Methodologies for Assessing Disease Tolerance in Pigs
Journal
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Date Issued
2019-01-09
Author(s)
Hristov, Slavcha
Stankovic, Branislav
Pol, Françoise
Dimitrov, Ivan
Mormede, Pierre
Hervé, Julie
Terenina, Elena
Lieubeau, Blandine
Papanastasiou, Dimitrios K.
Bartzanas, Thomas
Norton, Tomas
Piette, Deborah
Tullo, Emanuela
van Dixhoorn, Ingrid D. E.
DOI
10.3389/fvets.2018.00329
Abstract
Features of intensive farming can seriously threaten pig homeostasis, well-being and
productivity. Disease tolerance of an organism is the adaptive ability in preserving
homeostasis and at the same time limiting the detrimental impact that infection can inflict
on its health and performance without affecting pathogen burden per se. While disease
resistance (DRs ) can be assessed measuring appropriately the pathogen burden within
the host, the tolerance cannot be quantified easily. Indeed, it requires the assessment
of the changes in performance as well as the changes in pathogen burden. In this
paper, special attention is given to criteria required to standardize methodologies for
assessing disease tolerance (DT) in respect of infectious diseases in pigs. The concept
is applied to different areas of expertise and specific examples are given. The basic
physiological mechanisms of DT are reviewed. Disease tolerance pathways, genetics
of the tolerance-related traits, stress and disease tolerance, and role of metabolic
stress in DT are described. In addition, methodologies based on monitoring of growth
and reproductive performance, welfare, emotional affective states, sickness behavior
for assessment of disease tolerance, and methodologies based on the relationship
between environmental challenges and disease tolerance are considered. Automated
Precision Livestock Farming technologies available for monitoring performance, health
and welfare-related measures in pig farms, and their limitations regarding DT in pigs are
also presented. Since defining standardized methodologies for assessing DT is a serious
challenge for biologists, animal scientists and veterinarians, this work should contribute
to improvement of health, welfare and production in pigs.
productivity. Disease tolerance of an organism is the adaptive ability in preserving
homeostasis and at the same time limiting the detrimental impact that infection can inflict
on its health and performance without affecting pathogen burden per se. While disease
resistance (DRs ) can be assessed measuring appropriately the pathogen burden within
the host, the tolerance cannot be quantified easily. Indeed, it requires the assessment
of the changes in performance as well as the changes in pathogen burden. In this
paper, special attention is given to criteria required to standardize methodologies for
assessing disease tolerance (DT) in respect of infectious diseases in pigs. The concept
is applied to different areas of expertise and specific examples are given. The basic
physiological mechanisms of DT are reviewed. Disease tolerance pathways, genetics
of the tolerance-related traits, stress and disease tolerance, and role of metabolic
stress in DT are described. In addition, methodologies based on monitoring of growth
and reproductive performance, welfare, emotional affective states, sickness behavior
for assessment of disease tolerance, and methodologies based on the relationship
between environmental challenges and disease tolerance are considered. Automated
Precision Livestock Farming technologies available for monitoring performance, health
and welfare-related measures in pig farms, and their limitations regarding DT in pigs are
also presented. Since defining standardized methodologies for assessing DT is a serious
challenge for biologists, animal scientists and veterinarians, this work should contribute
to improvement of health, welfare and production in pigs.
Subjects
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