Neutralizing Chronic, Acute Disease Challenges

摘要

Sow and gilt health mainte-nance in gestation is impacted by a host of factors. The traditional approach to sow and gilt health uses "health" and "disease" synonymously. It is more correct to consider disease status as one element of overall health. Each new veterinary discovery reveals that diligent attention to nutrition, management and environment can enhance the ability of the immune system to neutralize disease challenges to the sow or gilt. Disease challenges are increasingly complex; disease organisms are increasingly evasive of the immune system, and some, like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PPRS) virus, attack the immune system directly and use immune cells to replicate.