Predisposition of neonate piglets to respiratory system injuries by using drying powder

• Grant number: 18/14964-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2018
• End date: September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Luís Guilherme de Oliveira
• Grantee: Mariela Aparecida Claro Martines
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Drying of piglets involves the removal of fetal fluids and membrane debris, which is a primary point of management of newborns since they have small reserves of body fat and low levels of glucose and glycogen, essential to keep them warm. This study aims to evaluate the effects of exposure of swine neonates to different types of the drying methods most commonly used at birth, as well as the possibility of these products to cause injuries to the respiratory tract of neonates, decreasing the productive performance. Three drying methods will be used: with clean paper towels or cloths, with paper towels being preferable because they are more hygienic; with dry powder of pediatric use for piglets that prevents loss of heat and dehydration; with wood shavings, a special sawing of pine, with a purpose similar to that of the drying powder. Six gilts of the same commercial lineage will be divided into three experimental groups, to delivery the piglets to be evaluated in this study. A minimum of 6 live piglets per female is expected, totaling 12 piglets per group, and 36 piglets in total. Piglets born in Group 1 (G1, n=2) will receive commercial drying powder at birth; the piglets of Group 2 (G2, n=2) will be dried with wood shavings; and those of Group 3 (G3, n=2) will perform the control group with the paper towel drying. To evaluate lung tissue for the presence of inflammatory response and lesions, two piglets from each litter will be slaughtered on the first day of life (D1, n=12), on the fourth day (D4, n=12) and on the seventh day , (D7, n=12), and whole blood will be collected for blood count analysis. At the necropsy, will be performed a macroscopic evaluation for the observation of lesions, in addition to the collection of trachea and pulmonary lobes samples for histopathological evaluation. Neonates kept alive will be evaluated clinically for respiratory clinical signs up to the seventh day of life.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARTINES, M. A. C.; MECHLER-DREIBI, M. L.; STORINO, G. Y.; ZAMBOTTI, B. B.; JACINTHO, A. P.; FERREIRA, M. M.; DE OLIVEIRA, L. G.. Influence of different newborn piglets drying methods on the development of lesions in the respiratory tract. LIVESTOCK SCIENCE, v. 234, APR 2020. (18/14964-5)