Abstract
The production of Alentejano breed pig started a recovery two decades ago due to increasing demand for gourmet products. These pigs are raised in rotational semi-extensive or extensive outdoor production systems in the “Montado” (green and cork oak forest), grazing and feeding acorns and other associated food resources. Bacteria of the genus Aeromonas are considered as emerging pathogens of importance for man and animals, but its involvement in swine is not well documented. In the context of a study made at the University of Évora to assess the specific diseases of Alentejano swine, diseased piglets from two farms were submitted for pathological and bacteriological examinations. Pathological examinations revealed changes characteristic of septicemia, and Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated in pure culture from multiple organs of piglets from both farms. Antibiotic sensitivity tests showed that the isolates from one of the farms were susceptible to gentamicin, oxitetracycline, neomycin, enrofloxacin, colistin sulfate, trimethoprim, ceftiofur, and amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid. In contrast, the A. hydrophila isolated in the other farm was resistant to all drugs tested but enrofloxacin. This is the first report in the world showing the relationship between septicemia and A. hydrophila infection in piglets. The importance of this finding is further reinforced by the fact that these bacteria can be highly resistant to antimicrobial agents.
Highlights
The production of Alentejano breed pig started a recovery two decades ago due to increasing demand for gourmet products
El examen patológico puso en evidencia lesiones típicas de septicemia en las dos granjas y de varios órganos se aisló Aeromonas hydrophila en cultivo puro
Aeromonas hydrophila has been identified as the responsible agent of septicemia in dogs (Staples, 2000; Janda & Abbott, 2010)
Summary
The production of Alentejano breed pig started a recovery two decades ago due to increasing demand for gourmet products. These bacteria have been associated to aquatic environments and are usually isolated from foods of plant and animal origin (Fontes, 2009), being considered as emerging pathogens for both animals and humans. These bacteria have been associated with cases of septicemia, cellulitis, myonecrosis, peritonitis, hepatitis, pancreatic abscesses, respiratory, urogenital and eye infections (Talon et al, 1998; Janda & Abbott, 2010), and septic arthritis (Roberts et al, 2006) in humans.
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