Collaboration for Agriculture and Rural Development
(CARD)
Program
16
RESULTS
ON STRENGTHENING DIAGNOSTIC CAPACITY AND
CONTROL OF DIARRHOEA IN SUCKLING PIGS
Project title:
Diagnosis and control of diarrhoea in suckling pigs
Project c
ode
:
CARD
001/04VIE
Authors:
Do Ngoc Thuy
1
, Cu Huu Phu
1
, Au Xuan Tuan
1
, Nguyen Xuan Huyen
1
, Truong Van Dung
1
,
Tony Fahy
1
, Steve Driesen
2
, Karen Moore

at Department of Bacteriology, NIVR. 2) A vaccine containing E. coli strains bearing full pathogenic
factors (fimbriae, toxins) has been produced and proven safe and
effective in laboratory and in the
field. 3) An continuous improvement model, focused mainly on management of sows during farrowing
and lactation has been developed and utilized in order to improve pig production and minimize the
losses due to diarrhoea in
suckling period.
1
.
Introduction
Diarrhoea during the suckling period has been
recognised as the principle health problem
affecting both smallholder and commercial pig
production in Vietnam. Previous research (4,
7) has confirmed the presence of a new
fimbrial type in
E. coli
strains causing
colibacillosis in Vietnam that would not be
controlled by existing vaccines. Existing
vaccines are currently imported into Vietnam
at considerable cost. In addition, there are
many other causes of suckling diarrhoe
a, the
significance of which is currently unknown in
Vietnam, which are all affected by husbandry
and management during farrowing and
lactation. Project 001/04VIE (Diagnosis and
control of diarrhoea in suckling pigs) began
with three objectives to solve th

health management in general. Dissemination
of the plan will be through training
programmes for
field staff and selected
farmers.
CARD
001/04 VIE
–
Control
diarrhoea
in suckling pigs
17
2
.
Project
contents and methods
2
.1
Project
Contents
The project focuses on:
1. Improved laboratory diagnosis of
preweaning diarrhoea
2.
Production and testing of locally
-
produced E. coli vaccines
3.
Development of
a management plan for

-
Neelsen staining of faecal
smears
-
Detection of virulence factors of
E. coli
(fimbriae, toxins) by PCR
-
Production of vaccine according to SOP
3
.
Research results and discussions
3
.1
Development of a procedure for quick
diagnose some of th
e most common
infectious causes of
diarrhoea
in
suckling pigs
A diagnostic procedure of six major causes of
diarrhoea
in suckling pigs, including the
infectious gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), Rota
virus, E. coli, C. perfringens, Coccidiosis and
Cryptospori
dium have been established, in
accordance with the laboratory conditions at
Department of Bacteriology, National Institute

25 (21.2)
RV
ETEC
6 (5.1)
RV
TGEV
17 (14.4)
3 (6.7)
Cocci
RV
1 (0.8)
2 (4.4)
Cocci
Crypto
1 (0.8)
2 (4.4)
Crypto
ETEC
3 (2.5)
1 (2.2)
Crypto
C. per
1 (0.8)
1 (2.2)
Crypto
TGEV
6 (5.1)
2 (4.4)
TGEV
C. per

2 (1.7)
3 (6.7)
Cocci
RV
TGEV
4 (3.4)
3 (6.7)
Cocci
TGEV
ETEC
2 (1.7)
2 (4.4)
Cocci
Crypto
RV
1 (0.8)
1 (2.2)
Crypto
TGEV
ETEC
5 (4.2)
4 (4.4)
Crypto
RV
ETEC
1 (0.8)
3 (6.7)
Cryp
to
TGEV

2 (1.7)
1 (2.2)
Crypto
RV
ETEC
C. per
1 (0.8)
2 (4.4)
Cocci
Crypto
RV
TGEV
1 (0.8)
1 (2.2)
Cocci
Crypto
TGEV
C. per
1 (0.8)
Cocci
RV
TGEV
ETEC
4 (3.4)
1 (2.2)
Cocci
Crypto
RV
TGEV
C. per

(2 ml) contains of ~ 1.5 x 10
9
bacteria. Vaccine
has been tested on sterility, safety and
efficacy
in laboratory and in the field (for small scale
trial).
CARD
001/04 VIE
–
Control
diarrhoea
in suckling pigs
19
Results of ELISA for efficacy testing of
vaccine show that there was a significant
difference between the OD levels for the
treatment groups (p<0.003). There was no
significant difference
between the antibody
response elicited (as demonstrated by OD
values) by Litterguard, EcoVac or NIVR
vaccines (p>0.1). All three vaccines were
significantly different from the control group
(p< 0.005) (Table 2)
Table 2
:
Mean OD values of sera between
tre
atment and control group

weaning diarrhoea in piglets born from
vaccinated sows at 1, 2 or 3 weeks of age
were: 16.1; 22.7 and 26.5%, compared with
those
of 48.1; 33.8 and 37.5%, respectively
from control group (P<0.005).
3.
3
Recommendations
on herd health
monitoring
II.3.1. Sow management
o
Pigs must have access to feed at least
daily and the diet must be nutritionally
adequate to maintain health and meet
the
requirements for maintenance, growth,
pregnancy and lactation.
o
When the body condition score of a pig
falls below 2.5 (on the scale of 1
-
5,
appendix 1), remedial action must be
taken.
o
All pigs (excluding piglets) must be
maintained at a body condition
score of 2

Drinkable water and/or other wholesome
liquid must be easily availabl
e to pigs in
sufficient quantities to meet the
physiological needs of the pigs at all times
o
Water provided should be fresh, palatable,
and at a temperature that does not inhibit
drinking.
o
Drinker allocation per pen group and
drinker design and flow rates s
hould be
such that water requirements of different
classes of pig are easily met.
o
Pigs should have constant access to water
or other suitable wholesome liquid. The
daily consumption of
water (or
other
wholesome liquid)
by a pig will vary
according to envir
onmental temperature
,
diet ingredients
and live
-
weight.

3.5
4
4
5
4.5
6
5
7
5.5
8
6
9
7
10
8
11
-
15
9
16
-
20
10
21
-
28
10.5
* WATER REQUIREMENTS
For planning purposes the following
consumption estimates are provided for normal

12
Flow rates will vary depending on the number
of drinking points and care should be taken to
ensure adequate pump capacity and
supply to
maintain flow.
Recommended water flow rates and maximum water pressures
Class
Flow Rate
(litres/minute)
Maximum pressure
(kPa)
Weaners
0.5
85
-
105
Growers/Finishers
1.0
140
-
175
Dry sow
1.0
No limit*
Lactating
2.0
No limit*
* Care shou
ld be made not to have excessive pressure as water wastage can occur.

Piglets
—
3 weeks of age
24
–
30°C (reducing to 26°C at 5 weeks of age)
Farrowing house
16
-
22°C
Weaners
28
–
30°C first
week (start at 30C, reduce by 2
°
C per week to
22
°
C)
Growers
Aim for 20
-
24°C, aim to keep daily fluctuations below 6
°C
Finishers
Aim for 20
-
24°C, aim to keep daily fluctuations below 6
°C

30
50
12
28
90
9
27
Dry
sows & boars
150
15
27
Lactating sows
150
10
23

At the lower critical temperature pigs
will feel cold, huddle and change
position to conserve heat. They will
also need more feed to generate heat.

At the upper limit (evaporative critical
temperature) t
he pigs will begin to
pant in an effort to cool down.
3
.3.1. Condition scoring of sows
The following
criteria can be used as reference for

head.
Loin very
narrow. Sharp
edges on
transverse spinal
process. Flank
very hollow.
Prominent and
sharp
throughout the
length of the
backbone
Individual ribs
very
prominent
2
Pelvic bones
obvio
us but
some slight
cover. Cavity
around tail head.
Loin narrow.
Only very slight
cover to edge of
transverse spinal
process. Flank
rather hollow.
Prominent
Rib cage less

Felt only with
firm pressure
Rib cage not
visible. Very
difficult to feel
any ribs.
5
Pelvic bones
impossible to
feel. Root of tail
set deep in
surrounding fat.
Impossible to
feel bones.
Flank full and
rounded.
Impossible to
feel vertebrae.
Not po
ssible to
feel ribs.
4
.
Conclusions and recommendation
s
4.1
Conclusions

A diagnostic procedure of six major
causes of diarrhea in suckling pigs,

can be used to vaccinate pregnant sows
twice at 9 and 12 weeks of gestation,
each received 2 ml of vaccine to
control diarrhoea in suckling pigs.

An
continuous improvement model,
focused mainly on managemen
t of
sows during farrowing and lactation
has been developed and utilized in
order to improve pig production and
minimize the losses due to diarrhoea in
suckling period.
4.2
Recommendations
The
E. coli
vaccine should be commercialised
as soon as possibl
e so that it can be used for
control of diarrhoea in suckling pigs in
Vietnam
References
1.
Cu Huu Phu, Nguyen Ngoc Nhien, Do
Ngoc Thuy, Au Xuan Tuan, Nguyen Xuan
Huyen, Van Thi Huong, Vu Ngoc Quy.
Results on investigation of diarrhoea in
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T
-
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-
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-
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