Vasileios Papatsiros

IntroductionFor several decades, the use of sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics in animal feeds has been a common practice in many countries in order to improve growth performance and prevent from the adverse effects of pathogenic and non-pathogenic enteric microorganisms. However, there are increasing concerns for the public health about the consequences from the use of antibiotics in livestock ...

Introduction. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has been causing tremendous economic losses in swine farms worldwide (Neumann et al 2005). The economic impact of PRRS virus (PRRSV) on the global swine industry is mainly due to reproductive failure in breeding stock or respiratory disease and reduction of growth performances in piglets and growing/finishing pigs, as well as cost ...

IntroductionRectal prolapse can occur in all species of domestic animals, but it is most common in the swine [1]. In pigs, it occurs if support and fixation mechanisms (fascia, muscles, ligaments) are overcome by pressure (straining caused by constipation, diarrhoea, coughing) or the support tissues are weakened (fat or tumour infiltration, genetics, certain drugs or oedema due to mycotoxins, part ...

1. INTRODUCTION Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) since its first report in the late 1980s in Western Europe (Wensvoort et al., 1991) and North America (Keffaber, 1989) has caused a significant economic impact on the global swine industry (Neumann et al., 2005). The aetiological agent of PRRS is an RNA virus (PRRSV) of the order Nidovirales, family Arteriviridae, genus Arterivir ...

INTRODUCTION In view of organic livestock farming, Greece has many advantages in comparison to the other European countries, the temperate climate and the wide and rich ecosystems in countryside. For thousands of years, outdoor pig farming has been one of the most important livestock production sectors in Greece. Since the 60s, the introduction of high-yielding pig genotypes, under intensive pro ...

INTRODUCTION Antibiotics have been successfully used in animal production since their discovery for maintaining health and improving performance. However, the risk of bacteria acquiring resistance to specific antibiotics and antibiotic residues in meat led to a ban of antibiotics as growth promoters in European Union (EU) since January 2006. With increasing pressures of antibiotic resistance and f ...

1. IntroductionIn recent decades, acidifiers have emerged as viable alternatives to antibiotics in swine diets, in order to stimulate optimal growth performance and prevent various enteric diseases. Antimicrobials have been used for more than 50 years to enhance growth performance and prevent various pig diseases (Gustafson & Bowen, 1997). There is growing public awareness of the relationship ...

1. Introduction Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a highly contagious viral disease that was first recognized almost simultaneously in Western Europe (Wensvoort et al., 1991) and North America in the late 1980s (Keffaber, 1989). The causative agent is PRRS virus (PRRSV), a small single-stranded positive sense RNA virus, classified in the order Nidovirales, family Arterivirida ...