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BACKGROUND: Porcine ulcerative dermatitis syndrome (PUDS) is a rare disease of breeding sows with an unknown pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To describe the evolution of clinical and histopathological lesions over the course of the disease and to elucidate the pathogenesis. ANIMAL: A 24-month-old, pluriparous, large white sow presented during gestation with ulcerations around the teats compatible with PUDS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical and histopathological lesions were monitored over the course of the disease (i.e. during and after the subsequent pregnancy). A clear gestation-dependent flare of the lesions was observed with partial resolution occurring postpartum. The histological pattern presented as a lymphocytic interface dermatitis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The findings in this case report link gestation with the development of clinical signs and histological changes. Multiparity appears to enhance severity and may finally result in a self-perpetuating disease. Therefore, it seems advisable to cull breeding sows after they have developed PUDS.

Dissertation, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 2016

Trichinellosis is a food-borne zoonotic disease caused by the nematode Trichinella spp. Many omnivorous and carnivorous animal species can act as host for this parasite, including domestic pigs. To protect public health, it should be ensured that pork should not contain infective Trichinella larvae. Surveillance for Trichinella spp. can be done using direct (larval detection) and indirect (antibody detection) diagnostic techniques. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the absence of infection in Swiss domestic pigs. An ELISA was used as the initial screening test, and sera reacting in ELISA were further investigated using both a Western blot for serology and an artificial digestion test with 20 g of diaphragm tissue for larval detection. A total of 7412 adult pigs, 9973 finishing pigs and 2779 free-ranging pigs were tested. Samples from 17 (0.23%) adult pigs, 16 (0.16%) finishing pigs and nine (0.32%) free-ranging pigs were ELISA-positive, but all of these sera were subsequently negative by Western blot and by the artificial digestion method. Based on these findings, an absence of Trichinella infections in adult pigs (target prevalence 0.04%) and finishing pigs (target prevalence 0.03%) can be concluded. The results also demonstrated that the prevalence of Trichinella infections does not exceed 0.11% in free-ranging pigs, the group with the highest risk of exposure.

Ultrasound irradiation is used for anchoring zinc oxide submicron crystals with a main diameter and length of approximately 280 nm and 470 nm, respectively, onto the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA chips (2mm diameter), and zinc oxide crystals with a mean diameter and length of approximately 150 nm and 230 nm, respectively, onto the surface of the PMMA spheres (1-10 microm). The zinc oxide crystals were obtained by sonochemical irradiation of a mixture containing the PMMA, zinc (II) acetate dihydrate, ethanol, water, and 24 wt.% aqueous ammonia for 2h, yielding a PMMA-zinc oxide composite. By controlling the atmosphere and reaction conditions, we could achieve well-adhered zinc oxide crystals on the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate). The resulting zinc oxide-PMMA composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The zinc oxide-deposited PMMA chips (loaded with 0.03-1.0 wt.% ZnO) were successfully homogenized in melt by extrusion and then injection molded into small, disc-shaped samples. These samples were analyzed with respect to their directional spectral optical properties in UV, Vis and IR spectroscopy.