Cystic hygroma in a female suckling pig: a case report

BACKGROUND

Cystic hygromas (lymphangiomas) are rarely reported in various animal species, humans included. A hygroma is a benign congenital malformation of the lymphatic drainage system, presenting itself as a mass consisting of multiple cysts of various sizes with a watery content.

CASE PRESENTATION

This report describes clinical, ultrasonographic, and post-mortem findings of a cystic hygroma in a suckling pig. The mass was characterized by a few thin-walled cysts, containing clear yellow serous fluid. Histologically, the central cavity was lined by a single layer of squamous cells, supported by a thick fibrous stroma. On immunohistochemistry, scattered lining cells were weakly positive for Factor-VIII, suggesting their possible endothelial origin.

CONCLUSIONS

This case report contributes to raising awareness on this condition in pigs allowing early identification in life so that appropriate care can be provided. The case report attributes to science on hygromas in general, as better understanding of pathologic features, the aetiology and appropriate treatment are needed.

Immune responses induced by inactivated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccine in neonatal pigs using different adjuvants

Vaccination of neonatal pigs could be supportive to prevent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which is an important porcine pathogen causing worldwide welfare and health problems in pigs of different age classes. However, neonatal immunity substantially differs to adults, thus different vaccines may be required in neonateal pigs. We examined if the immunogenicity and efficacy of inactivated PRRSV (iPRRSV) vaccines in neonatal pigs could be improved with adjuvants containing oil-in water (O/W) emulsions with or without Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists and by altering the delivery route from intramuscular (i.m.) to the skin. Three-day-old PRRSV-naïve piglets (n = 54, divided in 6 groups) received a prime vaccination and a booster vaccination four weeks later. The vaccine formulations consisted of different O/W emulsions (Montanide™ ISA28RVG (ISA28)), a squalene in water emulsion (SWE) for i.m. or a Stable Emulsion (SE) with squalene for skin vaccination) and/or a mixture of TLR1/2, 7/8 and 9 agonists (TLRa) combined with iPRRSV strain 07V063. These vaccines were delivered either i.m. (ISA28, SWE, TLRa or SWE + TLRa) or into the skin (skiSE + TLRa) with dissolving microneedle (DMN)-patches. All animals received a challenge with homologous PRRSV three weeks after booster vaccination. Specific antibodies, IFN-γ production and viremia were measured at several time-points after vaccination and/or challenge, while lung pathology was studied at necropsy. After booster vaccination, only ISA28 induced a specific antibody response while a specific T-cell IFN-γ response was generated in the SWE group, that was lower for ISA28, and absent in the other groups. This suggests that prime vaccination in neonates induced a specific immune response after booster vaccination, dependent on the emulsion formulation, but not dependent on the presence of the TLRa or delivery route. Despite the measured immune responses none of the vaccines showed any efficacy. Further research focused on the early immune response in draining lymph nodes is needed to elucidate the potential of TLR agonists in vaccines for neonatal pigs.

Association between Brain and Kidney Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Early Postresuscitation Mortality in Asphyxiated Newborn Piglets

BACKGROUND

Early outcome predictors after delivery room cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of asphyxiated newborns are needed.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate if cerebral (rScO2) and renal (rSrO2) tissue oxygen saturation 30 min after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) are different between surviving versus nonsurviving piglets with asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and CPR. Further, to investigate the relationship of rScO2 and rSrO2 to cardiac output (CO), blood pressure (BP), and biochemical variables 30 min and 4 h after ROSC.

METHODS

Anesthetized, mechanically ventilated piglets (1-3 days, 1.7-2.4 kg) were used. rScO2, rSrO2, SpO2, right common carotid artery flow, and arterial BP were measured continuously. CO was measured with echocardiography. The piglets were asphyxiated until cardiac arrest and resuscitated. Piglets that survived 4 h after ROSC (n = 12) were compared with piglets that died before planned euthanasia at 4 h (n = 13). Left ventricular, and kidney and brain tissue lactate were analyzed. Correlations between variables were assessed.

RESULTS

Thirty minutes after ROSC, median rSrO2 (43% [n = 10] vs. 25% [n = 2], p = 0.003) but not rScO2 (46% [41-55] [n = 10] vs. 40% [22-45] [n = 5], p = 0.08) was higher in survivors than in nonsurvivors. Arterial lactate was negatively correlated and pH positively correlated with rScO2 and rSrO2. Left ventricular, but not kidney or brain lactate was negatively correlated with rScO2 and rSrO2. There was no correlation between CO or BP and rScO2 or rSrO2.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite satisfactory CO and BP vital organ oxygenation can be poor. Tissue oxygen saturation, pH, and lactate, as measures of anaerobic metabolism, may reflect vital organ oxygenation and outcome.

Impact of colostrum and plasma immunoglobulin intake on hippocampus structure during early postnatal development in pigs

The first milk, colostrum, is an important source of nutrients and an exclusive source of immunoglobulins (Ig), essential for the growth and protection from infection of newborn pigs. Colostrum intake has also been shown to affect the vitality and behaviour of neonatal pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding colostrum and plasma immunoglobulin on brain development in neonatal pigs. Positive correlations were found between growth, levels of total protein and IgG in blood plasma and hippocampus development in sow-reared piglets during the first 3 postnatal days. In piglets fed an elemental diet (ED) for 24h, a reduced body weight, a lower plasma protein level and a decreased level of astrocyte specific protein in the hippocampus was observed, as compared to those that were sow-reared. The latter was coincident with a reduced microgliogenesis and an essentially diminished number of neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus after 72h. Supplementation of the ED with purified plasma Ig, improved the gliogenesis and supported the trophic and immune status of the hippocampus. The data obtained indicate that the development of the hippocampus structure is improved by colostrum or an Ig-supplemented elemental diet in order to stimulate brain protein synthesis and its development during the early postnatal period.