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König E, Beasley S, Heponiemi P, Kivinen S, Räkköläinen J, Salminen S, Collado MC, Borman T, Lahti L, Piirainen V, Valros A, Heinonen M. Fecal microbiota profiles of growing pigs and their relation to growth performance. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302724. [PMID: 38709788 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The early gut microbiota composition is fundamentally important for piglet health, affecting long-term microbiome development and immunity. In this study, the gut microbiota of postparturient dams was compared with that of their offspring in three Finnish pig farms at three growth phases. The differences in fecal microbiota of three study development groups (Good, Poorly, and PrematureDeath) were analyzed at birth (initial exposure phase), weaning (transitional phase), and before slaughter (stable phase). Dam Lactobacillaceae abundance was lower than in piglets at birth. Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus amylovorus were dominantly expressed in dams and their offspring. Altogether 17 piglets (68%) were identified with Lactobacillaceae at the initial exposure phase, divided unevenly among the development groups: 85% of Good, 37.5% of Poorly, and 75% of PrematureDeath pigs. The development group Good was identified with the highest microbial diversity, whereas the development group PrematureDeath had the lowest diversity. After weaning, the abundance and versatility of Lactobacillaceae in piglets diminished, shifting towards the microbiome of the dam. In conclusion, the fecal microbiota of pigs tends to develop towards a similar alpha and beta diversity despite development group and rearing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia König
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Sanni Kivinen
- Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Seppo Salminen
- Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Valencia, Spain
| | - Tuomas Borman
- Department of Computing, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Leo Lahti
- Department of Computing, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Virpi Piirainen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Valros
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Ruckli AK, Hörtenhuber S, Dippel S, Ferrari P, Gebska M, Heinonen M, Helmerichs J, Hubbard C, Spoolder H, Valros A, Winckler C, Leeb C. Access to bedding and outdoor runs for growing-finishing pigs: is it possible to improve welfare without increasing environmental impacts? Animal 2024; 18:101155. [PMID: 38703757 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Providing bedding or access to an outdoor run are husbandry aspects intended to improve pig welfare, which is currently financially supported through animal welfare schemes in several European countries. However, they may significantly affect the environment through changes in feed efficiency and manure management. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to compare farms differing in animal welfare relevant husbandry aspects regarding (1) the welfare of growing-finishing pigs and (2) environmental impact categories such as global warming (GW), acidification (AC), and freshwater (FE) and marine eutrophication (ME), by employing an attributional Life Cycle Assessment. We collected data on 50 farms with growing-finishing pigs in seven European countries. Ten animal-based welfare indicators were aggregated into three pig welfare indices using principal component analysis. Cluster analysis of farms based on husbandry aspects resulted in three clusters: NOBED (31 farms without bedding or outdoor run), BED (11 farms with bedding only) and BEDOUT (eight farms with bedding and outdoor run). Pigs on farms with bedding (BED and BEDOUT) manipulated enrichment more often (P < 0.001), pen fixtures less frequently (P = 0.003) and showed fewer oral stereotypies (P < 0.001) than pigs on NOBED farms. There were fewer pigs with a short(er) tail on farms with than without bedding (P < 0.001). Acidification of BEDOUT and BED farms was significantly higher (compared to NOBED farms P = 0.002) due to higher ammonia emissions related to farmyard manure. Also, BEDOUT farms had higher ME than NOBED farms (P = 0.035). There were no significant differences regarding GW and FE between husbandry clusters, due to the large variability within clusters regarding feed composition and conversion. Therefore, both husbandry aspects associated with improved animal welfare have a significant influence on some environmental impacts, such as acidification and marine eutrophication. Nevertheless, the large variation within clusters suggests that trade-offs may be minimised through e.g. AC and ME.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Ruckli
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria; Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Agroscope, Tänikon, 8356 Ettenhausen, Switzerland
| | - S Hörtenhuber
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - S Dippel
- Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Dörnbergstr. 25/27, 29223 Celle, Germany
| | - P Ferrari
- Department of Agricultural Engineering and Economics, Centro Ricerche Produzioni Animali, 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - M Gebska
- Management Institute, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
| | - M Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine and Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, FI- 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Helmerichs
- Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Dörnbergstr. 25/27, 29223 Celle, Germany
| | - C Hubbard
- Newcastle University, Kings Road, NE1 7RU Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - H Spoolder
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708WD Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - A Valros
- Department of Production Animal Medicine and Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, FI- 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - C Winckler
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - C Leeb
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
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König E, Heponiemi P, Kivinen S, Räkköläinen J, Beasley S, Borman T, Collado MC, Hukkinen V, Junnila J, Lahti L, Norring M, Piirainen V, Salminen S, Heinonen M, Valros A. Fewer culturable Lactobacillaceae species identified in faecal samples of pigs performing manipulative behaviour. Sci Rep 2024; 14:132. [PMID: 38168466 PMCID: PMC10762183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50791-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Manipulative behaviour that consists of touching or close contact with ears or tails of pen mates is common in pigs and can become damaging. Manipulative behaviour was analysed from video recordings of 45-day-old pigs, and 15 manipulator-control pairs (n = 30) were formed. Controls neither received nor performed manipulative behaviour. Rectal faecal samples of manipulators and controls were compared. 16S PCR was used to identify Lactobacillaceae species and 16S amplicon sequencing to determine faecal microbiota composition. Seven culturable Lactobacillaceae species were identified in control pigs and four in manipulator pigs. Manipulators (p = 0.02) and females (p = 0.005) expressed higher Lactobacillus amylovorus, and a significant interaction was seen (sex * status: p = 0.005) with this sex difference being more marked in controls. Females (p = 0.08) and manipulator pigs (p = 0.07) tended to express higher total Lactobacillaceae. A tendency for an interaction was seen in Limosilactobacillus reuteri (sex * status: p = 0.09). Results suggest a link between observed low diversity in Lactobacillaceae and the development of manipulative behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia König
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00790, Helsinki, Finland.
| | | | - Sanni Kivinen
- Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Shea Beasley
- Vetcare Ltd., 04600, Mäntsälä, Finland
- Sheaps Oy, 03250, Ojakkala, Finland
| | - Tuomas Borman
- Department of Computing, University of Turku, 20500, Turku, Finland
| | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Vilja Hukkinen
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Leo Lahti
- Department of Computing, University of Turku, 20500, Turku, Finland
| | - Marianna Norring
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Virpi Piirainen
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Seppo Salminen
- Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Valros
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
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Valros A, Sali V, Hälli O, Saari S, Heinonen M. Does weight matter? Exploring links between birth weight, growth and pig-directed manipulative behaviour in growing-finishing pigs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Sali V, Nykäsenoja S, Heikinheimo A, Hälli O, Tirkkonen T, Heinonen M. Antimicrobial Use and Susceptibility of Indicator Escherichia coli in Finnish Integrated Pork Production. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:754894. [PMID: 34803978 PMCID: PMC8600236 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.754894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In pigs, antimicrobial use (AMU) practices vary at different production phases between herds and between countries. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development is linked to AMU but recognized as a multi-factorial issue, and thus, any information increasing knowledge of AMU and AMR relationships is valuable. We described AMU and screened the carriage of different AMR phenotypes of indicator Escherichia coli in 25 selected Finnish piglet-producing and finishing herds that formed nine birth-to-slaughter production lines. Moreover, we studied associations between AMU and AMR in both herd types and throughout the production line. Treatment records were obtained from the national Sikava register for 1year, and AMU was quantified as mg/PCU (population correction unit) and TIs (treatment incidences). For phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing, ten pen-level pooled feces samples (n=250) in each herd were collected from one room representing the oldest weaned piglets or the oldest finishing pigs. Majority of the medications (96.8%) was administered parenterally, and penicillin was the predominant antimicrobial in every herd. More different antimicrobial substances were used in piglet-producing than in finishing herds (median 5 and 1, respectively, p<0.001). As mg/PCU, sows had the highest AMU and suckling piglets had the highest TIs, whereas finishing pigs were the least treated age group. The proportion of susceptible indicator E. coli isolates of all studied isolates was 59.6%. Resistance was found most commonly against tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and ampicillin, and multi-resistant (MR) isolates (46.5% of all resistant isolates) were resistant to a maximum of four different antimicrobials. Quinolone resistance was rare, and no resistance against 3rd-generation cephalosporins, meropenem, azithromycin, colistin, gentamicin, or tigecycline was detected. The main associations between AMU and AMR were found at antimicrobial group level when use was compared with the presence of AMR phenotypes. The proportion of resistant isolates was not associated with AMU, and herd size was not associated with either AMU or AMR. We suggest that the use of narrow-spectrum beta-lactams as a primary treatment option and lack of wide application of oral group medications potentially favors a good resistance pattern in integrated pork production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virpi Sali
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Mäntsälä, Finland
| | - Suvi Nykäsenoja
- Microbiology Unit, Finnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annamari Heikinheimo
- Microbiology Unit, Finnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Hälli
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Mäntsälä, Finland
| | | | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Mäntsälä, Finland
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Sali V, Veit C, Valros A, Junnikkala S, Heinonen M, Nordgreen J. Dynamics of Salivary Adenosine Deaminase, Haptoglobin, and Cortisol in Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged Growing Pigs. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:698628. [PMID: 34722692 PMCID: PMC8551609 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.698628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious and inflammatory conditions are common especially in growing pigs. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an important antigenic structure of Gram-negative bacteria and can be used to induce inflammation experimentally. As pigs are usually group-housed in commercial conditions, it is difficult to detect sick individuals, particularly at an early stage of illness. Acute phase proteins such as haptoglobin (Hp) are known indicators of an activated innate immune system whereas adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a relatively novel inflammatory biomarker in pigs. Both parameters can be measured in saliva and could be used as indicators of inflammation. Compared with blood sampling, saliva sampling is a less stressful procedure that is rapid, non-invasive and easy to perform both at group and at individual level. In this blinded randomized clinical trial, 32 female pigs at their post-weaning phase were allocated to one of four treatments comprising two injections of the following substance combinations: saline-saline (SS), ketoprofen-saline (KS), saline-LPS (SL), and ketoprofen-LPS (KL). First, ketoprofen or saline was administered intramuscularly on average 1 h before either LPS or saline was given through an ear vein catheter. In all groups, saliva was collected prior to injections (baseline) and at 4, 24, 48, and 72 h post-injection for determination of ADA, Hp, and cortisol concentrations. A multivariate model was applied to describe the dynamics of each biomarker. Pairwise relationships between ADA, Hp, and cortisol responses from baseline to 4 h post-injection within the SL group were studied with Spearman correlations. A significant increase in the SL group was seen in all biomarkers 4 h post-injection compared to baseline and other time points (pairwise comparisons, p < 0.01 for all) and ketoprofen alleviated the LPS effect. We found a significant positive correlation between ADA and Hp within the SL group (r = 0.86, p < 0.05). The primary and novel findings of the present study are the response of ADA to LPS, its time course and alleviation by ketoprofen. Our results support the evidence that ADA and Hp can be used as inflammatory biomarkers in pigs. We suggest further studies to be conducted in commercial settings with larger sample sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virpi Sali
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Mäntsälä, Finland
| | - Christina Veit
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Valros
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, Mäntsälä, Finland
| | - Sami Junnikkala
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Mäntsälä, Finland
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, Mäntsälä, Finland
| | - Janicke Nordgreen
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
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Heinonen M, Välimäki E, Laakkonen AM, Toppari I, Vugts J, Fàbrega E, Valros A. Evaluation of Tail Lesions of Finishing Pigs at the Slaughterhouse: Associations With Herd-Level Observations. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:650590. [PMID: 34336967 PMCID: PMC8319664 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.650590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of tail lesions evaluated at the slaughterhouse varies considerably between herds. These lesions result mainly from tail biting, a harmful behavior with multifactorial origin. This study sought to investigate if a batchwise inspection of tails at slaughterhouse could be a useful method to estimate the animal welfare situation in finishing pig herds, and if so, what type and detail of tail scoring such an inspection should utilize. We investigated the distribution of different types of tail lesions and how well their scoring at slaughterhouse was associated with the situation recorded on-farm by a veterinarian as part of routine herd health visits. We also wanted to determine if animal welfare-related herd-level parameters, recorded by herd veterinarians during herd health visits, are associated with tail scoring at the slaughterhouse. A total of 10,517 pigtails from 84 herds were scored for this study. Herd data were collected from the national health classification register for pig farms in Finland and also included annual herd production quality data collected by the slaughterhouse. The scores of the tails varied considerably between the herds. On average, 48.1% (sd = 19.3) of the tails with an average length of 30.4 cm (sd = 2.7) were fully intact, 37.3% (13.9) had healed (length = 26.4, sd = 5.1 cm), 12.4% (9.0) (length = 28.9, sd = 4.3 cm) had minor acute wounds, and 2.3% (2.1) (length = 24.2, sd = 6.0 cm) had major acute wounds. Proportions of different tail lesions at slaughterhouse were associated with or tended to be associated with the following herd-level parameters in regression models: use of wood as enrichment (p < 0.1), one health parameter (leg problems other than arthritis, p < 0.05), and long-term animal welfare estimate (annual mortality, p < 0.05). Detailed tail evaluation at the slaughterhouse shows potential in estimating the tail lesions and long-term welfare level on the farm. By recording only one type of tail condition (such as tails with major acute lesions) at the slaughterhouse, it is not possible to estimate the total tail lesion situation in the herds before slaughter. A more detailed scoring similar to the one used in this trial is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine and Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Anne-Maija Laakkonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine and Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Emma Fàbrega
- Animal Welfare Program, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentària, Monells, Spain
| | - Anna Valros
- Department of Production Animal Medicine and Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Yun J, Muurinen J, Nykäsenoja S, Seppä-Lassila L, Sali V, Suomi J, Tuominen P, Joutsen S, Hämäläinen M, Olkkola S, Myllyniemi AL, Peltoniemi O, Heinonen M. Antimicrobial use, biosecurity, herd characteristics, and antimicrobial resistance in indicator Escherichia coli in ten Finnish pig farms. Prev Vet Med 2021; 193:105408. [PMID: 34130225 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We investigated connections between antimicrobial use (AMU), biosecurity, and the numbers of pigs and staff in ten Finnish farrow-to-finish herds. Data on AMU in each herd were collected for 12 months. AMU was quantified as treatment incidences per 1000 days at risk (TI) using the consensus defined daily dose calculation. Biosecurity was scored using the Biocheck.UGent™ system. We also examined antimicrobial resistance patterns of indicator E. coli isolated from faeces of selected pigs. In each herd, two groups of five pigs were formed: 1) antimicrobial treatment group (ANT: at least one pig in the litter was identified as sick and treated with antimicrobials) and 2) non-antimicrobial treatment group (NON: the litter was not medicated). Faecal samples were taken from these pigs at 5 and 22 weeks of age, cultured, and indicator E. coli isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibilities. The AMU varied considerably between the herds. Altogether, most of the antimicrobial treatment courses were assigned to weaned piglets. When AMU was quantified as TIs, suckling piglets had the highest TI (mean 46.6), which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than TIs in fatteners and breeders (9.3 and 7.3, respectively). The difference between TI in suckling and TI in weaned piglets (19.1) was not statistically significant. There was a tendency for a negative correlation between the TI in breeders and the number of sows (r = -0.56, P = 0.09). Larger herds had higher external biosecurity scores than smaller herds (LS-means; 72 vs. 66, P < 0.05). The proportions of E. coli isolates resistant to at least one antimicrobial were higher in pigs at 5 weeks than in pigs at 22 weeks of age (Binomial proportion means; 40.5 % vs. 15.5 %, P < 0.05); as well as proportions of isolates resistant to at least three antimicrobial classes (23.0 % vs. 3.7 %, P < 0.01). These proportions did not differ between the ANT and NON groups at either 5 or 22 weeks of age (P> 0.05). We found few connections: enhanced external biosecurity levels found in the large herds co-occurred with lower use of antimicrobials and herds with low biosecurity scores - especially in the internal subcategories - appeared to have higher proportions of resistant isolates. Conclusively, we suggest that enhancing internal biosecurity might contribute to a reduction in the spreading of antimicrobial resistance in pig herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhyeon Yun
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Johanna Muurinen
- Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), Risk Assessment Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Suvi Nykäsenoja
- Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), Microbiology Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leena Seppä-Lassila
- Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), Risk Assessment Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Virpi Sali
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Suomi
- Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), Risk Assessment Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pirkko Tuominen
- Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), Risk Assessment Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Suvi Joutsen
- Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), Risk Assessment Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Merja Hämäläinen
- Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), Microbiology Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Satu Olkkola
- Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), Microbiology Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Olli Peltoniemi
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
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9
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González-Martínez A, Muñoz-Palazon B, Kruglova A, Vilpanen M, Kuokkanen A, Mikola A, Heinonen M. Performance and microbial community structure of a full-scale ANITA TMMox bioreactor for treating reject water located in Finland. Chemosphere 2021; 271:129526. [PMID: 33445025 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to study the operational performance and the microbial community dynamics during the start-up of ANITATMMox technology implemented at full-scale wastewater treatment plant in Finland to treat reject water from anaerobic digesters. The average ammonium removal in the studied setup reached around 90%, withstanding ammonium loads up to 0.13 g N m-2h-1. The nitrite concentration in the effluent did not exceed 10 mg L-1, and there was a slight accumulation of NO3--N during the operation which was controlled. Thus, the result showed a robust success to high ammonium loading in presence of organic matter. The sequencing showed a heterogeneous microbial population where Methanosaeta, WCHA1-57 genus, Sphingobacteriia, Chlorobia and diverse unknown fungi were found as dominant phylotypes. Moreover, members of the Brocadiaceae family were dominant in the adhered biomass, mostly represented by Candidatus Scalindua, rarely reported in WWTPs. Overall, the results demonstrated a drastic effect of region-specific operational conditions on carrier biofilm microbial communities as it was demonstrated by the microbial studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A González-Martínez
- Department of Microbiology, Campus Universitario de la Cartuja C.P. 18071 University of Granada, Spain; Institute of Water Research, C.P. 18071 University of Granada, Spain
| | - B Muñoz-Palazon
- Department of Microbiology, Campus Universitario de la Cartuja C.P. 18071 University of Granada, Spain; Institute of Water Research, C.P. 18071 University of Granada, Spain.
| | - A Kruglova
- Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, FI-00076 AALTO, Tietotie 1E, Espoo, Finland
| | - M Vilpanen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority, FI-00066 HSY, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Kuokkanen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority, FI-00066 HSY, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Mikola
- Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, FI-00076 AALTO, Tietotie 1E, Espoo, Finland
| | - M Heinonen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority, FI-00066 HSY, Helsinki, Finland
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Kuokkanen A, Blomberg K, Mikola A, Heinonen M. Unwanted mainstream nitritation-denitritation causing massive N 2O emissions in a continuous activated sludge process. Water Sci Technol 2021; 83:2207-2217. [PMID: 33989187 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2021.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Nitrous oxide emissions can contribute significantly to the carbon footprint of municipal wastewater treatment plants even though emissions from conventional nitrogen removal processes are assumed to be moderate. An increased risk for high emissions can occur in connection with process disturbances and nitrite (NO2-) accumulation. This work describes the findings at a large municipal wastewater treatment plant where the levels of NO2- in the activated sludge process effluent were spontaneously and strongly increased on several activated sludge lines which was suspected to be due to shortcut nitrogen removal that stabilized for several months. The high NO2- levels were linked to a dramatic increase in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. As much as over 20% of the daily influent nitrogen load was emitted as N2O. These observations indicate that highly increased NO2- levels can occur in conventional activated sludge processes and result in high nitrous oxide emissions. They also raise questions concerning the risk of increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the nitritation-denitritation processes - although the uncontrolled nature of the event described here must be taken into consideration - and underline the importance of continuous monitoring and control of N2O emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kuokkanen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority Helsinki and Aalto University: Espoo, Wastewater Treatment, P.O. Box 320, FI-00066 HSY, Finland E-mail:
| | - K Blomberg
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority Helsinki and Aalto University: Espoo, Wastewater Treatment, P.O. Box 320, FI-00066 HSY, Finland E-mail:
| | - A Mikola
- Water and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Aalto University, P.O. Box FI-15200 Aalto, Finland
| | - M Heinonen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority Helsinki and Aalto University: Espoo, Wastewater Treatment, P.O. Box 320, FI-00066 HSY, Finland E-mail:
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Hälli O, Haimi-Hakala M, Oliviero C, Heinonen M. Herd-level risk factors for chronic pleurisy in finishing pigs: a case-control study. Porcine Health Manag 2020; 6:21. [PMID: 32884831 PMCID: PMC7462658 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-020-00156-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic pleurisy is a common finding in slaughtered pigs in post-mortem meat inspection. The prevalence of pleurisy has been increasing during the last decade also in Finland. The aim of this prospective case-control study was to search for environmental, infectious and management-related herd-level risk factors for pleurisy in the slaughterhouse. Altogether 46 Finnish pig herds, including 25 control (low pleurisy prevalence in meat inspection) and 21 case (high pleurisy) herds, were enrolled in the study and visited during the tenth week of the rearing period of finishing pigs. Herd personnel were asked about basic herd information, management and environmental factors. Selected pigs were examined clinically, environmental parameters were measured and 15 blood samples per herd were taken during herd visits. Antibodies against Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia serotype 2 (APP2) and ApxIV toxin and swine influenza virus were measured. After the slaughter of study pigs, meat inspection results of the batch were gathered from slaughterhouses. Multivariate logistic regression model was built to identify possible risk factors for a herd to be a case herd (i.e. having high pleurisy values). Results Finishing herd type and herd size were observed to act as risk factors. None of clinical signs of pigs, management-related factors or environmental measurements were associated with herd status. Conclusions As previously known, in endemic and subclinical infections such as APP, herd factors are important, but detailed risk factors seem to be difficult to identify.
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Affiliation(s)
- Outi Hälli
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, FI-04920 Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Minna Haimi-Hakala
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, FI-04920 Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Claudio Oliviero
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, FI-04920 Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, FI-04920 Saarentaus, Finland
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Valros A, Välimäki E, Nordgren H, Vugts J, Fàbrega E, Heinonen M. Intact Tails as a Welfare Indicator in Finishing Pigs? Scoring of Tail Lesions and Defining Intact Tails in Undocked Pigs at the Abattoir. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:405. [PMID: 32766295 PMCID: PMC7378396 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Tail biting lesions are a potential measure of on-farm animal welfare, as a large range of stressors increase the risk for tail biting outbreaks. Further, tail biting is a major challenge, as lesions due to tail biting decrease animal welfare and health, as well as production efficiency and carcass quality. The aim of this study was to suggest a tail scoring system for use at slaughterhouses processing undocked pigs, and to link tail lesion scores to meat inspection data. A further aim was to suggest a definition for an intact enough tail. To validate the suggested scoring system we assessed tails before and after scalding and compared results to pathological examinations. In total, 14,433 tails were scored, and 117 tails were collected for pathological examination. After scalding, 49.2% of all tails were scored as fully intact. Of tails with lesions 2.5% were scored as having major acute wounds (>2 cm), while 11.6% had minor acute wounds (<2 cm), and 36.7% healed lesions. Intact tails were on average 31.5 cm (SD 2.5 cm) long. Lesion scored at the slaughter-line agreed well with the pathological assessment. Tail lesions were associated with several meat inspection findings: tails with more severe lesions and of shorter length increased the risk for meat inspection findings to a higher degree. A detailed lesion scoring method helps to identify carcasses at risk for condemnations, as well as being a potential method for on-farm welfare estimation. We suggest that a system for scoring tail lesions in undocked pigs should utilize a combination of scoring of the lesion and measuring the tail length. As bite marks or bruises on an otherwise intact tail were not a concern for meat hygiene, we suggest the definition of an intact enough tail could allow the inclusion of tails with these mild changes. Meat inspection findings in carcasses with tails scored as healed, but with no fresh lesions, and with more than 75% of the average intact length remaining were rather similar to those of fully intact tails. Based on these findings we suggest that a tail of this length, and with no visible fresh lesions could also be considered intact enough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Valros
- Department of Production Animal Medicine and Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Heli Nordgren
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Emma Fàbrega
- Animal Welfare Program, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentària (IRTA), Monells, Spain
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine and Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Haen SM, Heinonen M, Bjorkman S, Soede NM, Peltoniemi OAT. Progesterone and Luteinizing hormone secretion patterns in early pregnant gilts. Reprod Domest Anim 2020; 55:795-804. [PMID: 32298513 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
We studied luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility and episodic progesterone release of the corpus luteum (CL) on Day 11 and Day 21 in inseminated gilts and aimed to establish a relationship between these two hormones. Blood was collected at 15-min intervals for 12 hr on Days 11, 16 and 21 from a vena cava caudalis catheter. At euthanasia, eight gilts were pregnant and six gilts were not pregnant. Progesterone parameters (basal, mean, pulse frequency and pulse amplitude) did not differ between pregnant and non-pregnant gilts on Day 11, LH pulse frequency and amplitude tended to differ (p = .07 and p = .079). In pregnant gilts, basal and mean progesterone, progesterone pulse amplitude and frequency declined significantly from Day 11 to Day 21 (p < .05). A significant decline was also seen in the LH pulse amplitude from Day 11 to Day 21 (p < .05). None of the LH pulses was followed by a progesterone pulse within 1 hr on Day 21. On Day 11 and Day 21 appeared a synchronicity in the LH pulse pattern, as there were two or three LH pulses in 12 hr and these LH pulses appeared in the same time window. We conclude that on Day 11 and Day 21 of pregnancy in gilts, progesterone pulses do not follow an LH pulse within one hour. Further we demonstrated that the successful or not successful formation of a CL of pregnancy is independent of progesterone release on Day 11 after insemination. We confirmed the decline of progesterone from Day 11 to Day 21 in the vena cava caudalis and could demonstrate that this decline is partly due to lower progesterone pulse amplitude and frequency and that the decline occurs simultaneously with a decline in LH pulse amplitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke M Haen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Stefan Bjorkman
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Nicoline M Soede
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Olli A T Peltoniemi
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Finland
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Ala-Kurikka E, Munsterhjelm C, Bergman P, Laine T, Pekkarinen H, Peltoniemi O, Valros A, Heinonen M. Pathological findings in spontaneously dead and euthanized sows - a descriptive study. Porcine Health Manag 2019; 5:25. [PMID: 31832226 PMCID: PMC6864960 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-019-0132-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A high rate of euthanized and spontaneously dead sows causes production losses and likely indicates underlying welfare problems. Identification of predisposing factors to on-farm deaths requires a thorough understanding of the causes. Post-mortem examination is needed for a proper diagnosis. The aims of this descriptive study were to determine causes of spontaneous deaths and euthanasia in sows in a convenience sample of Finnish herds and to describe pathological findings in the locomotor system and in teeth and gums. Results This study described post-mortem findings in 65 sows found dead or euthanized on 15 farms. All but one of the sows presented with two or more pathological findings. The majority of primary pathologic-anatomic diagnoses (PAD-1) were inflammatory. The most prevalent diagnoses were arthritis and peritonitis (9% of sows each). The locomotor system was the body part most commonly affected by lesions. Findings in the locomotor system unassociated with death were present in 85% of the animals, additionally 29% of PAD-1 s concerned the locomotor system. The prevalence for both degenerative joint disease and tooth wear was 71%. Farmers had noted clinical signs within 30 days of death in every euthanized sow and in half of the spontaneously dead ones. The farmer’s impression of the cause of death agreed at least partly with the PAD-1 in 44% of the cases. Conclusion Multiple pathologies were the norm in the present animals. This may indicate an extended course of illness and therefore also an unnecessary delay in medical treatment or euthanasia. The prevalence and clinical relevance of the most common disorders, including degenerative joint disease and tooth wear, need to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Ala-Kurikka
- 1Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Munsterhjelm
- 1Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paula Bergman
- 2Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, Saarentaus, 04920 Mäntsälä, Finland
| | - Taina Laine
- 3Veterinary Bacteriology and Pathology Unit, Finnish Food Authority (until 31 December 2018 Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira), Mustialankatu 3, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Henna Pekkarinen
- 4Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Peltoniemi
- 2Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, Saarentaus, 04920 Mäntsälä, Finland
| | - Anna Valros
- 1Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- 2Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, Saarentaus, 04920 Mäntsälä, Finland
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Yun J, Ollila A, Valros A, Larenza-Menzies P, Heinonen M, Oliviero C, Peltoniemi O. Behavioural alterations in piglets after surgical castration: Effects of analgesia and anaesthesia. Res Vet Sci 2019; 125:36-42. [PMID: 31125820 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to use behavioural measures to assess pain induced by surgical castration of piglets, and evaluate the efficacy of pain-relief medications. In total, 143 male piglets from 29 sows were used. The treatments included: 1) non-castration (NC; n = 28), 2) castration without medication (SC; n = 29), 3) castration with meloxicam injection 0.4 mg/kg i.m. (ME; n = 28), 4) castration with 0.5 ml of 2% lidocaine in each testicle (LA; n = 29), and 5) castration with general inhalation anaesthesia using isoflurane (1.5%) and meloxicam injection (GA; n = 29). Behaviour was monitored continuously for a ten minute period one hour prior to castration (-1 h), as well as immediately (0 h), one hour (1 h), and two hours (2 h) after castration. Behaviour was also monitored twice (08:00 and 20:00) during the following day. Compared to -1 h, castration induced changes in several behavioural measures in SC piglets at 0 h, suggesting that castration was painful. Furthermore, inactive standing or sitting, tail wagging and aggressive behaviour differed between SC and NC piglets at 0 h. ME and LA piglets spent less time standing or sitting inactively, and LA and GA piglets showed more tail wagging than SC piglets at 0 h (P < 0.05 for all). No other behavioural measures differed among the various groups of castrated piglets. In conclusion, the results indicate that surgical castration is indeed painful. However, the efficacy of various pain-relief protocols in piglets shortly after castration was not verified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhyeon Yun
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, P.O. Box 57, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Anna Ollila
- Production Animal Hospital, Department of Production Animal Medicine, P.O. Box 66, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Anna Valros
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, P.O. Box 57, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paula Larenza-Menzies
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Intensive-Care Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Production Animal Hospital, Department of Production Animal Medicine, P.O. Box 66, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Claudio Oliviero
- Production Animal Hospital, Department of Production Animal Medicine, P.O. Box 66, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Peltoniemi
- Production Animal Hospital, Department of Production Animal Medicine, P.O. Box 66, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland
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Bergman P, Munsterhjelm C, Virtala AM, Peltoniemi O, Valros A, Heinonen M. Structural characterization of piglet producing farms and their sow removal patterns in Finland. Porcine Health Manag 2019; 5:12. [PMID: 31161043 PMCID: PMC6540429 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-019-0119-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The main objectives of this observational, cross-sectional study were to characterize piglet producing farms in Finland and to investigate how farm profiles are associated with sow culling and mortality.The study was conducted on 43 farms during 2014. A questionnaire survey was administered in-person and supplemented with observations in the housing facilities. Annual removal figures and average monthly sow inventories were retrieved from a centralized animal data recording system (National Swine Registry) administered by the Finnish Food Authority. Multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering were used to explore the complex underlying data-driven patterns. Results Sow removal varied markedly between farms with an overall average culling percentage of 38.0% (95% CI 34.1-42.0) and a relatively high average mortality percentage 9.7% (95% CI 7.9-11.5). We identified three farm clusters, which differed both in their typologies and removal patterns. Cluster 1 included farms with features indicative of a semi-intensive or intensive kind of farming, such as larger herd and room sizes, higher stocking density and more sows per caretaker. Most of the cluster 1 farms exceeded the investigated cut-off levels for culling and mortality. Cluster 2 farms were estimated to have the best animal welfare among the sample farms based on a combination of environmental indicators (e.g. amount of bedding, rooting and nesting materials, space allowance, pen cleanliness) and the lowest level of sow mortality as an animal-based indicator. Cluster 3 farms followed a strategy of a rather non-intensified system based on the predominance of smaller herd size, lower stocking density and less sows per caretaker, combined breeding and gestation rooms and rare use of farrowing induction. This cluster showed the lowest culling levels within the sample. Conclusions This study captures the diversity among Finnish sow farms and provides a baseline assessment of their practices and facilities. Our results support the notion that farm typologies are associated with sow culling and mortality. In summary, the control of suboptimal sow removal cannot be based on single improvements only, because of other limitations within the individual farm resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Bergman
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Munsterhjelm
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, P.O. Box 57, 00014 University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna-Maija Virtala
- 3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Peltoniemi
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Valros
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, P.O. Box 57, 00014 University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Centre for Animal Welfare, P.O. Box 57, 00014 University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Helsinki, Finland
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17
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Haen SM, Heinonen M, Kauffold J, Heikinheimo M, Hoving LL, Soede NM, Peltoniemi OAT. GnRH-agonist deslorelin implant alters the progesterone release pattern during early pregnancy in gilts. Reprod Domest Anim 2019; 54:464-472. [PMID: 30431675 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of progesterone (P) and luteinizing hormone (LH) during recognition and establishment of pregnancy in the gilt. Therefore, the effects of eliminating episodic LH pulses on P patterns were determined during early pregnancy. To this end, a slow-release GnRH implant deslorelin was used for GnRH down-regulation. A group of gilts (GnRHa, n = 8) was implanted with the GnRH-agonist on Day 11 of pregnancy, while a control group (C, n = 5) was treated with a non-impregnated placebo implant. Blood was collected via a vena cava caudalis catheter at 10-min intervals for 8 hr on Day 16 and 21 of pregnancy. As expected, the GnRH implant reduced LH secretion (p < 0.01) and abolished LH pulses completely at Day 16 and Day 21 of pregnancy. On Day 16, there was no difference in P levels between the treatments. However, on Day 21, the GnRH-agonist treatment led to significantly increased P concentrations (p < 0.01) compared with the control gilts. Progesterone was secreted in a pulsatile manner in both treatment groups and no relationship between LH pulsatility and P pulsatility was observed. In conclusion, abolishment of LH pulsatility did not affect the pulsatile pattern of P secretion but led to an unexpected overall increase in P on Day 21 of pregnancy; this effect was delayed and occurred 10 days after commencing treatment with the GnRH depot agonist. The elevation of P on Day 21 of pregnancy in the GnRHa group suggests either a reduced negative feedback effect or an increased autocrine response by the corpora lutea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke M Haen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Johannes Kauffold
- Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markku Heikinheimo
- Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Lia L Hoving
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nicoline M Soede
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Olli A T Peltoniemi
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Finland
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Lassen B, Geldhof P, Hälli O, Vlaminck J, Oliviero C, Orro T, Heinonen M. Anti-Ascaris suum IgG antibodies in fattening pigs with different respiratory conditions. Vet Parasitol 2019; 265:85-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Abstract
Present phosphorus (P) recovery technologies mainly contain P recovery from sludge liquor or ash. These types of technologies are suitable for large wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR), digestion and/or incineration. In Finland and other Nordic countries, strict P discharge limits require chemical precipitation, thus EBPR alone is not sufficient. Ammonium recovery from wastewater, on the other hand, is not so often discussed. However, recovery from WWTP reject waters would decrease the energy demand of ammonium synthesis by Haber-Bosh technology and the energy demand of the WWTP's biological process. Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY) has developed a new process called RAVITA whereby P and nitrogen recovery are combined in order to produce phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and ammonium phosphate (NH4)3PO4. Furthermore, in this process metal salt used in precipitation is recovered. The research was carried out on pilot (1,000 population equivalent) and laboratory scales. The objectives of this article are to explain the principles of the RAVITA process and give the first results of processing and production of chemical sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rossi
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY, Helsinki, Finland E-mail:
| | - Sini Reuna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tommi Fred
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY, Helsinki, Finland E-mail:
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY, Helsinki, Finland E-mail:
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20
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Felin E, Hälli O, Heinonen M, Jukola E, Fredriksson-Ahomaa M. Assessment of the feasibility of serological monitoring and on-farm information about health status for the future meat inspection of fattening pigs. Prev Vet Med 2018; 162:76-82. [PMID: 30621901 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Current macroscopic meat inspection cannot detect the most common pork-borne pathogens (Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica and Toxoplasma gondii). Furthermore, food chain information (FCI) may not provide sufficient data for visual-only inspection, which is supposed to be the common way of inspection of pigs in the European Union. Our observational study aimed to evaluate the serological monitoring and the clinical evaluation of on-farm health status of pigs and assess the feasibility of these data as part of the FCI in meat inspection. We studied the serological status of Salmonella spp., Yersinia spp. and T. gondii in pigs during the fattening period. Additionally, we evaluated the association between on-farm health status and meat inspection findings. On 57 indoor fattening pig farms in Finland, we collected blood samples (mean of 20 pigs/farm) and assessed the on-farm health (coughing, tail biting, lameness) at the end of the fattening period. We visited 34 of these farms also at the beginning of the fattening for sampling and on-farm health evaluation of the same pigs. Meat inspection results were obtained after slaughter for all 57 farms. Salmonella seroprevalence was low at the end of the fattening period: it was 17.6%, 10.6% or 1.9%, with the cut-off values of OD15% (recommended by the test manufacturer), OD20% (used by Danish monitoring programme) and OD40% (used by German monitoring programme), respectively. The overall seroprevalence of Salmonella spp. and Yersinia spp. increased significantly (P < 0.001) during the fattening period (from 8.1% to 17.2% and from 30.3% to 72.3%, respectively), while the seroprevalence of T. gondii remained low (<1%). The within-farm seroprevalences of Salmonella spp. and Yersinia spp. differed significantly between the farms and this farm-level serological data could be used as FCI for risk-based decisions to improve food safety. Such potentially feasible decisions could include additional carcass testing, carcass decontamination, carcass processing, slaughtering arrangements and improved biosecurity measures at the farm. However, risk mitigation targets and procedures must be carefully adjusted for each pathogen regarding also economic aspects. Tail biting observed on farm was associated with partial carcass condemnations and arthritis at slaughter. This information could be included in the FCI and used when making decisions regarding meat inspection procedure: visual-only or additional inspections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Felin
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O Box 66, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Outi Hälli
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 SAARENTAUS, Finland.
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 SAARENTAUS, Finland.
| | - Elias Jukola
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O Box 66, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Maria Fredriksson-Ahomaa
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O Box 66, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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Munsterhjelm C, Nordgreen J, Aae F, Heinonen M, Valros A, Janczak AM. Sick and grumpy: Changes in social behaviour after a controlled immune stimulation in group-housed gilts. Physiol Behav 2018; 198:76-83. [PMID: 30290182 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Poor health is associated with an increased risk of tail biting outbreaks in pigs. We propose that this is because illness changes social dynamics either by changing the behaviour of the sick pig towards its penmates, the behaviour of the healthy penmates towards the sick pig, or both. We tested the effect of immune stimulation (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection: O111:B4; 1.5 μg kg-1 IV) on social behaviour in gilts housed in triplets in a cross-over experiment. Each pen was subjected to the control treatment (all three pigs injected with saline) and then LPS treatment (one pig injected with LPS, two injected with saline), or vice versa. LPS injected pigs had a shift in social motivation and performed more tail- and ear- directed behaviour than saline pigs two days after injection. They seemed to fit the description of 'sick and grumpy'. This change was seen about 40 h after the signs of acute illness dissipated and was not accompanied by a similar increase in activity. We discuss possible mechanisms for this behavioural change in light of changes in neurotransmitter levels at three days after LPS injection described in a previous experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Munsterhjelm
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Janicke Nordgreen
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - Frida Aae
- Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Valros
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrew M Janczak
- Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
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22
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Bergman P, Gröhn YT, Rajala-Schultz P, Virtala AM, Oliviero C, Peltoniemi O, Heinonen M. Sow removal in commercial herds: Patterns and animal level factors in Finland. Prev Vet Med 2018; 159:30-39. [PMID: 30314788 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This observational retrospective cohort study provides benchmarking information on recent sow productivity development in Finnish herds. It focuses on parity cycle specific trends in sow removal patterns, and especially on the role of litter performance (size and piglet survival) in sow removal. In addition, the generated models offer a tool for calculating sow removal risks in any period, which could be used in economic and other simulation models. The data used in the study pool information of sows starting the same parity cycle (1 through 8) over the enrollment period of July 1st, 2013 through June 30th, 2014 and followed until the end of the study period (December 31st, 2014), and their performance histories across their entire previous productive life. Out of 71,512 individual sow parity cycle observations from the first to the eighth, 15,128 ended up in removal. Average litter sizes exceeded 13 piglets born in total in all of the most recent farrowings. Yet, even larger litter sizes were favored by the implemented culling policies, as sows having medium and large early life litters had lower risks of removal compared to those with the smallest litters, particularly in younger animals. With regard to piglets born just prior to removal, the smallest litter sizes were associated with the greatest culling risk for sows of that particular parity. In addition, having more than one stillborn piglet in the first and second litter put the sow at higher risk of being removed in all but the last (sixth through eighth) of the studied parity cycles. Investigation of removal patterns revealed a negative linear relationship between parity count and the mean days from farrowing to removal. More specifically, the median (mean) times to removal varied across the parity cycles from 62 (72) in the first to 34 days in both the seventh and eighth (47 and 42, respectively). Moreover, one in every six sows was removed within the first and second parity cycle. The findings especially in the earliest cycles may be a reflection of removal decisions not made according to any clear and pre-determined policy, or of biological issues that prevent farmers from firmly adhering to their policy. Quantitative performance should be linked to overall system functionality and profitability while taking animal welfare into consideration in identifying opportunities to improve herd parity structure and future farm success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Bergman
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, P.O. Box 57, 00014, Finland.
| | - Yrjö Tapio Gröhn
- Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Section of Epidemiology, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Päivi Rajala-Schultz
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, Finland.
| | - Anna-Maija Virtala
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Claudio Oliviero
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, Finland.
| | - Olli Peltoniemi
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, Finland.
| | - Mari Heinonen
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, Finland.
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23
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Nordgreen J, Munsterhjelm C, Aae F, Popova A, Boysen P, Ranheim B, Heinonen M, Raszplewicz J, Piepponen P, Lervik A, Valros A, Janczak AM. The effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on inflammatory markers in blood and brain and on behavior in individually-housed pigs. Physiol Behav 2018; 195:98-111. [PMID: 30077671 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Most of us have experienced deterioration of mood while ill. In humans, immune activation is associated with lethargy and social withdrawal, irritability and aggression; changes in social motivation could, in theory, lead to less functional interactions. This might also be the case for animals housed in close confinement. Tail biting in pigs is an example of damaging social behavior, and sickness is thought to be a risk factor for tail biting outbreaks. One possible mechanism whereby sickness may influence behavior is through cytokines. To identify possible mediators between immune activation and behavioral change, we injected 16 gilts with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; O111:B4; 1.5 μg kg-1 IV through a permanent catheter). In LPS-treated pigs, a significant increase in cortisol, TNF-α, IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, and IL-8 was observed alongside decreased activity within the first 6 h after the injection. CRP was elevated at 12 and 24 h after injection, and food intake was reduced for the first 24 h after injection. Three days post-injection, LPS pigs had lower levels of noradrenaline in their hypothalamus, hippocampus and frontal cortex compared to saline-injected pigs. Pigs injected with LPS also had higher levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ in their frontal cortex compared to saline-injected pigs. Thus, a low dose of LPS can induce changes in brain cytokine levels and neurotransmitter levels that persist after inflammatory and stress markers in the periphery have returned to baseline levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janicke Nordgreen
- Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway; Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Camilla Munsterhjelm
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Frida Aae
- Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - Anastasija Popova
- Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - Preben Boysen
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Birgit Ranheim
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joanna Raszplewicz
- Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Petteri Piepponen
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 56, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andreas Lervik
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Valros
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrew M Janczak
- Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
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Blomberg K, Kosse P, Mikola A, Kuokkanen A, Fred T, Heinonen M, Mulas M, Lübken M, Wichern M, Vahala R. Development of an Extended ASM3 Model for Predicting the Nitrous Oxide Emissions in a Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:5803-5811. [PMID: 29668272 PMCID: PMC6150676 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
An Activated Sludge Model #3 (ASM3) based, pseudomechanistic model describing nitrous oxide (N2O) production was created in this study to provide more insight into the dynamics of N2O production, consumption, and emissions at a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). N2O emissions at the studied WWTP are monitored throughout the plant with a Fourier transform infrared analyzer, while the developed model encountered N2O production in the biological reactors via both ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) nitrification and heterotrophic denitrifiers. Additionally, the stripping of N2O was included by applying a KL a-based approach that has not been widely used before. The objective was to extend the existing ASM3-based model of the plant and assess how well the full-scale emissions could be predicted with the selected model. The validity and applicability of the model were tested by comparing the simulation results with the comprehensive online data. The results show that the ASM3-based model can be successfully extended and applied to modeling N2O production and emissions at a full-scale WWTP. These results demonstrate that the biological reactor can explain most of the N2O emissions at the plant, but a significant proportion of the liquid-phase N2O is further transferred during the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati Blomberg
- Helsinki
Region Environmental Services Authority, P.O. Box 100, FI-00066 HSY, Helsinki, Finland
- Department
of Built Environment, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Pascal Kosse
- Urban
Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Anna Mikola
- Department
of Built Environment, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Anna Kuokkanen
- Helsinki
Region Environmental Services Authority, P.O. Box 100, FI-00066 HSY, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tommi Fred
- Helsinki
Region Environmental Services Authority, P.O. Box 100, FI-00066 HSY, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Helsinki
Region Environmental Services Authority, P.O. Box 100, FI-00066 HSY, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michela Mulas
- Department
of Teleinformatics Engineering, Federal
University of Ceará, Campus of Pici, Fortaleza (Ceará), 60020-181, Brazil
| | - Manfred Lübken
- Urban
Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Marc Wichern
- Urban
Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Riku Vahala
- Department
of Built Environment, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
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Hälli O, Haimi-Hakala M, Laurila T, Oliviero C, Viitasaari E, Orro T, Peltoniemi O, Scheinin M, Sirén S, Valros A, Heinonen M. Effect of oral KETOPROFEN treatment in acute respiratory disease outbreaks in finishing pigs. Porcine Health Manag 2018; 4:7. [PMID: 29556413 PMCID: PMC5838944 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-018-0081-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Infection with respiratory pathogens can influence production as well as animal welfare. There is an economical and ethical need to treat pigs that suffer from respiratory diseases. Our aim was the evaluation of the possible effects of oral NSAID medication given in feed in acute outbreaks of respiratory disease in finishing pigs. The short- and long-term impact of NSAID dosing on clinical signs, daily weight gain, blood parameters and behaviour of growing pigs in herds with acute respiratory infections were evaluated. Four finishing pig farms suffering from acute outbreaks of respiratory disease were visited thrice after outbreak onset (DAY 0, DAY 3 and DAY 30). Pigs with the most severe clinical signs (N = 160) were selected as representative pigs for the herd condition. These pigs were blood sampled, weighed, evaluated clinically and their behaviour was observed. After the first visit, half of the pens (five pigs per pen in four pens totalling 20 representative pigs per herd, altogether 80 pigs in four herds) were treated with oral ketoprofen (target dose 3 mg/kg) mixed in feed for three days and the other half (80 pigs) with a placebo. In three of the herds, some pigs were treated also with antimicrobials, and in one herd the only pharmaceutical treatment was ketoprofen or placebo. Results Compared to the placebo treatment, dosing of ketoprofen reduced sickness behaviour and lowered the rectal temperature of the pigs. Clinical signs, feed intake or blood parameters were not different between the treatment groups. Ketoprofen treatment was associated with somewhat reduced weight gain over the 30-day follow-up period. Concentration analysis of the S- and R-enantiomers of ketoprofen in serum samples collected on DAY 3 indicated successful oral drug administration. Conclusions Ketoprofen mainly influenced the behaviour of the pigs, while it had no effect on recovery from respiratory clinical signs. However, the medication may have been started after the most severe clinical phase of the respiratory disease was over, and this delay might complicate the evaluation of treatment effects. Possible negative impact of ketoprofen on production parameters requires further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Outi Hälli
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, FI Finland
| | - Minna Haimi-Hakala
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, FI Finland
| | - Tapio Laurila
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, FI Finland
| | - Claudio Oliviero
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, FI Finland
| | - Elina Viitasaari
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, FI Finland
| | - Toomas Orro
- 2Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 62, 51014 Tartu, EE Estonia
| | - Olli Peltoniemi
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, FI Finland
| | - Mika Scheinin
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, and Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Turku University Hospital, 20014 Turku, FI Finland
| | - Saija Sirén
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, and Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Turku University Hospital, 20014 Turku, FI Finland
| | - Anna Valros
- 3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, FI Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, FI Finland
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Kallio PA, Janczak AM, Valros AE, Edwards SA, Heinonen M. Case control study on environmental, nutritional and management-based risk factors for tail-biting in long-tailed pigs. Anim Welf 2018. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.27.1.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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27
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Heinonen M, Bergman P, Fredriksson-Ahomaa M, Virtala AM, Munsterhjelm C, Valros A, Oliviero C, Peltoniemi O, Hälli O. Sow mortality is associated with meat inspection findings. Livest Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2017.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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28
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Mikkola R, Andersson MA, Grigoriev P, Heinonen M, Salkinoja-Salonen MS. The toxic mode of action of cyclic lipodepsipeptide fusaricidins, produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa, toward mammalian cells. J Appl Microbiol 2017; 123:436-449. [PMID: 28557348 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Toxigenic strains of Paenibacillus polymyxa were isolated from buildings connected with the symptoms of ill health. Our aim was to identify the toxic compounds of Paenibacillus polymyxa and to describe their toxic actions. METHODS AND RESULTS The toxins of Paenibacillus polymyxa were purified and analysed by HPLC and mass spectrometry. Toxic fusaricidins A and B, and LI-F05a with mass ions at m/z 883·7, 897·6 and 897·6, respectively, were found. The cytotoxicity of purified fusaricidins A and B was measured using boar sperm, porcine tubular kidney epithelial cells and murine fibroblasts. The ion channel forming properties of fusaricidins were studied using the black lipid membrane (BLM) technique. Fusaricidins A and B depolarized the mitochondria of boar sperm, porcine tubular kidney epithelial cells and murine fibroblasts at concentrations of 0·5-1 μg ml-1 and caused nuclear fragmentation and induced apoptosis at concentrations of 2·5-5 μg ml-1 . Furthermore, fusaricidins A and B induced K+ permeating single channels. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that fusaricidins were toxic to mitochondria and induced apoptosis in mammalian cells. It was proposed that the observed toxicity of fusaricidins is due their ion channel forming properties. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This paper revealed, for the first time, the mode of action of Paenibacillus polymyxa fusaricidins toxins towards mammalian cells. Fusaricidins, due to their potassium ionophoricity and mitochondria depolarizing impacts, may have contributed to the health damage observed at sites where the producer strains were isolated at high density.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Mikkola
- Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, Aalto, Finland
| | - M A Andersson
- Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, Aalto, Finland.,Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - P Grigoriev
- Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute of Biophysics of Cell, Russian Academy of Science, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - M Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M S Salkinoja-Salonen
- Department of Food and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Niemi JK, Bergman P, Ovaska S, Sevón-Aimonen ML, Heinonen M. Modeling the Costs of Postpartum Dysgalactia Syndrome and Locomotory Disorders on Sow Productivity and Replacement. Front Vet Sci 2017; 4:181. [PMID: 29164138 PMCID: PMC5671644 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PPDS) and locomotory disorders are common health problems in sows. Previous research suggests that they can cause substantial losses, reduce sow welfare, and result in premature removal of the sow from the herd. However, economic consequences of PPDS and locomotory disorders have not been investigated thoroughly. The goal of this study was to examine economic losses caused by PPDS and locomotory disorders and their impacts on sow longevity. A stochastic dynamic programming model, which maximizes return on sow space unit and assesses sow replacement under several scenarios, was developed. The state variables were litter size, parity number, and sow's health status. The model describes changes in the production parameters such as the number of piglets born and piglet mortality. Herd data originating from commercial sow herds and from a research farm were used to parameterize the model. Sow longevity, health, and economic results are related to each other. Eliminating the risk of PPDS from the model increased the value of sow space unit by €279 when compared to the baseline scenario. Eliminating the risk of locomotory disorders increased value by €110. Results suggest that these estimates correspond to about €29.1 and €11.5 in economic costs per housed sow during her lifetime. The estimated magnitude of losses was €300-€470 per affected sow for PPDS and €290-€330 per affected sow for locomotory disorders. However, realistically speaking, not all of these costs are avoidable. Due to premature replacement associated with these two disorders, the average number of litters that the sow would deliver during her lifetime is decreased by about 0.1-0.4 litters depending on the scenario. We also observed that the optimal lifetime of a sow is not a fixed number, but it depends on her productivity level as well as health status. In general, a healthy sow could stay in the herd until she has produced 6-10 litters. Research is needed to understand the structures and interactions underlying health impairments, performance, replacement policies, and farm economics, and to provide pork producers with management recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarkko K. Niemi
- Economics and Society, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Seinäjoki, Finland
| | - Paula Bergman
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sami Ovaska
- Economics and Society, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Mari Heinonen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Munsterhjelm C, Nordgreen J, Aae F, Heinonen M, Olstad K, Aasmundstad T, Janczak AM, Valros A. To be blamed or pitied? The effect of illness on social behavior, cytokine levels and feed intake in undocked boars. Physiol Behav 2017; 179:298-307. [PMID: 28684135 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Tail biting is detrimental to animal welfare and has negative consequences for producer economy. Poor health is one of the risk factors for tail biting. The first aim of this study was therefore to test for links between health status and behavior related to tail biting at the individual level. The second aim of this study was to test whether variation in cytokines was related to variation in social behavior. These small molecules produced upon immune activation are known to influence behavior both in the direction of withdrawal and increased aggression. This could potentially increase non-functional social behavior and thereby the risk of a tail biting outbreak. To investigate this, we collected behavioral data, health data, feeding data and blood samples from undocked boars at a test station farm in Norway. We compared groups with three different diagnoses: osteochondrosis diagnosed by computer tomography scanning (OCSAN), osteochondrosis diagnosed by clinical examination (OCCLIN) and respiratory tract disease (RESP), with healthy controls (CTR). We tested whether the diagnoses were associated with feeding and growth, social behavior and cytokine levels. We then tested whether there were correlations between cytokine levels and social behavior. We also provide raw data on cytokine levels in the extended sample (N=305) as there are few publications on cytokine levels measured in pigs living under commercial conditions. OCCLIN pigs visited the feeder less, and fed longer compared to CTR pigs. Pigs diagnosed with RESP showed a large drop in growth the first week after filming, which corresponds to the week they were likely to have been diagnosed with illness, and a tendency to compensatory increase in the week after that. Social behavior differed between experimental groups with OCSCAN pigs receiving more social behavior (both aggressive and non-aggressive) compared to CTR, and RESP pigs tending to perform more ear- and tail-biting than controls. There were no differences in absolute levels of cytokines between categories. However IL1-ra and IL-12 showed correlations with several behaviors that have been shown by others to be associated with current or future tail biting activity. To our knowledge, this is the first published study indicating a role for illness in non-functional social behavior in pigs and the first showing a correlation between cytokine levels and social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Munsterhjelm
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Nordgreen
- Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway.
| | - F Aae
- Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - M Heinonen
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - K Olstad
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - A M Janczak
- Animal Welfare Research Group, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - A Valros
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
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31
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Lassen B, Oliviero C, Orro T, Jukola E, Laurila T, Haimi-Hakala M, Heinonen M. Effect of fenbendazole in water on pigs infected with Ascaris suum in finishing pigs under field conditions. Vet Parasitol 2017; 237:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Yun J, Olkkola S, Hänninen ML, Oliviero C, Heinonen M. The effects of amoxicillin treatment of newborn piglets on the prevalence of hernias and abscesses, growth and ampicillin resistance of intestinal coliform bacteria in weaned pigs. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172150. [PMID: 28199379 PMCID: PMC5310895 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of a single amoxicillin treatment of newborn piglets on the prevalence of hernias and abscesses until the age of nine weeks. We also studied whether the treatment was associated with growth and mortality, the need for treatment of other diseases, the proportions of ampicillin resistant coliforms and antimicrobial resistance patterns of intestinal Escherichia coli (E. coli). A total of 7156 piglets, from approximately 480 litters, were divided into two treatment groups: ANT (N = 3661) and CON (N = 3495), where piglets were treated with or without a single intramuscular injection of 75 mg amoxicillin one day after birth, respectively. The umbilical and inguinal areas of weaned pigs were palpated at four and nine weeks of age. At the same time, altogether 124 pigs with hernias or abscesses and 820 non-defective pigs from three pens per batch were weighed individually. Mortality and the need to treat piglets for other diseases were recorded. Piglet faecal samples were collected from three areas of the floors of each pen at four weeks of age. The prevalence of umbilical hernias or abscesses did not differ between the groups at four weeks of age, but it was higher in the CON group than in the ANT group at nine weeks of age (2.3% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.05). Numbers of inguinal hernias and abscesses did not differ between the groups at four or nine weeks of age. The ANT group, when it compared with the CON group, increased the weight gain between four and nine weeks of age (LS means ± SE; 497.5 g/d ± 5.0 vs. 475.3 g/d ± 4.9, P < 0.01), and decreased piglet mortality (19.5% ± 1.0 vs. 6.9% ± 1.0, P < 0.05) and the need to treat the piglets for leg problems (3.4% ± 0.3 vs. 1.9% ± 0.3%, P < 0.01) but not for other diseases by the age of four weeks. The proportion of ampicillin resistant intestinal coliform bacteria and the resistance patterns of the E. coli isolates were not different between the ANT and CON groups. In conclusion, our results showed that the amoxicillin treatment of new-born piglets produced statistically significant effect in some of the parameters studied. However, as these effects were only minor, we did not find grounds to recommend preventive antibiotic treatment. Further, continuous antimicrobial treatment of newborn piglets could negatively influence the development of the normal microbiota of the piglet and promote selection of antimicrobial resistance genes in herds. Therefore we suggest rejection of the use of routine administration of antimicrobial agents at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhyeon Yun
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Satu Olkkola
- Antibiotics Section, Food and Feed Microbiology Research unit, Research and Laboratory Department, Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marja-Liisa Hänninen
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Claudio Oliviero
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, Saarentaus, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, Saarentaus, Finland
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Talvitie J, Mikola A, Setälä O, Heinonen M, Koistinen A. How well is microlitter purified from wastewater? - A detailed study on the stepwise removal of microlitter in a tertiary level wastewater treatment plant. Water Res 2017; 109:164-172. [PMID: 27883921 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.11.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 303] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can offer a solution to reduce the point source input of microlitter and microplastics into the environment. To evaluate the contributing processes for microlitter removal, the removal of microlitter from wastewater during different treatment steps of mechanical, chemical and biological treatment (activated sludge) and biologically active filter (BAF) in a large (population equivalent 800 000) advanced WWTP was examined. Most of the microlitter was removed already during the pre-treatment and activated sludge treatment further decreased the microlitter concentration. The overall retention capacity of studied WWTP was over 99% and was achieved after secondary treatment. However, despite of the high removal performance, even an advanced WWTP may constitute a considerable source of microlitter and microplastics into the aquatic environment given the large volumes of effluent discharged constantly. The microlitter content of excess sludge, dried sludge and reject water were also examined. According to the balance analyses, approximately 20% of the microlitter removed from the process is recycled back with the reject water, whereas 80% of the microlitter is contained in the dried sludge. The study also looked at easy microlitter sampling protocol with automated composite samplers for possible future monitoring purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Talvitie
- Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076, AALTO, Finland.
| | - Anna Mikola
- Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076, AALTO, Finland
| | - Outi Setälä
- Finnish Environment Institute, Marine Research Center, PO Box 140, FI-00251, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY, PO Box 100, FI-00066, HSY, Finland
| | - Arto Koistinen
- University of Eastern Finland Sib Labs, PO Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
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Kankaanpää A, Ariniemi K, Heinonen M, Kuoppasalmi K, Gunnar T. Current trends in Finnish drug abuse: Wastewater based epidemiology combined with other national indicators. Sci Total Environ 2016; 568:864-874. [PMID: 27335163 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
No single measure is able to provide a complete picture of population- or community-level drug abuse and its current trends. Therefore, a multi-indicator approach is needed. The aim of this study was to combine wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) with data from other national indicators, namely driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) statistics, drug seizures, and drug use surveys. Furthermore, drug market size estimates and a comparison of confiscated drugs to drugs actually consumed by users were performed using the WBE approach. Samples for wastewater analysis were collected during one-week sampling periods in 2012, 2014 and 2015, with a maximum of 14 cities participating. The samples were analysed with a validated ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric (UHPLC-MS/MS) methodology for various common drugs of abuse. The results were then compared with data from other national indicators available. Joint interpretation of the data shows that the use of amphetamine and MDMA has increased in Finland from 2012 to 2014. A similar trend was also observed for cocaine, although its use remains at a very low level compared to many other European countries. Heroin was practically absent from the Finnish drug market during the study period. The retail market for the most common stimulant drugs were estimated to have been worth EUR 70 million for amphetamine and around EUR 10 million for both methamphetamine and cocaine, in 2014 in Finland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aino Kankaanpää
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Forensic Toxicology, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kari Ariniemi
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Forensic Toxicology, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY, Hernepellontie 24, FI-00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kimmo Kuoppasalmi
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Forensic Toxicology, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu Gunnar
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Forensic Toxicology, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland.
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Kosonen H, Heinonen M, Mikola A, Haimi H, Mulas M, Corona F, Vahala R. Nitrous Oxide Production at a Fully Covered Wastewater Treatment Plant: Results of a Long-Term Online Monitoring Campaign. Environ Sci Technol 2016; 50:5547-5554. [PMID: 27218458 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The nitrous oxide emissions of the Viikinmäki wastewater treatment plant were measured in a 12 month online monitoring campaign. The measurements, which were conducted with a continuous gas analyzer, covered all of the unit operations of the advanced wastewater-treatment process. The relation between the nitrous oxide emissions and certain process parameters, such as the wastewater temperature, influent biological oxygen demand, and ammonium nitrogen load, was investigated by applying online data obtained from the process-control system at 1 min intervals. Although seasonal variations in the measured nitrous oxide emissions were remarkable, the measurement data indicated no clear relationship between these emissions and seasonal changes in the wastewater temperature. The diurnal variations of the nitrous oxide emissions did, however, strongly correlate with the alternation of the influent biological oxygen demand and ammonium nitrogen load to the aerated zones of the activated sludge process. Overall, the annual nitrous oxide emissions of 168 g/PE/year and the emission factor of 1.9% of the influent nitrogen load are in the high range of values reported in the literature but in very good agreement with the results of other long-term online monitoring campaigns implemented at full-scale wastewater-treatment plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority , Helsinki, FI-00066 Finland
| | | | | | - Michela Mulas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande , Campina Grande, Paraiba, 58429-900 Brazil
| | - Francesco Corona
- Department of Teleinformatics Engineering, Federal University of Ceará , Fortalzea, Ceará, 60455-760 Brazil
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Lovell-Smith JW, Feistel R, Harvey AH, Hellmuth O, Bell SA, Heinonen M, Cooper JR. Metrological challenges for measurements of key climatological observables, Part 4: Atmospheric relative humidity. Metrologia 2016; 53:R40-R59. [PMID: 26877551 PMCID: PMC4751591 DOI: 10.1088/0026-1394/53/1/r40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Water in its three ambient phases plays the central thermodynamic role in the terrestrial climate system. Clouds control Earth's radiation balance, atmospheric water vapour is the strongest "greenhouse" gas, and non-equilibrium relative humidity at the air-sea interface drives evaporation and latent heat export from the ocean. In this paper, we examine the climatologically relevant atmospheric relative humidity, noting fundamental deficiencies in the definition of this key observable. The metrological history of this quantity is reviewed, problems with its current definition and measurement practice are analysed, and options for future improvements are discussed in conjunction with the recent seawater standard TEOS-10. It is concluded that the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, (BIPM), in cooperation with the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam, IAPWS, along with other international organisations and institutions, can make significant contributions by developing and recommending state-of-the-art solutions for this long standing metrological problem, such as are suggested here.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Lovell-Smith
- Measurement Standards Laboratory (MSL), Lower Hutt, PO Box 31-310, New Zealand
| | - R Feistel
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), D-18119 Warnemünde, Germany
| | - A H Harvey
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO 80305-3337, USA
| | - O Hellmuth
- Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - S A Bell
- National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK
| | - M Heinonen
- MIKES Metrology, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Tekniikantie 1, FI-02151 Espoo, Finland
| | - J R Cooper
- Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL), Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
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Valros A, Munsterhjelm C, Hänninen L, Kauppinen T, Heinonen M. Managing undocked pigs - on-farm prevention of tail biting and attitudes towards tail biting and docking. Porcine Health Manag 2016; 2:2. [PMID: 28405428 PMCID: PMC5382372 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-016-0020-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tail biting is a common and serious welfare problem in pig production, causing large economical losses. Tail docking is performed routinely in most EU countries to reduce the tail biting risk. However, tail docking is painful, and does not prevent tail biting totally. The risk factors behind tail docking are multifactorial and most analyses are based on studies using biological or epidemiological approaches. There is very little information available on how producers deal with tail biting on-farm. There are also no studies on the attitude of producers towards tail docking and tail biting in systems with long-tailed pigs. We aimed to study how farmers rate the efficiency of different measures for preventing and intervening with tail biting, when tail docking is not allowed. Furthermore, we investigated the attitudes of Finnish farmers to tail docking and tail biting. RESULTS Respondents scored feeding-related issues to be most important for prevention of tail biting, identifying and removing the biting pig as most important intervention measures, and straw as the most important manipulable material when preventing tail biting. Tail biting was not perceived as a very serious problem by over 70 % of the respondents, even though docking is not allowed, and was reported to occur close to a level which was also considered acceptable by the respondents. Most respondents did not think it is probable they would raise tail docked pigs if it were possible, but about 21 % probably would. CONCLUSIONS In comparison with other authors' findings, the ranking of importance of risk factors for tail biting differs between scientists and farmers, and between farmers in different cultures of pig production. In addition, the attitude towards tail biting and tail docking appears to be very different in producers with different experiences of tail docking. These results indicate that a scientist-farmer dialogue, as well as international communication is important when trying to reduce the risk of tail biting, and subsequently the need for tail docking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Valros
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, PO Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Munsterhjelm
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, PO Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Hänninen
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, PO Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Kauppinen
- Finnish Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, PO Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, PO Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Feistel R, Wielgosz R, Bell SA, Camões MF, Cooper JR, Dexter P, Dickson AG, Fisicaro P, Harvey AH, Heinonen M, Hellmuth O, Kretzschmar HJ, Lovell-Smith JW, McDougall TJ, Pawlowicz R, Ridout P, Seitz S, Spitzer P, Stoica D, Wolf H. Metrological challenges for measurements of key climatological observables: Oceanic salinity and pH, and atmospheric humidity. Part 1: Overview. Metrologia 2016; 53:R1-R11. [PMID: 26900179 PMCID: PMC4759657 DOI: 10.1088/0026-1394/53/1/r1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Water in its three ambient phases plays the central thermodynamic role in the terrestrial climate system. Clouds control Earth's radiation balance, atmospheric water vapour is the strongest "greenhouse" gas, and non-equilibrium relative humidity at the air-sea interface drives evaporation and latent heat export from the ocean. On climatic time scales, melting ice caps and regional deviations of the hydrological cycle result in changes of seawater salinity, which in turn may modify the global circulation of the oceans and their ability to store heat and to buffer anthropogenically produced carbon dioxide. In this paper, together with three companion articles, we examine the climatologically relevant quantities ocean salinity, seawater pH and atmospheric relative humidity, noting fundamental deficiencies in the definitions of those key observables, and their lack of secure foundation on the International System of Units, the SI. The metrological histories of those three quantities are reviewed, problems with their current definitions and measurement practices are analysed, and options for future improvements are discussed in conjunction with the recent seawater standard TEOS-10. It is concluded that the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, BIPM, in cooperation with the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam, IAPWS, along with other international organisations and institutions, can make significant contributions by developing and recommending state-of-the-art solutions for these long standing metrological problems in climatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Feistel
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), D-18119 Warnemünde, Germany
| | - R Wielgosz
- Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), Pavillon de Breteuil, F-92312 Sèvres Cedex France
| | - S A Bell
- National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK
| | - M F Camões
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, University of Lisbon (FCUL), 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - J R Cooper
- Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL), Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - P Dexter
- Bureau of Meteorology (ABN), GPO Box 1289, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - A G Dickson
- University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093-0244, USA
| | - P Fisicaro
- Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d'Essais (LNE), F-75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - A H Harvey
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO 80305-3337, USA
| | - M Heinonen
- MIKES Metrology, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Tekniikantie 1, FI-02151 Espoo, Finland
| | - O Hellmuth
- Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - H-J Kretzschmar
- Zittau/Goerlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG), D-02763 Zittau, Germany
| | - J W Lovell-Smith
- Measurement Standards Laboratory (MSL), PO Box 31-310, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
| | - T J McDougall
- University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - R Pawlowicz
- University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - P Ridout
- Ocean Scientific International Ltd. (OSIL), Culkin House, Penner Road, Havant, PO9 1QN, UK
| | - S Seitz
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - P Spitzer
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - D Stoica
- Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d'Essais (LNE), F-75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - H Wolf
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany
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Oliviero C, Ollila A, Andersson M, Heinonen M, Voutila L, Serenius T, Peltoniemi O. Strategic use of anti-GnRH vaccine allowing selection of breeding boars without adverse effects on reproductive or production performances. Theriogenology 2016; 85:476-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Revised: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Viitasaari E, Raekallio M, Valros A, Peltoniemi O, Hänninen L, Heinonen M. The effect of ketoprofen on feeding behavior of tail-bitten pigs. Porcine Health Manag 2015. [DOI: 10.1186/s40813-015-0005-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
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Munsterhjelm C, Heinonen M, Valros A. Application of the Welfare Quality ® animal welfare assessment system in Finnish pig production, part II: Associations between animal-based and environmental measures of welfare. Anim Welf 2015. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.24.2.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Munsterhjelm C, Heinonen M, Valros A. Application of the Welfare Quality ® animal welfare assessment system in Finnish pig production, part I: Identification of principal components. Anim Welf 2015. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.24.2.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Abstract
Tail biting is a common problem in modern pig production and has a negative impact on both animal welfare and economic result of the farm. Tail biting risk is increased by management and housing practices that fail to meet the basic needs of pigs. Tail docking is commonly used to reduce the risk of tail biting, but tail docking in itself is a welfare problem, as it causes pain to the pigs, and facilitates suboptimal production methods from a welfare point-of-view. When evaluating the cost and benefit of tail docking, it is important to consider negative impacts of both tail docking and tail biting. It is also essential to realize that even though 100% of the pigs are normally docked, only a minority will end up bitten, even in the worst case. In addition, data suggests that tail biting can be managed to an acceptable level even without tail docking, by correcting the production system to better meet the basic needs of the pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Valros
- Department of Production Animal Medicine & Research Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Paroninkuja 20, 04920 Saarentaus, Finland
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Vilar MJ, Virtanen S, Heinonen M, Korkeala H. Management practices associated with the carriage of Yersinia enterocolitica in pigs at farm level. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2015; 10:595-602. [PMID: 23789808 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2012.1443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigs are the most important reservoir of Yersinia enterocolitica infections in humans. Knowledge of farm management practices that contribute to the transmission of this bacterial species in pigs is essential to understand how to control this foodborne pathogen in food production. The prevalence of Y. enterocolitica, and other results obtained from an age trend analysis were used to estimate the on-farm risk of transmission of specific management practices for this pathogen in 30 pig farms in Finland. Log-linear analysis revealed that rearing pigs in pens without or with sparse amounts of bedding and buying piglets from more than one farm were the variables that contribute most to the occurrence of Y. enterocolitica. The study also found that using an all-in/all-out management system and supplying water of municipal origin were factors that might reduce the prevalence of Y. enterocolitica, and therefore the risk of transmission of Y. enterocolitica in pig farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- María J Vilar
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Kantala T, Heinonen M, Oristo S, von Bonsdorff CH, Maunula L. Hepatitis E virus in young pigs in Finland and characterization of the isolated partial genomic sequences of genotype 3 HEV. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2015; 12:253-60. [PMID: 25568927 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2014.1841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections occur in swine worldwide. The porcine infection is usually subclinical, but HEV genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic agents that cause sporadic, indigenous human cases of hepatitis E. The aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence and dynamics of HEV infections in young pigs by analyzing a total of 273 fecal samples collected from six farrowing farms, to genetically characterize the HEV isolates obtained, and to examine the phylogenetic relationships of HEV isolates occurring at different swine farms in Finland. Fecal shedding of HEV of individual piglets was followed at two farms that were selected from five farms identified as HEV RNA positive. Excretion of HEV was detected in 87.5% of the piglets during the survey. Piglets contracted primary HEV infection 3-8 weeks after weaning, and at the time they were transferred to fattening farms, practically all (96.6%) of the pigs with a sample available at this occasion still excreted the virus. According to phylogenetic analysis, all HEV isolates obtained belonged to HEV genotype 3, subtype e, and a separate, farm-specific isolate originated from 10 of 11 farms examined. The results of our study show that HEV infections are highly common in young pigs, and HEV RNA-positive pigs enable HEV transmission from farrowing to fattening farms, creating a possible risk of infection for pig handlers, and that genetic variations in HEVs originating from different farms occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuija Kantala
- 1 Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, Finland
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Talvitie J, Heinonen M, Pääkkönen JP, Vahtera E, Mikola A, Setälä O, Vahala R. Do wastewater treatment plants act as a potential point source of microplastics? Preliminary study in the coastal Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. Water Sci Technol 2015; 72:1495-504. [PMID: 26524440 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2015.360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
This study on the removal of microplastics during different wastewater treatment unit processes was carried out at Viikinmäki wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The amount of microplastics in the influent was high, but it decreased significantly during the treatment process. The major part of the fibres were removed already in primary sedimentation whereas synthetic particles settled mostly in secondary sedimentation. Biological filtration further improved the removal. A proportion of the microplastic load also passed the treatment and was found in the effluent, entering the receiving water body. After the treatment process, an average of 4.9 (±1.4) fibres and 8.6 (±2.5) particles were found per litre of wastewater. The total textile fibre concentration in the samples collected from the surface waters in the Helsinki archipelago varied between 0.01 and 0.65 fibres per litre, while the synthetic particle concentration varied between 0.5 and 9.4 particles per litre. The average fibre concentration was 25 times higher and the particle concentration was three times higher in the effluent compared to the receiving body of water. This indicates that WWTPs may operate as a route for microplastics entering the sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Talvitie
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076, AALTO, Finland E-mail:
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY, PO Box 100, FI-00066 HSY, Finland
| | | | - Emil Vahtera
- City of Helsinki Environment Centre, PO Box 500, FI-00099, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Mikola
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076, AALTO, Finland E-mail:
| | - Outi Setälä
- Finnish Environment Institute, Marine Research Center, PO Box 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riku Vahala
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076, AALTO, Finland E-mail:
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Viitasaari E, Raekallio M, Heinonen M, Valros A, Peltoniemi O, Hänninen L. The effect of ketoprofen on post-partum behaviour in sows. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Kankaanpää A, Ariniemi K, Heinonen M, Kuoppasalmi K, Gunnar T. Use of illicit stimulant drugs in Finland: a wastewater study in ten major cities. Sci Total Environ 2014; 487:696-702. [PMID: 24331163 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Estimations of drug use at the national level are generally based on various sources of information, such as drug seizures, socio-scientific studies, toxicological data and hospital records. Nevertheless, all of these approaches have limitations that cannot be overcome, even if conclusions are drawn from combined data retrieved from different sources. Drug epidemiology through wastewater analysis has the potential to provide unique perspectives, internationally comparable data, and up-to-date information on the use of both traditional illicit drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPSs). In Finland, no large-scale studies on regional illicit drug consumption, based on a wastewater approach, have been reported. In this study, 24-h influent composite samples were collected during two 1-week study periods from ten different wastewater treatment plants in May and November-December 2012. The cities included in the study represent the geographical areas throughout Finland and cover 40% of the Finnish population. The samples were analyzed with an in-house validated, ultra high-performance liquid-chromatography mass spectrometric (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for various common illicit drugs and some NPS type stimulant drugs. The results were also compared with available statistics, information on drug seizures and laboratory-confirmed toxicological data, as well as other studies available based on wastewater analysis. The data show that illicit stimulant drug use is more common in the larger cities of Southern Finland. Amphetamine was the most commonly used drug in all 10 cities during both collection periods (excluding the collection period in May in Lappeenranta). Cocaine consumption remains very low in Finland in comparison to other European countries; it was concentrated in the biggest cities in Southern Finland. This study shows interesting temporal and spatial differences in drug use in Finland, as well as the possibilities of using wastewater analytics to reveal local hotspots of NPS consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aino Kankaanpää
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Department of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kari Ariniemi
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Department of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Heinonen
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY, Hernepellontie 24, FI-00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kimmo Kuoppasalmi
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Department of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu Gunnar
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Department of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland.
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