Cernat Mihaela, Skampardonis Vassilis, Papadopoulos Georgios A, Kroustallas Fotios, Chalvatzi Sofia, Petridou Evanthia, Psychas Vassilios, Marouda Christina, Fortomaris Paschalis, Leontides Leonidas
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Economics of Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43132, Karditsa, Greece.
Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Porcine Health Manag. 2021 Apr 19;7(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s40813-021-00212-3.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) of sows characterized by cystitis, which may progress to ureteritis and pyelonephritis, can affect their productivity, longevity and welfare. In this study, we determined the prevalence of UTI by histopathology and bacteriology. Furthermore, we investigated possible associations between histologically confirmed cystitis and the results of urinalysis and urine cultures in culled sows from three farrow-to-finish herds in Greece.
One hundred eighty-five routinely culled sows were included in the study. Their urinary bladder was collected from abattoirs and subjected to histopathology. Furthermore, urinalysis and urine cultures were performed on urine samples aseptically collected from the bladders.
Histologically confirmed cystitis was evident in 85/185 (45.94%) culled sows. Among those, 44 (51.76%) suffered from acute and 41 (48.24%) from chronic inflammation. The majority of positive urine cultures were due to colonization of the urinary tract with E.coli, which accounted for 55.81% of the total cases, followed by Staphylococcus spp. which accounted for 18.60% of detected infections. Evidence of cystitis was associated with bacteriuria and sows with bacteriuria were 2.30 (P = 0.03, 95% CI: 1.10-4.83) times more likely to have histologically confirmed cystitis compared to sows with negative urine cultures. Bacteriuria was associated with proteinuria (P < 0.01, OR = 9.72, 2.63-35.88), increased urine pH (P < 0.01, 3.40, 1.10-10.56) and presence of sediment (P < 0.01, 6.00, 1.50-23.76) in urine. Sows with proteinuria had 9.72 (P < 0.01, 2.63-35.88) times higher odds of bacteriuria than those without. Histologically defined cystitis was associated with proteinuria (P < 0.01, 2.03-13.20) and decreased urine pH (P < 0.01, 0.13-0.72). Sows with proteinuria were 5.18 (P < 0.01, 2.03-13.2) times more likely to have histological lesions consistent with cystitis, than those without. For one unit increase in pH, it was 3.20 (P = 0.006, 1.39-7.69) times less likely for a sow to have chronic or acute cystitis compared to absence of cystitis.
In the studied population, UTI affected almost one out of two culled sows. Bacteriuria, which was more common among sows with UTI than those without, was mainly ascribed to members of the intestinal and environmental bacteria. Proteinuria and the existence of urine sediment which were associated with UTI, could be used as proxy traits for UTI in live sows.
母猪的尿路感染（UTI）以膀胱炎为特征，可能进展为输尿管炎和肾盂肾炎，会影响其生产力、寿命和健康状况。在本研究中，我们通过组织病理学和细菌学方法确定了UTI的患病率。此外，我们调查了希腊三个从产仔到育肥猪场淘汰母猪中经组织学确诊的膀胱炎与尿液分析及尿培养结果之间可能存在的关联。
185头常规淘汰母猪纳入本研究。从屠宰场采集其膀胱并进行组织病理学检查。此外，对从膀胱无菌采集的尿液样本进行尿液分析和尿培养。
185头淘汰母猪中有85头（45.94%）经组织学确诊患有膀胱炎。其中，44头（51.76%）为急性炎症，41头（48.24%）为慢性炎症。大多数阳性尿培养结果是由于尿路被大肠杆菌定植，占总病例的55.81%，其次是葡萄球菌属，占检测到感染的18.60%。膀胱炎的证据与菌尿相关，与尿培养阴性的母猪相比，菌尿母猪经组织学确诊患有膀胱炎的可能性高2.30倍（P = 0.03，95% CI：1.10 - 4.83）。菌尿与蛋白尿（P < 0.01，OR = 9.72，2.63 - 35.88）、尿液pH值升高（P < 0.01，3.40，1.10 - 10.56）以及尿液中有沉淀物（P < 0.01，6.00，1.50 - 23.76）相关。有蛋白尿的母猪菌尿几率比无蛋白尿的母猪高9.72倍（P < 0.01，2.63 - 35.88）。经组织学定义的膀胱炎与蛋白尿（P < 0.01，2.03 - 13.20）和尿液pH值降低（P < 0.01，0.13 - 0.72）相关。有蛋白尿的母猪出现与膀胱炎一致的组织学病变的可能性比无蛋白尿的母猪高5.18倍（P < 0.01，2.03 - 13.2）。pH值每升高一个单位，与无膀胱炎相比，母猪患慢性或急性膀胱炎的可能性降低3.20倍（P = 0.006，1.39 - 7.69）。
在所研究的群体中，UTI影响了近二分之一的淘汰母猪。菌尿在患有UTI的母猪中比未患UTI的母猪更常见，主要归因于肠道菌和环境菌。与UTI相关的蛋白尿和尿液沉淀物的存在，可作为活体母猪UTI的替代特征。
