Physical, chemical and biological aspects of the urine of sows in a certificated swine reproduction farm in the city of Toledo, Paran, Brazil

Urinary tract infection in sows is among the main reproduction problems because of its influences on productivity of the herd, affecting mainly the general health of sows and has considerable increase in the replacement rate. Thus, it is considered as the most important endemic disease in the sow in the production phase. The aim of this study was to determine the physical, chemical and microbiological aspects of the urine of sows from a certified reproductive farm in the city of Toledo, Paraná, Brasil, and later isolate and identify the pathogens present and perform an antibiogram of the samples. Urine samples from 100 sows were evaluated, performing physical-chemical, microbiological and antibiogram examinations. Etiological agents isolated with greatest frequency were Escherichia coli (75%), Salmonella sp. (19%) and Proteus vulgaris (6%). All samples were negative for Actinobaculum suis. The most effective antibiotics in controlling urinary tract infection was ceftiofur (77%) and gentamicin (73%). However, those presenting greater resistance were lincomycin (100%). In the physical examination of the urine samples, a total of 59% were light yellow in color. Under chemical evaluation, there was absence (100% negative) of uribilinogen, glucose, ketone bodies and bilirubin, and the presence (positivity) of protein (3%), nitrite (83%) and blood (1%). In general, the mean density was 1.015. The pH did not present variation, and remained neutral in all samples.