How can porcine stress syndrome be detected?

How can porcine stress syndrome be detected?

The gene can be identified by the pigs response to the anaesthetic gas halothane but recent developments have produced gene probes using blood, that identify both the homozygous and heterozygous carriers.

How is porcine stress syndrome treated?

Control/Prevention

1. Treatment is usually ineffective.
2. Sprinkle the pig with cold water to control its increasing temperature.
3. Inject 50-100 ml of calcium gluconate intramuscularly at two different sites.
4. Give a tranquilizer.
5. Do not move the animal, or cause unnecessary muscle activity.
6. Avoid stress in pigs.

Is porcine stress syndrome infectious?

Porcine stress syndrome, sometimes called malignant hyperthermia or transport myopathy, is a complex, genetically transmitted myopathy usually triggered by stress or excitement. It also can be triggered by several anesthetics, including halothane, and by depolarizing muscle relaxants.

When was porcine stress syndrome discovered?

One of these unfavorable traits is porcine stress syndrome (PSS). Discovered in 1968, it is a genetic mutation that causes pigs to become extremely stressed under conditions normal pigs can handle. PSS pigs tend to be lean and heavily muscled animals, but die suddenly when stressed.

Is porcine stress syndrome dominant or recessive?

PSS may appear as sudden death in pigs, often after transport. It is an inherited, autosomal recessive disorder due to a defective ryanodine receptor leading to huge calcium influx, muscle contracture and increase in metabolism.

How does porcine stress syndrome affect the meat?

Due to the disadvantages, including excitability and death, poor meat quality and the reduced ability to produce high quality bacon due to extreme leanness; the negative effects of the stress gene greatly outweigh the gains in leanness and muscling.

How does porcine stress syndrome affect the meat quality?

Early research noted that PSS was associated with production of pale, soft and exudative (PSE) meat (38). It was also noted that energy stored in the muscles was rapidly depleted after slaughter in carcasses exhibiting PSE. This results in rapid pH decline in carcass muscles and the PSE condition (38).

Why is my pig holding his head sideways?

The signs of head tilt are suggestive of the condition known as a middle ear infection. This occurs where an infection enters the middle of the ear, setting up an on-going abscess or nodule. The abscess presses painfully, causing the pig to lower the head on the affected side.

Is dippity pig syndrome genetic?

Cause: The cause of Dippity Pig Syndrome is not known. There is some evidence, based on biopsy results, that it may involve a herpes virus (like shingles in the human being). There is evidence that it occurs in some family lines.

What animals does porcine stress syndrome affect?

Porcine stress syndrome, also known as malignant hyperthermia or PSS, is a condition in pigs. It is characterised by hyperthermia triggered by stress, anaesthesia with halothane or intense exercise. PSS may appear as sudden death in pigs, often after transport.

What breed is responsible for PSS?

It is thought that the gene responsible for PSS spread quickly between the 1930’s and 1950’s when the Pietrain breed was first bred in Belgium to promote leaner pigs for human consumption. It is likely that the breeding of a single pig carrying a mutation has resulted in all subsequent PSS occurrences.