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Fulltext The employment of q-PCR using specific primer targeting on mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene for identification of wild boar meat in meatball samples

Aina GQ, Erwanto Y, Hossain M, Johan MR, Ali ME, Rohman A

J Adv Vet Anim Res, 2019 Sep;6(3):300-307.
PMID: 31583226 DOI: 10.5455/javar.2019.f348

Objective: The objective of this study was to employ real-time or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) using novel species specific primer (SSP) targeting on mitochondrial cytochrome-b of wild boar species (CYTBWB2-wb) gene for the identification of non-halal meat of wild boar meat (WBM) in meatball products.
Materials and Methods: The novel SSP of CYTBWB2-wb was designed by our group using PRIMERQUEST and NCBI software. DNA was extracted using propanol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol method. The designed SSP was further subjected for validation protocols using DNA isolated from fresh meat and from meatball, which include specificity test, determination of efficiency, limit of detection and repeatability, and application of developed method for analysis of commercially meatball samples.
Results: The results showed that CYTBWB2-wb was specific to wild boar species against other animal species with optimized annealing temperature of 59°C. The efficiency of q-PCR obtained was 91.9% which is acceptable according to the Codex Allimentarius Commission (2010). DNA, with as low as 5 pg/μl, could be detected using q-PCR with primer of CYTBWB2-wb. The developed method was also used for DNA analysis extracted from meatball samples commercially available.
Conclusion: q-PCR using CYTBWB2-wb primers targeting on mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene (forward: CGG TTC CCT CTT AGG CAT TT; Reverse: GGA TGA ACA GGC AGA TGA AGA) can be fruitfully used for the analysis of WBM in commercial meatball samples.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Fulltext Fish gelatin nanoparticles and their food applications: A review

Akbar, I., Jaswir, I., Jamal, P., Octavianti, F.

International Food Research Journal, 2017;24(101):0-0.
MyJurnal

Considerable attention has been directed to nanoparticles based on gelatin biopolymer due to its numerous available active group sites for attaching target molecules and acting as a drug or nutraceutical delivery system aiming to improve the therapeutic effects and also to reduce the side effects of formulated drugs as gelatin is a natural biodegradable biocompatible polymer, nontoxic, readily available, cheap and is used in parental formulations. With mammalian gelatin (pig and cow) as the major source of gelatin production, alternatives are required due to sociocultural and health concerns to maintain halal status. This paper aims at reviewing fish skin gelatin from warm water species which can provide a potential alternative source of gelatin with almost the same rheological properties as mammalian gelatin and is a beneficial way to use fish waste such as skin, bones and fin which is generally discarded. The study also entails a lot of research being done in the field of nanoencapsulation of gelatin with various nutraceuticals as well as drug and gene therapy. There is an especially increasing interest in encapsulating biopeptides within gelatin nanoparticles in the functional food industry due to their role in preventing or delaying the onset of various diseases, food fortification, improvement of food quality, increase in shelf life, targeted peptide delivery and hence can be used as additives in food products. This review also attempts to provide an overview of the application of gelatin nanoparticles in nanoencapsulation in the food industry.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Fulltext Development of swine-specific DNA markers for biosensor-based halal authentication

Ali ME, Hashim U, Kashif M, Mustafa S, Che Man YB, Abd Hamid SB

Genet. Mol. Res., 2012;11(2):1762-72.
PMID: 22843053 DOI: 10.4238/2012.June.29.9

The pig (Sus scrofa) mitochondrial genome was targeted to design short (15-30 nucleotides) DNA markers that would be suitable for biosensor-based hybridization detection of target DNA. Short DNA markers are reported to survive harsh conditions in which longer ones are degraded into smaller fragments. The whole swine mitochondrial-genome was in silico digested with AluI restriction enzyme. Among 66 AluI fragments, five were selected as potential markers because of their convenient lengths, high degree of interspecies polymorphism and intraspecies conservatism. These were confirmed by NCBI blast analysis and ClustalW alignment analysis with 11 different meat-providing animal and fish species. Finally, we integrated a tetramethyl rhodamine-labeled 18-nucleotide AluI fragment into a 3-nm diameter citrate-tannate coated gold nanoparticle to develop a swine-specific hybrid nanobioprobe for the determination of pork adulteration in 2.5-h autoclaved pork-beef binary mixtures. This hybrid probe detected as low as 1% pork in deliberately contaminated autoclaved pork-beef binary mixtures and no cross-species detection was recorded, demonstrating the feasibility of this type of probe for biosensor-based detection of pork adulteration of halal and kosher foods.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa/genetics*
Fulltext Evidence of exposure to henipaviruses in domestic pigs in Uganda

Atherstone C, Diederich S, Weingartl HM, Fischer K, Balkema-Buschmann A, Grace D, et al.

Transbound Emerg Dis, 2019 Mar;66(2):921-928.
PMID: 30576076 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13105

Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), belonging to the genus Henipavirus, are among the most pathogenic of viruses in humans. Old World fruit bats (family Pteropodidae) are the natural reservoir hosts. Molecular and serological studies found evidence of henipavirus infection in fruit bats from several African countries. However, little is known about the potential for spillover into domestic animals in East Africa, particularly pigs, which served as amplifying hosts during the first outbreak of NiV in Malaysia and Singapore. We collected sera from 661 pigs presented for slaughter in Uganda between December 2015 and October 2016. Using HeV G and NiV G indirect ELISAs, 14 pigs (2%) were seroreactive in at least one ELISA. Seroprevalence increased to 5.4% in October 2016, when pigs were 9.5 times more likely to be seroreactive than pigs sampled in December 2015 (p = 0.04). Eight of the 14 ELISA-positive samples reacted with HeV N antigen in Western blot. None of the sera neutralized HeV or NiV in plaque reduction neutralization tests. Although we did not detect neutralizing antibodies, our results suggest that pigs in Uganda are exposed to henipaviruses or henipa-like viruses. Pigs in this study were sourced from many farms throughout Uganda, suggesting multiple (albeit rare) introductions of henipaviruses into the pig population. We postulate that given the widespread distribution of Old World fruit bats in Africa, spillover of henipaviruses from fruit bats to pigs in Uganda could result in exposure of pigs at multiple locations. A higher risk of a spillover event at the end of the dry season might be explained by higher densities of bats and contact with pigs at this time of the year, exacerbated by nutritional stress in bat populations and their reproductive cycle. Future studies should prioritize determining the risk of spillover of henipaviruses from pigs to people, so that potential risks can be mitigated.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Regeneration of testis tissue after ectopic implantation of porcine testis cell aggregates in mice: improved consistency of outcomes and in situ monitoring

Awang-Junaidi AH, Singh J, Honaramooz A

Reprod Fertil Dev, 2020 Mar;32(6):594-609.
PMID: 32051087 DOI: 10.1071/RD19043

Ectopic implantation of donor testis cell aggregates in recipient mice results in de novo formation or regeneration of testis tissue and, as such, provides a unique invivo model for the study of testis development. However, currently the results are inconsistent and the efficiency of the model remains low. This study was designed to: (1) examine several factors that can potentially improve the consistency and efficiency of this model and (2) explore the use of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) for the non-invasive invivo evaluation of implants. Testis cell aggregates, containing ~40% gonocytes, from 1-week-old donor piglets were implanted under the back skin of immunodeficient mice through skin incisions using gel matrices or through subcutaneous injection without using gel matrices. The addition of gel matrices led to inconsistent tissue development; gelatin had the greatest development, followed by collagen, whereas agarose resulted in poor development. The results also depended on the implanted cell numbers since implants with 100×106 cells were larger than those with 50×106 cells. The injection approach for cell implantation was less invasive and resulted in more consistent and efficient testis tissue development. UBM provided promising results as a means of non-invasive monitoring of implants.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
The use of sonication treatment to decellularize aortic tissues for preparation of bioscaffolds

Azhim A, Syazwani N, Morimoto Y, Furukawa KS, Ushida T

J Biomater Appl, 2014 Jul;29(1):130-41.
PMID: 24384523 DOI: 10.1177/0885328213517579

A novel decellularization method using sonication treatment is described. Sonication treatment is the combination of physical and chemical agents. These methods will disrupt cell membrane and release cell contents to external environments. The cell removal was facilitated by subsequent rinsing of sodium dodecyl sulfate detergents. Sonication treatment is used in the preparation of complete decellularized bioscaffolds. The aim of this study is to confirm the usefulness of sonication treatment for preparation of biological scaffolds. In this study, samples of aortic tissues are decellularized by sonication treatment at frequency of 170 kHz in 0.1% and 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate detergents for 10-h treatment time. The relation between decellularization and sonication parameters such as dissolved oxygen concentration, conductivity, and pH is investigated. Histological analysis and biomechanical testing is performed to evaluate cell removal efficiency as well as changes in biomechanical properties. Minimal inflammation response elicit by bioscaffolds is confirmed by xenogeneic implantation and immunohistochemistry. Sonication treatment is able to produce complete decellularized tissue suggesting that these treatments could be applied widely as one of the decellularization method.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Nipah virus disease: A rare and intractable disease

Banerjee S, Gupta N, Kodan P, Mittal A, Ray Y, Nischal N, et al.

Intractable Rare Dis Res, 2019 Feb;8(1):1-8.
PMID: 30881850 DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2018.01130

Nipah virus, an enveloped ribonucleic acid virus, has been a major cause of encephalitis out-breaks with high mortality, primarily in the Indo-Bangladesh regions. Except for the first outbreak in Malaysia-Singapore, which was related to contact with pigs and the outbreak in Philippines associated with horse slaughter, most other outbreaks have affected the Indo- Bangladesh regions. The Indo-Bangladesh outbreaks were associated with consumption of raw date palm sap contaminated by fruit bats and had a very high secondary attack rate. The patient usually presents with fever, encephalitis and/or respiratory involvement with or without thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and transaminitis. Diagnosis can be confirmed by isolation and nucleic acid amplification in the acute phase or antibody detection during the convalescent phase. Treatment is mostly limited to supportive care and syndromic management of acute encephalitis syndrome. Ribavirin, m102.4 monoclonal antibody and favipiravir are the only anti-virals with some activity against Nipah virus. Standard precautions, hand hygiene and personal protective equipments are the cornerstone of comprehensive infection prevention and control strategy. With the recent outbreaks affecting newer geographical areas, there is a need for physicians to be aware of this disease and keep abreast of its current detection and management strategies.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Identification of the species origin of commercially available processed food products by mitochondrial DNA analysis

Chandrika, M., Maimunah, M., Zainon, M.N., Son, R.

International Food Research Journal, 2010;17(4):867-876.
MyJurnal

Legislation concerning the safety assessment and labelling of foodstuffs has been implemented in many countries. Consequential to a number of cases of food adulteration reported globally, a fast and reliable detection method for the food traceability is required in ensuring effective implementation of food legislation in a country. In this study, PCR-RFLP technique based on cyt b gene has been tested for its suitability for these purposes. This method combines the use of a pair of universal primer that amplifies a 359 bp fragment on the cyt b gene from meat muscle DNA and restriction enzyme analysis. Analysis of experimental beef frankfurter, minced beef, pork frankfurter and pork cocktail samples demonstrated the suitability of the assay for the detection of the beef (Bos taurus) and pork (Sus scrofa), but not applicable for some processed food, particularly detection of mackerel (Rasterelliger brachysoma), sardine (Saedinella Fimbriata) and tuna (Thunnus tonggol) origin in canned food. Commercial frauds through species mislabelling or misdescribed were not detected. The assay is demonstrated applicable for routine analysis of meat traceability of foodstuffs and legislation purposes, if sufficient availability of detectable mtDNA in the foodstuffs is ensured.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Testing Eurasian wild boar piglets for serum antibodies against Mycobacterium bovis

Che' Amat A, González-Barrio D, Ortiz JA, Díez-Delgado I, Boadella M, Barasona JA, et al.

Prev Vet Med, 2015 Sep 1;121(1-2):93-8.
PMID: 26051843 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.05.011

Animal tuberculosis (TB) caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC), is often reported in the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa). Tests detecting antibodies against MTC antigens are valuable tools for TB monitoring and control in suids. However, only limited knowledge exists on serology test performance in 2-6 month-old piglets. In this age-class, recent infections might cause lower antibody levels and lower test sensitivity. We examined 126 wild boar piglets from a TB-endemic site using 6 antibody detection tests in order to assess test performance. Bacterial culture (n=53) yielded a M. bovis infection prevalence of 33.9%, while serum antibody prevalence estimated by different tests ranged from 19% to 38%, reaching sensitivities between 15.4% and 46.2% for plate ELISAs and between 61.5% and 69.2% for rapid immunochromatographic tests based on dual path platform (DPP) technology. The Cohen kappa coefficient of agreement between DPP WTB (Wildlife TB) assay and culture results was moderate (0.45) and all other serological tests used had poor to fair agreements. This survey revealed the ability of several tests for detecting serum antibodies against the MTC antigens in 2-6 month-old naturally infected wild boar piglets. The best performance was demonstrated for DPP tests. The results confirmed our initial hypothesis of a lower sensitivity of serology for detecting M. bovis-infected piglets, as compared to older wild boar. Certain tests, notably the rapid animal-side tests, can contribute to TB control strategies by enabling the setup of test and cull schemes or improving pre-movement testing. However, sub-optimal test performance in piglets as compared to that in older wild boar should be taken into account.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Fulltext Exploratory Analysis of the Microbiological Potential for Efficient Utilization of Fiber Between Lantang and Duroc Pigs

Cheng P, Wang Y, Liang J, Wu Y, Wright A, Liao X

Front Microbiol, 2018;9:1342.
PMID: 29988353 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01342

There is growing interest in the use of unconventional feed ingredients containing higher dietary fiber for pig production due to increasing prices of cereal grains and the potential health benefits of dietary fiber on host animals. This study aimed to gain insight into the community-wide microbiome population between the Chinese native Lantang pigs and the commercial Duroc pigs to uncover the microbiological mechanisms for the degradation capacity of fiber in pigs. Utilizing the metagenomics approach, we compared the phylogeny and functional capacity of the fecal microbiome from approximately 150-day-old female Lantang and Duroc pigs fed a similar diet. The structure of the fecal microbial community from the two pig breeds was different at the genus level; the number of genes associated with fiber degradation was higher in Lantang pigs. Further analysis and prediction of their functions from the fecal microbiomes of the two pig breeds revealed that the degradation capacities of fiber, branched chain fatty acids, and oligosaccharides were higher in Lantang pigs. The ability of lignocellulose bonding modules and the transport capacities of xylose, L-arabinose, ribose and methyl galactose were also higher in Lantang pigs. Similarly, the metabolic capacities of xylose, ribose, and fucose and the potential effectiveness of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and gene abundance in the hydrogen sink pathway were higher in the fecal microbiome from Lantang pigs. Lantang pigs have a higher capacity to utilize dietary fiber than Duroc pigs, and the differences in the capability to utilize dietary fiber between the indigenous and commercial pigs could be differences in the composition and biological function of the gut microbiota.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
The genus Trichinella and its presence in wildlife worldwide: A review

Crisóstomo-Jorquera V, Landaeta-Aqueveque C

Transbound Emerg Dis, 2022 Sep;69(5):e1269-e1279.
PMID: 35398980 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14554

The genus Trichinella has a worldwide distribution, infecting people, domestic animals, and wildlife. It includes 13 genotypes, which are geographically delimited; Trichinella is transmitted to people through the ingestion of undercooked meat. Historically, it has been associated with pigs, but most Trichinella species affect wildlife, and cases of trichinellosis due to the consumption of game meat have been emerging. Therefore, it is important to monitor the sources of transmission to domestic animals and humans. The objective of this work was to analyse reports of Trichinella spp. in wild/feral animals around the world to identify the needs of future research in the epidemiology of the sylvatic cycle. A search of studies published until 2021 was conducted using Web of Science and SciELO. In the Palearctic, the most commonly studied hosts were wild boars and red foxes, and hosts with the highest prevalence rates were polar bears and martens. In the Nearctic, red foxes and black bears were the most frequently studied hosts, and the highest prevalence was found for wolverines and brown bears. In the Neotropics, positive reports were only identified in two countries, with wild boars being the most commonly studied species, and armadillos featuring the highest prevalence. In the Afrotropics, Trichinella limits its presence to Sub-Saharan Africa, where lions are the most studied hosts, and spotted hyenas have the highest prevalence. In the Indo-Malaya and Australasia ecozones, information on wildlife is scarce; the Norwegian rat is the most frequently studied host, and the Tasmanian devil has the highest prevalence of infection. In the last decade, research on world wildlife has increased which is associated with more frequent trichinellosis outbreaks caused by the consumption of wild meat. The results suggest the need to increase research in developing countries, particularly where more diverse sources of meat are available for human consumption.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Maternal lineage of Nicobari pig (Sus scrofa nicobaricus) correlated with migration of Nicobarese, a native tribal population of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

De AK, Sawhney S, Ponraj P, Muthiyan R, Muniswamy K, Ravi SK, et al.

Anim Biotechnol, 2023 Apr;34(2):156-165.
PMID: 34310265 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2021.1950742

Nicobari pig is reared by Nicobarese, a native tribal population of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Nicobari pig has maintained its genetic identity due to geographical isolation. This communication is the first report on maternal inheritance of Nicobari pigs. DNA polymorphism data showed seven haplotypes. D-loop sequence information and mitogenome analysis were able to earmark Nicobari pigs to Asian clade. The domestication process of pigs and its expansion pattern help to understand human migration pattern. Based on this hypothesis, this communication elucidates the probable origin of Nicobarese. Earlier studies indicated that Nicobarese had genetic affinities to races distributed in China, Malaysia and Thailand. Our data on maternal inheritance of Nicobari pig correlates with the data on migration of Nicobarese. Moreover, we could establish a novel connection of Nicobarese with people of Northeastern parts of India, Philippines and Vietnam through phylogenetic signal and geographical provenance of Nicobari pig. We further concluded that migration of Nicobarese happened during Western route of migration (WRM) ∼4000 years before present. Therefore, we propose one wave hypothesis of peopling of Nicobar based on our study and existence of Ausrtroasiatic language, Mon-Khmer in these islands.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa*
Efficacy and role of inulin in mitigation of enteric sulfur-containing odor in pigs

Deng YF, Liu YY, Zhang YT, Wang Y, Liang JB, Tufarelli V, et al.

J Sci Food Agric, 2017 Jun;97(8):2382-2391.
PMID: 27664398 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.8050

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and role of inulin in the mitigation of enteric sulfur-containing odor gases hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) and methyl mercaptan (CH3 SH) in pigs were examined in this study. Twelve Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire male finisher pigs (60.7 ± 1.9 kg), housed individually in open-circuit respiration chambers, were randomly assigned to two dietary groups, namely basal diet (control) and basal diet supplemented with 1% (w/w) inulin. At the end of the 45 day experiment, pigs were slaughtered and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, sulfate radical (SO42- ) concentration, population of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and expression of methionine gamma-lyase (MGL) gene were determined in contents from the caecum, colon (two segments) and rectum. Metabonomic analysis was used to compare differences in biochemical composition, and the Illumina MiSeq procedure to investigate differences in bacterial components, in the different parts of the large intestine between inulin-supplemented and inulin-free (control) groups.
RESULTS: Inulin decreased (P < 0.05) the average daily enteric H2 S and CH3 SH production by 12.4 and 12.1% respectively. The concentrations of acetate, propionate and butyrate in the large intestinal content were significantly increased (P < 0.05) with inulin treatment, whereas valerate concentration and MGL mRNA expression decreased (P < 0.05). The growth of Lactobacillus, Butyrivibrio, Pseudobutyrivibrio, Bifidobacterium and Clostridium butyricum was stimulated, while that of Desulfovibrio, the dominant SRB, was inhibited, and there was an accumulation of SO42- in the large intestinal content of the inulin-supplemented pigs, suggesting that inulin mitigates H2 S generation from the SO42- reduction pathway by reducing the growth of SRB.
CONCLUSION: The results showed that inulin mitigates CH3 SH generation via three methionine degradation metabolic pathways and H2 S generation from two cysteine degradation metabolic pathways, thus resulting in increased synthesis of these two sulfur-containing amino acids in the pig large intestine. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa/growth & development*; Sus scrofa/metabolism; Sus scrofa/microbiology
Fulltext Food production from animals in Asia: priority for expanding the development frontiers

Devendra, C.

ASM Science Journal, 2010;4(2):173-184.
MyJurnal

In agricultural systems, animals play a very important multifunctional role for developing communities
throughout the world. This is reflected in the generation of value-added products like meat, milk and eggs for food security; socio-economic benefits like increased income, security and survival, and an infinite variety of services such as the supply of draught power and dung for soil fertility. However, and despite this importance, the situation is awesome since the projected total meat and milk consumption levels in 2020 are far in excess of anticipated supply, and projections of both meat and milk will have to be doubled by 2050 to meet human requirements. Strategies for productivity growth from animals are therefore urgent, and are discussed in the context of the scenario of waning agriculture, extreme poverty and hunger, food crisis, the current contributions from the components of the animal industries, prevailing constraints, opportunities and strategies for improved production. Current trends suggest that the non-ruminant pig and poultry industries will continue to contribute the major share of meat and all of egg production to meet projected human needs. With ruminants by comparison, overall meat production continues to come mainly from the slaughter of numbers. Strategic opportunities exist for maximising productivity in improved production systems. These include targeting rainfed areas, development of small farms, integrated crop-animal systems, intensive application of productivity-enhancing technologies, promoting intensive use of crop residues and expanding the R&D frontiers with interdisciplinarity and farming
systems perspectives. The issues, together with increased investments and institutional commitment, provide for expanded animal production systems and productivity which can forcefully impact on improved human welfare in Asia in the immediate tomorrow.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Virology--11th international congress. 9-13 August 1999, Sydney, Australia

Fooks A

IDrugs, 1999 Nov;2(11):1136-8.
PMID: 16113984

The main theme of this conference was understanding the complex biology of viruses in order to design appropriate vaccines for human use. The use of both plant and animal viruses as vectors for delivery vehicles was widely discussed. These engineered viruses could be delivered in oral formulations or, in the case of plant viruses, grown in the plant host and used as edible vaccines. New technologies for producing highly attenuated vaccines through the use of 'molecular clone technologies' were shown to be highly efficacious in animal models. While new vaccine candidates are being generated against many established viral diseases, there remains a threat from HIV, virulent strains of influenza and newly emerging viruses for which no vaccines are currently available. Emerging viruses, such as the Hendra-like virus called Nipah, which emerged in pig herds in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998, has posed a severe economic threat to the region. The subsequent spread of Nipah virus to humans and the threat of epidemic spread was evidence that virologists should not become complacent.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Fulltext Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) mediate large-scale edge effects in a lowland tropical rainforest in Peninsular Malaysia

Fujinuma J, Harrison RD

PLoS One, 2012;7(5):e37321.
PMID: 22615977 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037321

Edge-effects greatly extend the area of tropical forests degraded through human activities. At Pasoh, Peninsular Malaysia, it has been suggested that soil disturbance by highly abundant wild pigs (Sus scrofa), which feed in adjacent Oil Palm plantations, may have mediated the invasion of Clidemia hirta (Melastomataceae) into the diverse tropical lowland rain forest. To investigate this hypothesis, we established three 1 km transects from the forest/Oil Palm plantation boundary into the forest interior. We recorded the distribution of soil disturbance by wild pigs, C. hirta abundance, and environmental variables. These data were analyzed using a hierarchical Bayesian model that incorporated spatial auto-correlation in the environmental variables. As predicted, soil disturbance by wild pigs declined with distance from forest edge and C. hirta abundance was correlated with the level of soil disturbance. Importantly there was no effect of distance on C. hirta abundance, after controlling for the effect of soil disturbance. Clidemia hirta abundance was also correlated with the presence of canopy openings, but there was no significant association between the occurrence of canopy openings and distance from the edge. Increased levels of soil disturbance and C. hirta abundance were still detectable approximately 1 km from the edge, demonstrating the potential for exceptionally large-scale animal mediated edge effects.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa*
Human case of Onchocerca dewittei japonica infection in Fukushima, Northeastern Honshu, Japan

Fukuda M, Uni S, Igari T, Utsumi Y, Otsuka Y, Nakatani J, et al.

Parasitol Int, 2019 Oct;72:101943.
PMID: 31220633 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.101943

A 73-year-old man living in Kawamata-machi, Fukushima Prefecture, Northeastern Honshu, Japan, visited a hospital with complaints of a subcutaneous swelling that had developed on the back of his left hand. The nodule was surgically removed from the vagina fibrosa tendinis of his left forefinger. Based on the histopathological characteristics, the causative agent of this nodule was identified as a female Onchocerca dewittei japonica (Spirurida: Onchocercidae). The species identification was confirmed by cox1 gene sequencing of the worm tissues from paraffin-embedded sections of the nodule. Although 11 cases of zoonotic onchocercosis have previously been recorded in Kyushu and Western Honshu, Japan, the present findings represent the first human case of infection with O. dewittei japonica in Northeastern Honshu, Japan.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa/parasitology
Fulltext Antibodies to henipavirus or henipa-like viruses in domestic pigs in Ghana, West Africa

Hayman DT, Wang LF, Barr J, Baker KS, Suu-Ire R, Broder CC, et al.

PLoS One, 2011;6(9):e25256.
PMID: 21966471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025256

Henipaviruses, Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), have Pteropid bats as their known natural reservoirs. Antibodies against henipaviruses have been found in Eidolon helvum, an old world fruit bat species, and henipavirus-like nucleic acid has been detected in faecal samples from E. helvum in Ghana. The initial outbreak of NiV in Malaysia led to over 265 human encephalitis cases, including 105 deaths, with infected pigs acting as amplifier hosts for NiV during the outbreak. We detected non-neutralizing antibodies against viruses of the genus Henipavirus in approximately 5% of pig sera (N = 97) tested in Ghana, but not in a small sample of other domestic species sampled under a E. helvum roost. Although we did not detect neutralizing antibody, our results suggest prior exposure of the Ghana pig population to henipavirus(es). Because a wide diversity of henipavirus-like nucleic acid sequences have been found in Ghanaian E. helvum, we hypothesise that these pigs might have been infected by henipavirus(es) sufficiently divergent enough from HeVor NiV to produce cross-reactive, but not cross-neutralizing antibodies to HeV or NiV.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Soil chemistry dynamics of Sus scrofa carcasses with and without delayed Diptera colonization

Heo CC, Tomberlin JK, Aitkenhead-Peterson JA

J Forensic Sci, 2021 May;66(3):947-959.
PMID: 33290606 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14645

Under normal circumstances, insects such as blow flies will oviposit and larvae will colonize a carcass as soon as possible. However, insect colonization on a carcass may be delayed due to the effects of wrapping, shallow burial, addition of lime derivatives to mitigate scavenging and odor, or extreme weather. The impacts of delayed insect colonization on carcass decomposition and its subsequent effect on soil chemistry profiles have not been examined to date. The objectives of this study were to determine soil chemistry dynamics associated with porcine carcasses experiencing delayed insect colonization for 7-day or 14-day. Soil chemistry profiles such as ammonium-N (NH4 -N), orthophosphate-P (PO4 -P), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were significantly different among treatments: insect inclusion (immediate access of blow fly colonization on porcine carcasses), 7-day insect exclusion and 14-day insect exclusion (blow fly access was delayed up to 7-day and 14-day). Furthermore, significant differences of soil chemical profiles were detected between days of decomposition and soil regions. Soil moisture, NH4 -N, PO4 -P, and DOC were significantly higher when insects were excluded from the porcine carcass suggesting loss of tissue from larval feeding reduced the mass of nutrients entering the soil. This study provides useful information for forensic science in cases where insect colonization is delayed for a period of time postmortem and soil chemistry in the cadaver decomposition island is considered for estimating postmortem interval.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa
Fulltext A preliminary study of insect succession on a pig carcass in a palm oil plantation in Malaysia

Heo CC, Mohamad AM, Ahmad Firdaus MS, Jeffery J, Baharudin O

Trop Biomed, 2007 Dec;24(2):23-7.
PMID: 18209704 MyJurnal

This preliminary study was carried out in a palm oil plantation in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor in 17 May 2007 by using pig (Sus scrofa) as a carcass model in forensic entomological research. A 3 month old pig (8.5 kg) that died of pneumonio was placed in the field to observe the decomposition stages and the fauna succession of forensically important flies. Observation was made for two weeks; two visits per day and all climatological data were recorded. The first visitor to the pig carcass was a muscid fly, seen within a minute, and followed by ants and spiders. Within half an hour, calliphorid flies came over. On the second day (fresh), few calliphorid and sarcophagid flies were found on the carcass. Two different species of moths were trapped in the hanging net. The first larva mass occurred on the third day (bloated) around the mouthpart, with some L1 and L2 found in the eyes. Reduvid bugs and Staphylinidae beetles were recovered on the fourth day (active decay), and new maggot masses occurred in the eyes and anus. L3 larvae could be found beneath the pig carcass on the fourth day. On the fifth day (active decay), new maggot masses were found on neck, thorax, and hind legs. Advance decay occurred on the sixth day with abundant maggots covering all over the body. The main adult fly population was Chrysomya megacephala (day 2 to day 6), but the larvae population was mainly those of Chrysomya rufifacies (day 4 to day 14). The dry stage began on the eighth day. Hermetia illucens adult was caught on day-13, and a larvae mass of Chrysomya rufifacies was seen burrowing under the soil. This forensic entomological research using pig carcass model was the first record in this country.

Matched MeSH terms: Sus scrofa/parasitology*

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