The kinetics of maternal and self-developed Streptococcus suis-specific antibodies
Abstract Background Streptococcus suis (S. suis) infections are responsible for a large disease burden in piglets during the nursery phase, compromising animal welfare and increasing antibiotic use. The immune gap caused by decreased maternal-derived antibodies (MDA) and insufficient levels or funct...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Porcine Health Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-025-00422-z |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823861498667073536 |
|---|---|
| author | Sandra Vreman Rutger Jansen Mikael Bastian Patricia Beckers Miriam van Riet Helmi Fijten Jan Fledderus Astrid de Greeff Hélène Winkelman Norbert Stockhofe-Zurwieden Lluís Fabà Henk J. Wisselink Manouk Vrieling |
| author_facet | Sandra Vreman Rutger Jansen Mikael Bastian Patricia Beckers Miriam van Riet Helmi Fijten Jan Fledderus Astrid de Greeff Hélène Winkelman Norbert Stockhofe-Zurwieden Lluís Fabà Henk J. Wisselink Manouk Vrieling |
| author_sort | Sandra Vreman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Streptococcus suis (S. suis) infections are responsible for a large disease burden in piglets during the nursery phase, compromising animal welfare and increasing antibiotic use. The immune gap caused by decreased maternal-derived antibodies (MDA) and insufficient levels or functionality of acquired antibodies in weaned pigs could play a role in the increased susceptibility to S. suis infections. To better understand this, two studies were performed. Study I evaluated the associations between sow antibodies in colostrum and serum, birth parameters (e.g., birth weight, colostrum intake and piglet growth) and the levels of S. suis-specific (serotypes 2 and 9) antibodies in one-day-old piglets from four farms. Subsequently, study II used one of these farms to evaluate S. suis-specific and total antibody kinetics in piglets (10 litters with 6 selected piglets per litter, total n = 60) from birth until 10 weeks of age. Additionally, tonsil swabs from sows and piglets were taken to evaluate the S. suis tonsillar carrier status (serotypes 2 and 9) before and after weaning. Results High variability in serum and colostrum antibody levels was observed between and within the four farms (study I). In study II, there was a decrease in S. suis-specific MDA after 24 h of age, with the lowest level occurring at approximately 18/19 days of age. Afterwards, there was an increase in specific antibodies, most likely due to acquired immunity. Colostrum intake, birth weight and 24-h weight gain after birth were important parameters that were positively associated with S. suis antibody levels in piglets after birth but also affected these antibody levels at a later age. All the piglet tonsils were colonized with S. suis serotype 9 before weaning, while the prevalence of serotype 2 increased after weaning. Conclusions Total Ig against S. suis in serum declined after birth and the lowest level was detected just before weaning. Farmers and veterinarians should focus on piglets with low birth weights and late-born piglets because these parameters reduce both the S. suis-specific MDA preweaning and the specific antibodies acquired postweaning. Colostrum intake and 24 h-weight gain also affect the level of S. suis specific antibodies on day 1. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bef91d650c574ee1a3b1912778f62805 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-5660 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Porcine Health Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-bef91d650c574ee1a3b1912778f628052025-02-09T13:00:06ZengBMCPorcine Health Management2055-56602025-02-0111111210.1186/s40813-025-00422-zThe kinetics of maternal and self-developed Streptococcus suis-specific antibodiesSandra Vreman0Rutger Jansen1Mikael Bastian2Patricia Beckers3Miriam van Riet4Helmi Fijten5Jan Fledderus6Astrid de Greeff7Hélène Winkelman8Norbert Stockhofe-Zurwieden9Lluís Fabà10Henk J. Wisselink11Manouk Vrieling12Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & ResearchBoehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Netherlands B.VForFarmers Nederland B.VForFarmers Nederland B.VForFarmers Nederland B.VWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & ResearchForFarmers Nederland B.VWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & ResearchWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & ResearchWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & ResearchTrouw Nutrition, R&D, Swine Research CentreWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & ResearchWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & ResearchAbstract Background Streptococcus suis (S. suis) infections are responsible for a large disease burden in piglets during the nursery phase, compromising animal welfare and increasing antibiotic use. The immune gap caused by decreased maternal-derived antibodies (MDA) and insufficient levels or functionality of acquired antibodies in weaned pigs could play a role in the increased susceptibility to S. suis infections. To better understand this, two studies were performed. Study I evaluated the associations between sow antibodies in colostrum and serum, birth parameters (e.g., birth weight, colostrum intake and piglet growth) and the levels of S. suis-specific (serotypes 2 and 9) antibodies in one-day-old piglets from four farms. Subsequently, study II used one of these farms to evaluate S. suis-specific and total antibody kinetics in piglets (10 litters with 6 selected piglets per litter, total n = 60) from birth until 10 weeks of age. Additionally, tonsil swabs from sows and piglets were taken to evaluate the S. suis tonsillar carrier status (serotypes 2 and 9) before and after weaning. Results High variability in serum and colostrum antibody levels was observed between and within the four farms (study I). In study II, there was a decrease in S. suis-specific MDA after 24 h of age, with the lowest level occurring at approximately 18/19 days of age. Afterwards, there was an increase in specific antibodies, most likely due to acquired immunity. Colostrum intake, birth weight and 24-h weight gain after birth were important parameters that were positively associated with S. suis antibody levels in piglets after birth but also affected these antibody levels at a later age. All the piglet tonsils were colonized with S. suis serotype 9 before weaning, while the prevalence of serotype 2 increased after weaning. Conclusions Total Ig against S. suis in serum declined after birth and the lowest level was detected just before weaning. Farmers and veterinarians should focus on piglets with low birth weights and late-born piglets because these parameters reduce both the S. suis-specific MDA preweaning and the specific antibodies acquired postweaning. Colostrum intake and 24 h-weight gain also affect the level of S. suis specific antibodies on day 1.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-025-00422-zStreptococcus suisPigletSowAntibodiesColostrumImmune gap |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Vreman Rutger Jansen Mikael Bastian Patricia Beckers Miriam van Riet Helmi Fijten Jan Fledderus Astrid de Greeff Hélène Winkelman Norbert Stockhofe-Zurwieden Lluís Fabà Henk J. Wisselink Manouk Vrieling The kinetics of maternal and self-developed Streptococcus suis-specific antibodies Porcine Health Management Streptococcus suis Piglet Sow Antibodies Colostrum Immune gap |
| title | The kinetics of maternal and self-developed Streptococcus suis-specific antibodies |
| title_full | The kinetics of maternal and self-developed Streptococcus suis-specific antibodies |
| title_fullStr | The kinetics of maternal and self-developed Streptococcus suis-specific antibodies |
| title_full_unstemmed | The kinetics of maternal and self-developed Streptococcus suis-specific antibodies |
| title_short | The kinetics of maternal and self-developed Streptococcus suis-specific antibodies |
| title_sort | kinetics of maternal and self developed streptococcus suis specific antibodies |
| topic | Streptococcus suis Piglet Sow Antibodies Colostrum Immune gap |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-025-00422-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sandravreman thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT rutgerjansen thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT mikaelbastian thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT patriciabeckers thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT miriamvanriet thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT helmifijten thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT janfledderus thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT astriddegreeff thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT helenewinkelman thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT norbertstockhofezurwieden thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT lluisfaba thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT henkjwisselink thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT manoukvrieling thekineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT sandravreman kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT rutgerjansen kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT mikaelbastian kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT patriciabeckers kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT miriamvanriet kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT helmifijten kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT janfledderus kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT astriddegreeff kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT helenewinkelman kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT norbertstockhofezurwieden kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT lluisfaba kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT henkjwisselink kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies AT manoukvrieling kineticsofmaternalandselfdevelopedstreptococcussuisspecificantibodies |