Regular Positive Human Contacts Do Not Improve Pigs' Response to a Lipopolysaccharide Immune Challenge

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior and Welfare
• Immunology
• Animal Physiology

Background:

• The impact of positive human-animal relationships on animal health remains understudied.
• This research explores how regular positive human interactions influence pigs' resilience to immune challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of positive human-animal interactions on pigs' response to an immune challenge.
• To assess if a positive human-animal relationship enhances pigs' resilience and immune parameters.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four female pigs were divided into two groups: positive contact and control.
• Pigs received daily positive interactions or were exposed to a silent human observer for 9 weeks.
• An immune challenge using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered, followed by observation of sickness behaviors and analysis of blood for immune markers and cortisol.

Main Results:

• Both groups exhibited sickness behaviors post-LPS administration.
• No significant differences were observed between the positive contact and control groups in sickness behavior frequency, severity, or recovery time.
• Key immune parameters, including cytokines and cortisol levels, did not differ between the treatment groups.

Conclusions:

• Regular positive human-animal interactions over several weeks did not enhance pigs' response to the lipopolysaccharide immune challenge.
• The study found no improvement in measured immune parameters or resilience in pigs exposed to positive human contact.