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. 2024 Jan 3:102:skae270.
doi: 10.1093/jas/skae270.

Evaluation of circulating immune cells, analytes, and inflammatory markers in sows affected with postpartum dysgalactia syndrome

Jamie M Studer  1 , Zoë E Kiefer  1 , Lucas R Koester  1 , Erika M Johnson  1 , Stephan Schmitz-Esser  1 , Attila Farkas  2 , Lucina Galina Pantoja  3 , Kimberly A Vonnahme  3 , Laura L Greiner  1 , Aileen F Keating  1 , Lance H Baumgard  1 , Jason W Ross  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of circulating immune cells, analytes, and inflammatory markers in sows affected with postpartum dysgalactia syndrome

Jamie M Studer et al. J Anim Sci. .

Abstract

Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) is a condition affecting periparturient sows, characterized by a reduction in milk and colostrum synthesis shortly after farrowing. Insufficient milk production results in substantial economic losses due to increased piglet morbidity/mortality and premature sow culling. Since PDS develops within a few days following farrowing, the study objectives were to determine if periparturient immune cell profiles and circulating biomarkers differ in sows affected by PDS. We hypothesized differences in immune cells, circulating analytes, and inflammatory markers would exist at farrowing in sows that subsequently developed PDS compared to healthy herd-mates. Thirty-six sows with PDS symptoms were matched by parity and day of lactation with 36 healthy control (CON) sows. Diagnosis of PDS (timepoint 2) occurred on average 9.25 ± 2.67 d after farrowing. Blood samples and litter weights were collected at farrowing (timepoint 1) and at the onset of clinical PDS (timepoint 2). Piglets from PDS sows had lower average daily gain and higher mortality than piglets from CON (P < 0.01). Aspartate aminotransferase was increased (20%; P ≤ 0.06) in PDS sows compared to CON at both timepoints. Additionally, blood urea nitrogen was increased in PDS sows at timepoint 1 and timepoint 2 (13%; P = 0.08 and 16%; P = 0.01, respectively). At timepoint 2, total protein, globulin, magnesium, and cholesterol were increased (P ≤ 0.03) while γ-glutamyl transferase and albumin were decreased (P ≤ 0.02) in PDS sows. Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, an inflammatory biomarker, was increased (48%; P = 0.07) at timepoint 2 in PDS compared to CON sows. Collectively, these data indicate PDS sows have altered metabolism and appear immune activated compared to healthy herd-mates, and further investigation is needed to determine if PDS can be predicted at farrowing.

Keywords: agalactia; dysgalactia; inflammation; metabolite; postpartum; sow.

Plain language summary

Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PDS) is a multifactorial disorder affecting periparturient sows characterized by a pronounced reduction (dysgalactia) in milk secretion. Insufficient milk production limits piglet growth, leading to increased piglet mortality and often removal of affected sows from the herd, ultimately compromising sow longevity and negatively impacting the profitability of swine operations. The objective of this study was to determine if differences in circulating immune cells, analytes, and inflammatory markers exist at farrowing in sows that subsequently develop PDS compared to healthy herd-mates. Thirty-six sows with PDS were matched by parity and day of lactation with 36 healthy control (CON) sows. Blood samples were collected at farrowing (timepoint 1) and at the onset of clinical PDS (timepoint 2). Differences in markers of tissue catabolism (blood urea nitrogen, β-hydroxybutyrate, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase) and inflammation (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, haptoglobin, albumin) were observed in PDS sows compared to control, suggesting PDS sows have altered metabolism and are potentially immune activated compared to healthy herd-mates.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. At the time the study was conducted, L.G.P. and K.A.V. were employed by Zoetis.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Rectal temperature in control (CON) and PDS affected sows relative to farrowing, represented as day 0 (timepoint 1 represented as day 1). (a) When evaluating rectal temperature from 3 d prior to farrowing until 10 d post-farrowing, an overall effect of group was not observed (P = 0.10). (b) When evaluating rectal temperatures from the day of farrowing until 10 d post-farrowing, increased rectal temperature was observed in PDS sows compared to CON (P = 0.05). The diagnosis of PDS occurred on average 9.3 ± 2.7 d after farrowing. Data are reported as least squares means and error bars represent the standard error of the mean.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Rectal temperature in control (CON) and PDS affected sows relative to PDS diagnosis (i.e., timepoint 2), represented as day 0. An overall effect of group was not observed on rectal temperature (P = 0.11) relative to PDS diagnosis. Data are reported as least squares means and error bars represent the standard error of the mean.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
ADG of piglets from control (CON) and PDS affected sows. ADG was 55% lower in piglets from PDS sows compared to CON sows (P < 0.01). Data are reported as least squares means and error bars represent the standard error of the mean.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Mortality of piglets from control (CON) and PDS affected sows. Piglet mortality in litters from PDS sows was greater than mortality of piglets from CON sows (P < 0.01). Data are reported as least squares means and error bars represent the standard error of the mean.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Concentration of LBP in control (CON) and PDS affected sows. Circulating LBP tended to be higher (P = 0.08) in PDS compared to CON sows. Data are reported as least squares means and error bars represent the standard error of the mean.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Concentration of haptoglobin in control (CON) and PDS affected sows. Haptoglobin was higher in PDS compared to CON sows (P = 0.04). Data are reported as least squares means and error bars represent the standard error of the mean.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Concentration of BHB in control (CON) and PDS affected sows. Circulating BHB was higher in PDS sows compared to CON (P = 0.01). Data are reported as least squares means and error bars represent the standard error of the mean.
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