Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Animal Science

First Advisor

Waterman, Jenora T. Dr.

Abstract

In North Carolina, swine are reared in confinement housing or pasture-based operations and air quality in confinement operations is known to contribute to health status. However, few if any reports investigate the impact of swine management operations on porcine airways; thus the goal of this project. The hypothesis was that airways of pigs reared indoors have morphological and proteome differences compared to pigs reared outdoors. Three experimental trials were conducted to observe airway morphology and proteomes. Trial I included three breed types raised indoors, Tamworth X Berkshire, Berkshire X Berkshire and Hertford X Berkshire (n = 4- 5 each). Trials II and III consisted of animals reared in both environments; Trial II had 28 pigs (n = 14 each, indoor and outdoor) and Trial III had 48 pigs (n = 24 each, indoor and outdoor). For Trial III, body weights were recorded weekly for seven weeks to adjust tracheal measure for body size. Two airway morphology features, total tracheal and lumen diameters, were recorded and compared in all trials. One-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed and LSmeans with the PDiff Option was used to separate means as applicable. Outdoor animals had a larger variation of body weights than indoor animals; however, there was no correlation between tracheal measurements and body weight in this study. There was a difference in airway diameter and lumen among animals reared indoors versus outdoor (p-value < 0.05); however, pens within housing type may have an effect. Comparative proteomics results suggest there are subtle differences among airway epithelia of animals reared indoors versus outdoors. Porcine airway epithelial cells exposed to swine confinement facility dust extract in vitro showed differential proteome modulation, including key inflammatory mediators cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Taken together, these results demonstrate that there may be subtle differences between the impacts of the two hog management styles on porcine airway epithelial proteomes and morphology.

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