Abstract:

The effect of monensin in the control of transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) of pigs

Spiros C. Kyriakis, DVM PhD; John C. Lemmas, DVM PhD; John C. Mavromatis, BVM; Anastasios C. Tsinas, BVM; Stefanos G. Lekkas, DVM PhD; and Thomas A. Tsangaris, DVM PhD

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Monensin sodium, an ionophore polyether antibiotic, has shown efficacy in controlling certain viral infections. We investigated the effect of monensin sodium in moderating the losses of an epidemic outbreak of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) in an immunologically naive swine herd. An epidemic of TGEV occurred on a continuous-farrowing, large industrial pig farm that had no previous exposure to TGEV. Monensin at the dosage of 100 ppm was used in creep feed and weanling pig diets until 2 months of age and in the gestation and lactation diets. Preweaning mortality in pigs <1 week of age was reduced for litters of the sows that received monensin (20.0%) compared to the control group (57.2%), and total piglet mortality up to the age of 60 days was lower for the monensin group (24.8%) compared to the control group (73.9%).We conclude that monensin was very effective in reducing preweaning mortality during this TGE epidemic.

Keywords: transmissible gastroenteritis, monensin


RIS citationCite as: Kyriakis SC, Lemmas JC, Mavromatis JC, et al. The effect of monensin in the control of transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) of pigs. J Swine Health Prod 1993;1(6):15-18.

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