Valutazione in vivo e in vitro della fertilità del verro in contesto aziendale.

In pig industries, the decline in boar fertility, non bound to apparent causes, is a common and economically relevant problem. This study was designed to evaluate if temporary fertility decline could be due to contact with pathogens at level not sufficient to evocate clinical signs of disease but adequate to stimulate the seroconversion. Nine boars have been monitored during 5 months and sperm and blood samples have been repeatedly collected for seminal and serological evaluations. At this level we researched ADV, PRRSV, PCV2, SIV (H1N1, H2N1, H3N2) antibodies. In order to evaluate boar fertility we utilized in vitro as well as in vivo parameters (Farrowing Rate and Litter Size outcome of 230 Artificial Insemination). The low percentage (<5%) of damaged acrosome in an ejaculate significantly correlates with high LS. On the contrary no correlations have been found among seroconversions for PRRSV (2 boars) and for ADV (2 boars) and in vivo fertility as well as positivity for SIV (H1N2 strain) (4 boars).