Epidemiological Analysis of Environmental Factors Affecting Porcine Pleuropneumonia in a Herd Endemic for Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

Abstract

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) is the bacterial agent associated with porcine pleuropneumonia, a severe respiratory disease with significant economic impact due to increased mortality and elevated therapeutic costs, whose progression may be exacerbated by environmental factors. This study evaluates the impact of climatic factors, particularly temperature and relative humidity, on mortality in finishing pigs during the fattening phase within a herd with endemic porcine pleuropneumonia. Data were collected from a commercial swine farm between January 2021 and December 2024, including records of local climatic conditions (daily average temperature and relative humidity) and pig mortality rates. Statistical analysis revealed a positive correlation between periods of elevated temperature or humidity and increased mortality associated with respiratory diseases, suggesting that climatic stress contributes to higher mortality in this herd with endemic APP.