Investigating lameness in high containment swine (2025)

Trussler, O.

Abstract

The Pirbright Institute is a world leading centre for the research and surveillance of viral diseases. The high containment animal facility (ISO11) is a bespoke working environment designed to house multiple species and viruses for in vivo vaccine research. Due to this, the building must conform to SAPO and ACDP regulations resulting in the use of easily cleanable, hard, textured, non-porous U-Crete flooring throughout. Despite the use of a soft bedding area covered in straw during studies, the hard flooring section has been speculated to have caused lameness in the past and is not an ideal flooring option focusing solely on hoof health and Animal Welfare. Lameness is an umbrella term for injuries, illnesses and infections affecting an animal’s ability to walk comfortably. Lameness affects 6 to 10% of our pigs during a typical operational period making it one of the most common non-procedural ailments (Figure 1). Swine with lameness is more susceptible to chronic stress, which can have temporary and lasting effects on health and immune system function.1 Not only does lameness present the opportunity for pain and suffering in our animals but can negatively impact the results gained from vaccine research that relies on the function of a healthy immune system. Some diseases researched at Pirbright can cause lameness in animals, therefore categorising the differences between lameness caused by procedures and housing was very important. By retrospectively reviewing data from the last 4 years we were able to put together an interface aiming to track and address the trends in lameness within ISO11. Although some patterns have emerged between the causes and outcomes of lameness it has also clearly shown that an alternative flooring option could be used to curb the lameness cases exhibited.