The blood concentration of acute phase proteins (APP) increases in the presence of inflammation, infection, trauma or stress. The generality of response in different pathological situations, the fact that the levels are related to disease severity or extent of tissue damage, and also being induced in stressful situations for the animal, make them an excellent marker of health and wellness.

Interest in the possible applications of the APP in veterinary diagnostics and animal production has increased considerably in recent years.

In the near future the APP could be used routinely in pig production to monitor the health status on farms, optimize the productive systems, or evaluating the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment.

The APP can also be an interesting parameter to evaluate the controls in abattoirs, with applications in food safety and meat quality. 

• In research (pathology, immunity, animal welfare, evaluation of antibiotic treatments, vaccines, production systems ...)
• Farm (subclinical disease detection, analysis of critical points, assessment of animal health that are acquired ...)
• In the meat industry (certification systems in the production chain: an assessment of farms, quality of transport, food animals ...)

To read more (Spanish):

• Acute Phase Proteins in the pig
• Pig-MAP, major acute phase protein in pigs