The prevalence of gastric Helicobacter infection in finishing pigs and the influence of this infection on gastric lesions was studied. Stomachs of 89 finishing pigs from 27 randomly selected herds were sampled at the slaughterhouse. Forty cases (Group A) were selected based upon the presence of gross pathological lesions in the pars oesophagea, and further 49 cases were obtained at random (Group B). Three samples of gastric tissue (junction of pars oesophagea and pars cardiaca, fundic area, and pyloric area) were collected from each stomach for histological and immunohistochemical examination. Helicobacter antigen was detected in 76 cases (85.4%). No association was found between the presence of Helicobacter in the stomach and the occurrence of gross pathological lesions in the pars oesophagea or gastritis detected on histological examination. However, a significant association was found between the occurrence of Helicobacter in the pyloric area and the presence of erosions/ulcers in the pars oesophagea (OR: 7.01, p = 0.022) in Group B. A significant association was also evident between the presence of Helicobacter and glandular lesions (dilatation of the glands + glandular abscess + degeneration of glandular epithelial cells). In conclusion, Helicobacter infection seems to be a contributing factor to pathological changes in the stomach of finishing pigs.

The authors have collected fecal and gastric samples from 110 pigs originating from 27 farms and a further 116 fecal samples from six additional farms. Fifty-eight pigs were selected randomly, whereas 52 pigs were chosen on the basis of the presence of gross lesions (catarrh, parakeratosis, ulcer). Samples for histological examination were collected from the oesophageal, cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions. The paraffin-embedded samples were sectioned and stained with hemalaun-eosin and subsequently examined for the presence of inflammation. parakeratosis or ulceration. Some sections were also stained with the Warthin-Starry method and there were structures similar to Helicobacter suis found on the mucosal surface and in the foveolae (Figure 3. and 4.). Of the 110 stomachs examined, 67 had gross lesions. Of the 82 stomach samples examined histologically, all sections showed some form of mucosal lesion [inflammation (Figure 1.), parakeratosis, ulcer (Figure 2.)]. The HpSA-ELISA-test, capable of detecting the somatic antigen of H. pylori even from disintegrated bacteria, was positive in all cases tested (Table 1.). This is likely to be due to the presence of bacteria that are antigenically related to N. pylori, or other, as yet unidentified Helicobacter species. Further histological studies are necessary to clarify the pathological significance of Helicobacter infection in swine.

Hungarian cattle herds were surveyed for bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) infection by ELISA of milk and serum samples. In 1993, 75% of the large cattle herds (consisting of more than 50 cattle) and all small herds (small-scale producers' stocks), while in 1997 90% of the small herds were included in the survey. In the case of large herds, 79.3% of the herds and 64.1% of the samples tested were found to be positive. Of the small herds, 13.5% and 15.7% tested positive in 1993 and 1997, respectively. The majority of large herds were Holstein-Friesian dairy stocks. Small herds with an infection rate markedly exceeding the average were found in those counties where the small herds had been in close contact with the large-scale farms, or where new herds were established by using animals of uncontrolled infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) status originating from large farms. Attention is called to the importance of maintaining the IBR-free status of small herds that constitute one-third of the Hungarian cattle population.