaphragmatic
lobes)
235
vaccination programs were collected using a questionnaire (see supplementary
data at Appendix 1). The questions were designed as ‘close ended’ to enhance stan-
dardisation of the responses.
Serology
Twenty blood samples were collected at slaughter from each batch. During the
questionnaire visit, 20 additional approximately 80 kg pigs were also bled. Serocon-
version to M. hyopneumoniae and A. pleuropneumoniae was tested using both sam-
ples, using the Herd Check M. hyo ELISA (IDEXX) and the CHEKIT-App-ApxIV ELISA
(IDEXX), respectively. Testing for antibodies to Aujeszky’s disease (HerdChek PRV
gE test kit, IDEXX) and PRRS (HerdChek PRRS Antibody Test Kit, IDEXX) used the
samples from the 80 kg pigs only, while swine influenza virus antibodies were
tested in slaughter pigs only. For the latter, antibodies to different viral sub-types
(H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2) were determined by the inhibition of the haemagglutina-
tion, using a standard method (de Jong et al., 1982).
Statistical analysis
The presence of seroconversion to A. pleuropneumoniae and M. hyopneumoniae
serology was analysed using an ANOVA test. The antibody results from slaughter-
collected samples were then used for further statistical analysis. For all the diseases,
the Mann–Whitney U test was then used evaluate the association between herd
antibody status and pleuritis and EP-like lung lesions. A farm was considered as po-
sitive if the percentage of seropositive animals was >5% (Fraile et al., 2010). The
association between A. pleuropneumoniae antibody status and the other pathogens
was assessed using v2 test.
The association between questionnaire results, seroprevalence data and lung
pathology were analysed using linear regression with the following dependent vari-
ables recorded from each inspected batch: the average batch SPES value, APPI, per-
centage of dorsocaudal pleuritis (SPES score P2), percentage of cranioventral
pleuritis (SPES = 1), the EP-like lesion average value and the percentage of lungs af-
fected with EP-like lesions. For the questionnaire, only questions with a response
rate of >50% were considered in the analysis. Those variables in the univariate mod-
el with a P-value <0.10 were then used in a multivariate stepwise linear regression
with backwards elimination. A pair of independent variables was tested to detect
co-linearity and interactions were tested in cases where two or more factors were
significant. All analyses were carried out using Intercooled STATA 7.0 (Statacorp).
The significance level was set at P < 0.05.
Results
Of the 61 herds from which batches were inspected, permission
for a herd visit and inclusion in the study was obtained from 48
herds (78.6%) so that a total of 4889 pigs were included in the
study. All 48 farmers filled in the questionnaire.
Questionnaire results
Twenty-seven herds (56.2%) applied a farrow-to-finish produc-
tion system, whilst 21 (43.8%) were fattening herds. Four farms
were classified as small (200–1500), 16 as intermediate (1501–
5000) and 26 as large (P5001). This information was missing for
two farms. Twenty-one herds were managed in all in/all out man-
agement systems in growing-fattening units and 25 herds applied
a continuous flow production. For two herds this information was
not available. Natural and forced ventilation in growing and fatten-
ing units was applied in 43 and three herds, respectively. In two
farms a mixed ventilation system was used. In 16 farms a concrete
floor was used in the growing and fattening units, whereas 10 had
a slatted floor. In the remaining 22 farms each pen had a concrete
floor with a slatted area. In the majority of the farms (45/48), liquid
feed was supplied either in growing and fattening phases.
RD affected 45/48 herds (93.5%). In 16/45 herds (35.5%) RD was
reported to be ‘a problem constantly affecting each batch of pigs’
whilst in 25/45 of the herds (55.5%) RD was considered to be ‘spo-
radic’. The onset of RD was recorded in pigs <70 kg in 27 herds and
from 70 to 100 kg in 15. In one farm only, respiratory disease was
reported in fatteners heavier than 100 kg. Eight of the 48 herds
(17%) had a history of pleuropneumonia associated with repeated
isolation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae from lung lesions. Vac-
cination against Aujeszky’s disease was applied in all herds,
236 G. Merialdi et al. / The Veterinary Journal 193 (2012) 234–239
Fig. 1. Swine lungs: (A) ventro-cranial pleuritis (arrow); (B) dorso-caudal monolateral focal lesion (arrow); (C) extended dorso-caudal monolateral lesion (arrow); (D) severe
pleuritis extended to the whole lung with characteristic dorso-caudal stripping (arrow).
according to the national control programme. Vaccination against
A. pleuropneumoniae, M. hyopneumoniae and PRRSV was used in
15 (31%), 38 (79%) and 7 (15%) herds, respectively.
Lung examination at abattoir
A total of 4889 lungs were examined. Bronchopneumonic le-
sions suggestive of enzootic pneumonia (EP-like) were detected
in 2268 (46.4%) of the examined lungs, and the EP-like lesion aver-
age value was 1.03 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98–1.08) and
2.22 (95% CI 2.13–2.32) for all lungs and affected lungs, respec-
tively. The EP-like lesion average batch value ranged from 0.17 to
2.56. Chronic pleuritis (SPES score P1) was recorded in 2322
(47.5%) lungs. Dorsocaudal pleuritis (SPES score P2), suggestive
of recovered pleuropneumonia, was found in 1227 lungs (25.1%).
Lesions with score 2 were observed in 812 pigs (16.6% of all sam-
pled pigs) and lesions scoring 3 and 4 were present in 342 (7.0%)
and 73 (1.5%) pigs, respectively. The mean SPES value of all lungs
was 0.83 (95% CI 0.78–0.86). The batch average SPES value ranged
from 0.04 to 1.87. The mean APPI of all studied batches was 0.61
(95% CI 0.51–0.71), ranging from 0 to 1.84.
Serology
The results of serological investigations are shown in Table 2. At
slaughter 46/48 (96%) herds were seropositive to A. pleuropneumo-
niae and all herds were seropositive to M. hyopneumoniae. The
average herd prevalence for both A. pleuropneumoniae and M. hyo-
pneumoniae was higher in pigs sampled at 160 rather than at 80 kg
(Table 2).
Contingency tables indicated that farm seropositivity to A. pleu-
ropneumoniae was associated with PRRSV infection (Fisher Exact
test: P < 0.05), but only one farm considered in the study was sero-
negative against PRRSV, so an association cannot be proven. No
other associations were observed among the seroprevalences of
other pathogens (P > 0.05).
Association between seropositivity/vaccinations and lung lesions
The SPES average value was higher (P < 0.05) in lungs from pigs
reared in herds that were seropositive to any of Aujeszky’s disease,
PRRSV or A. pleuropneumoniae. SPES average values were lower
(P = 0.0002) in pigs from herds which vaccinated against PRRSV
(mean ± standard deviation; 0.69 ± 1.00) than those which did
not (0.85 ± 1.04). However pigs that were vaccinated against A.
pleuropneumoniae had higher SPES average values (0.93 ± 1.07)
than those which had not been vaccinated (0.8 ± 1.02) (P = 0.0001).
APPI and the proportion of lungs with pleural lesions suggestive
of A. pleuropneumoniae infection (SPES score P2) were higher
(P < 0.05) in pigs from A. pleuropneumoniae seropositive farms
compared to seronegative ones. Moreover, no dorsocaudal pleural
lesions suggestive of recovered pleuropneumonia were detected in
pigs from herds which were seronegative to A. pleuropneumoniae.
The proportion of lungs with cranioventral pleuritis (SPES
score = 1) was higher in herds which were seropositive for Aujesz-
ky’s disease (P = 0.02). For EP-like lesions, whether the percentage
of lungs affected or the EP-like average value were analysed no sig-
nificant associations with antibody status were observed for any
pathogen.
Among the eight herds with a history of A. pleuropneumoniae
isolation, five were vaccinating and three were not. In vaccinated
herds average SPES value (1.13 ± 1.10) and APPI scores
(0.88 ± 0.27) were lower than in non-vaccinated herds (SPES:
1.22 ± 1.10; APPI: 1.04 ± 0.70) but these differences were not sta-
tistically significant.
No significant associations with vaccination against A. pleuro-
pneumoniae, PRRSV or M. hyopneumoniae were observed for APPI,
percentage of lungs with SPES score P2 or proportion of lungs
with cranioventral pleuritis (SPES score = 1). A lower (P < 0.01)
EP-like lesion average value was observed in pigs from herds vac-
cinating against M. hyopneumoniae. Moreover, very similar per-
centages of cranio-ventral pleuritis (SPES score = 1) were
observed comparing M. hyopneumoniae vaccinated (22%) and un-
vaccinated herds (24%). Vaccination against A. pleuropneumoniae
was not associated with the frequency of EP-like lesions. However,
 G. Merialdi et al. / The Veterinary Journal 193 (2012) 234–239 237

Table 2
Serological results for 48 pig herds divided into four prevalence categories. Cut-off of positivity was set at 6% according to Fraile et al. (2010).

Seropositive herds Distribution of farms according to classes of intra-herd seroprevalence (%) Average intra-herd prevalence % (SD)
6–25 26–50 51–75 76–100
App80 43 (95.6%) 4.4 9.0 22.2 60.0 74.4 (31.5)
App160 45 (95.7%) 4.3 0.0 0.0 91.5 90.2 (28.3)*
Mhyo80 43 (89.6%) 12.5 27.0 21.0 29.0 52.2 (32.8)
Mhyo160 48 (100%) 0.0 0.0 4.4 95.6 94.7 (7.6)*
PRRSV 47 (97.9%) 0.0 0.0 2.1 95.8 92.4 (20.3)
SIV H1N1 34 (75.6%) 24.4 20.0 13.3 17.8 38.0 (34.9)
SIV H1N2 5 (11.1%) 2.2 6.7 2.2 0.0 4 (12.8)
SIV H3N2 27 (60.0%) 24.4 9.1 6.7 20.0 30.9 (36.2)
AujgE 6 (12.5%) 0.0 2.1 0.0 10.4 10.3 (28.6)

App80, A. pleuropneumoniae at 80 kg bodyweight; App160, A. pleuropneumoniae at 160 kg; Mhyo80, M. hyopneumoniae at 80 kg; Mhyo160, M. hyopneumoniae at 160 kg;
PRRSV, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus; SIV, swine influenza virus; AujgE, Aujeszky’s disease virus E glycoprotein.
*
Significant difference (P < 0.05) between seroprevalence at 80 and 160 kg bodyweight.

the use of a modified live PRRSV vaccine in nursery pigs did reduce
this frequency (P < 0.05).
Regression analysis
Linear regression results between herd seroprevalence to sev-
eral pathogens and pleuritis and cranioventral pulmonary consoli-
dation scores are shown in Table 3.
Univariate and multivariate analysis
Four parameters deriving from SPES score at abattoir (SPES
average value, APPI, the percentage of animals with SPES score
P2, and the percentage of animals with SPES score = 1) and two
parameters obtained from Madec’s grid application (EP-like lesion
batch average value and the percentage of lungs affected by EP-like
lesions) were considered for each batch in a univariate analysis as
dependent variables. The results from the questionnaire and the
seroprevalence data were used to create the independent variables.
All independent variables with a P-value of <0.1 were then used in
the subsequent multivariate analysis.
For SPES average value the independent variables that were still
significant (P < 0.05) in the final multivariate model were A. pleuro-
pneumoniae herd seroprevalence (at 160 kg bodyweight) and pre-
vious A. pleuropneumoniae isolation. Aujeszky’s disease herd
seroprevalence was retained in the final model although only a sta-
tistical trend was observed (P = 0.1). No significant interactions be-
tween these risk factors were reported in the final model.
The multivariate analysis produced the following equation
(r2 = 0.44):
Y ¼ 0:57 þ 0:6  App160 þ 0:37  Appisol þ 0:21  AujgE
where Y is SPES average value (pleuritis in general), App160 and
AujgE are A. pleuropneumoniae herd seroprevalence at 160 kg
bodyweight and Aujeszky’s disease herd seroprevalence (ranging
from 0 to 1 in continuum scale) respectively, and Appisol is 1 or 0
for farms with or without A. pleuropneumoniae previous isolation.
Using APPI as a dependent variable in the multivariate analysis,
the independent variables A. pleuropneumoniae previous isolation
and A. pleuropneumoniae herd seroprevalence at 160 kg body-
weight were significant (P < 0.05). No significant interactions be-
tween these risk factors were reported in the final model. The
multivariable analysis produced the following equation (r2 = 0.33):
Y ¼ 0:45 þ 0:5  App160 þ 0:37  Appisol
where Y is APPI and App160 is A. pleuropneumoniae herd seroprev-
alence at 160 kg bodyweight (ranging from 0 to 1 in continuum
scale) and Appisol is 1 or 0 for farms with or without previous iso-
lation of A. pleuropneumoniae.
As expected, taking into account that APPI and the percentage of
animals with SPES score P2 were correlated, a similar model was
obtained using the percentage of animals with SPES score P2 as a
dependent variable in multivariate analysis (r2 = 0.33):
Y ¼ 17:9 þ 21:4  App160 þ 14:2  Appisol
When the proportion of animals with SPES score = 1 (cranioven-
tral pleuritis not suggestive of A. pleuropneumoniae infection) was
considered as a dependent variable in multivariable analysis, herd
type was the only independent variable that was significant in the
final model (P < 0.05), but Aujeszky’s disease herd seroprevalence
was retained in the final model, although only a statistical trend
was observed (r2 = 0.19; P = 0.08):
Y ¼ 23:8 þ 9:2  AujgE  6:6  herdtype
where Y is the percentage of animals with SPES score = 1, AujgE is
Aujeszky’s disease herd seroprevalence (ranging from 0 to 1 in a
continuum scale) and herdtype is 0 or 1 for farrow to finish and
finishing herds, respectively.

Table 3
Association (r2; P-value) between herd seroprevalence to several pathogens and pleuritis and cranioventral pulmonary consolidation.

Average SPES score Average APPI score % SPES P 2 % SPES = 1 Average EP-like lesion score % of lungs affected by EP-like lesion
App160 0.25 (<0.001) 0.183 (0.003) 0.19 (0.002) 0.063 (0.088) 0.017 (0.38) 0.006 (0.61)
PRRSV 0.093 (0.035) 0.079 (0.054) 0.09 (0.038) 0.011 (0.49) 0.02 (0.34) 0.045 (0.15)
AujgE 0.089 (0.039) 0.049 (0.13) 0.021 (0.33) 0.09 (0.039) 0.097 (0.032) 0.027 (0.27)
Mhyo160 0.015 (0.42) 0.003 (0.7) 0.002 (0.76) 0.044 (0.17) 0.11 (0.025) 0.15 (0.008)
SIV H1N1 0.01 (0.51) 0.007 (0.58) 0.003 (0.74) 0.004 (0.67) 0.043 (0.17) 0.033 (0.23)
SIV H3N2 0.01 (0.51) 0.018 (0.39) 0.019 (0.37) 0.007 (0.59) 0.004 (0.68) 0.002 (0.75)
SIV H1N2 0.01 (0.51) 0.046 (0.16) 0.036 (0.21) 0 (0.97) 0.023 (0.32) 0.011 (0.48)

SPES, slaughterhouse pleuritis evaluation system, score P2 indicative of dorso caudal pleuritis suggestive of A. pleuropneumoniae infection, score 1 indicative of cranio-ventral
pleuritis not suggestive of A. pleuropneumoniae infections; APPI, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae index; EP, enzootic pneumoniae; App160, A. pleuropneumoniae at 160 kg
bodyweight; PRRSV, Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus; AujgE, Aujeszky’s disease virus E glycoprotein; Mhyo160, M. hyopneumoniae at 160 kg body-
weight; SIV, swine influenza virus.
238 G. Merialdi et al. / The Veterinary Journal 193 (2012) 234–239
For EP-like lesion average value, none of the parameters which
were significant in the univariate analysis were significant in the
multivariate analysis. Conversely, both the independent variables
associated with the percentage of lungs affected by EP-like lesion
in the univariate analysis (vaccination for PRRS and M. hyopneumo-
niae seroprevalence at 160 kg bodyweight) were also significant
(P < 0.05) in the final model. No significant interaction between
these risk factors was reported in the final model. The multivari-
able analysis produced the following equation (r2 = 0.21):
Y ¼ 20:5 þ 62:4  Mhyo160  8:6  PRRSvac
where Y is percentage of lungs affected by EP-like lesion, Mhyo160
is the herd seroprevalence to M. hyopneumoniae in 160 kg body-
weight pigs (ranging from 0 to 1 in continuum scale) and PRRSvac
is 1 or 0 for vaccinated and unvaccinated herds, respectively.
Discussion
The present study aimed to provide new insights into the extent
of pleuritis and pulmonary lesions in Italian pig production. A new-
ly implemented slaughterhouse pleuritis evaluation system (SPES)
was used along with Madec’s grid for EP-like lesion scoring.
One of the most interesting outcomes of this study was that
pleural lesions were frequently detected in slaughter pigs in Italy
(47.5% of scored lungs) as was dorsocaudal pleuritis suggestive of
A. pleuropneumoniae (25.1%). It is likely that the impact of these le-
sions is underestimated. These high prevalences are in accordance
with previous findings published by other authors elsewhere in
Europe (Cleveland-Nielsen et al., 2002; Pagot et al., 2007; Marois
et al., 2008; Meyns et al., 2011), although it is almost twice as high
as that recorded in Spain (Fraile et al., 2010).
The prevalence of PRRSV, SIV, A. pleuropneumoniae and M. hyo-
pneumoniae infections was high in this study, similar to obtained
by other authors in both Europe and North America (Gutierrez-
Martin et al., 2000; Maes et al., 2000; Andreasen et al., 2001; Choi
et al., 2003; Maldonado et al., 2006; MacInnes et al., 2008). As ex-
pected, the average intra-herd seroprevalence to A. pleuropneumo-
niae and M. hyopneumoniae was higher in animals bled at 160 kg
bodyweight than in those sampled at 80 kg bodyweight, suggest-
ing an active circulation of these two pathogens in the finishing
period. Conversely, in the majority (almost 96%) of the study herds,
PRRSV antibodies were detected in a very high proportion of 80 kg
pigs (Table 2).
SPES average value, APPI and the percentage of lungs with SPES
score P2 were associated with A. pleuropneumoniae herd seroprev-
alence, confirming the importance of this pathogen as a causative
agent of CP. Pigs reared in two A. pleuropneumoniae seronegative
herds did not show dorsocaudal pleural lesions, confirming the
reliability and no statistical correlation was demonstrated between
A. pleuropneumoniae seroprevalence and the percentage of lungs
with SPES score = 1, confirming the hypothesis that only dorsocau-
dal CP lesions are suggestive of recovered pleuropneumonia.
The application of Madec’s grid revealed that 46.3% of lungs
showed cranio-ventral pulmonary consolidation. This result con-
firms the widespread diffusion of these lesions in Italian swine
herds, in agreement with those reported in other countries (Grest
et al., 1997; Maes et al., 2001). Enzootic pneumonia-like lesions
are not pathognomonic of M. hyopneumoniae infection, as other
organisms such as swine influenza virus or bacterial infection
can produce similar lesions (Pijoan, 1999; Palzer et al., 2008). Nev-
ertheless, these lesions were positively associated with herd M.
hyopneumoniae seroprevalence at slaughter weight.
In this study, PRRS vaccination was statistically associated with
reduced SPES values in the univariate analysis but this association
was not confirmed in the multivariate analysis. Conversely, the
application of PRRS vaccination persisted as significant in the final
model when the percentage of EP-like lesions was used as a depen-
dent variable. Although, in general terms, randomised clinical trials
are better suited than observational studies to assess the efficacy of
a vaccine, these results support the hypothesis that, in field condi-
tions, PRRSV plays an important role in respiratory disease in com-
bination with other pathogens (Neumann et al., 2005) and, that the
use of a modified live PRRSV vaccine can be a useful tool for con-
trolling respiratory problems at the herd level (Thanawongnuwech
et al., 2004; Cho et al., 2006; Martelli et al., 2009).
None of the farm characteristics recorded in the questionnaire
seemed to have an effect on the prevalence and severity of CP.
These results disagree with those of Fraile et al. (2010) who found
an association between the percentage of animals with pleuritis
and the use of all-in-all-out room management and between EP-
like lesions and type of ventilation. Meyns et al. (2011) identified
average weaning age and the frequent purchasing of pigs as risk
factors for increased pleuritis and pneumonia in pigs at abattoir,
respectively. As these two parameters were not considered in this
study no comparison is possible. Herd size was not significantly
associated with lesion scores. In the authors’ opinion this is likely
to be because by the fact that the majority of herds were large
(n = 26) and medium (n = 16) sized and only four herds were clas-
sified as small.
As the presence of pleuritis and pneumonia have a negative
influence on production parameters (Sibila et al., 2007), the preva-
lence and severity of these lesions at the abattoir appear to be good
and useful indicators either to address control measures or to fol-
low up their efficiency at farm level.
Conclusions
Chronic pleuritis and cranioventral pulmonary consolidation
are frequently observed in pigs at abattoirs in Italy, suggesting a
detrimental economic effect on pig production. The results of this
study highlight that a history of A. pleuropneumoniae isolation
and its seroprevalence are risk factors for dorsocaudal chronic
pleuritis. The serological investigations revealed a general high
prevalence of infection from various respiratory pathogens in the
observed herds.
Conflict of interest statement
None of the authors of this paper have a financial or personal
relationship with other people or organizations, which could inap-
propriately influence the content of this paper.
Acknowledgements
This paper was partially supported by MSD Animal Health. The
authors are grateful to the farmers who collaborated by participat-
ing in the interviews and supplying the data in the questionnaire.
Appendix A. Supplementary material
Supplementary data associated with this article can be found, in
the online version, at doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.11.009.
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