Swine inflammation and necrosis syndrome (SINS) is a newly identified condition characterized by inflammatory and necrotic signs in various body parts of suckling piglets, weaners, and fatteners. Although evidence indicates a primarily endogenous cause in newborns, the genetic basis and mechanisms underlying the development of SINS are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated whether SINS has a direct and maternal genetic cause, whether animals with SINS are prone to skin damage, and whether there are major genes associated with the syndrome. Results obtained in this study showed that the direct and maternal genetic components of SINS are relevant to explaining this syndrome. A strong genetic correlation between SINS and skin damage was also observed, indicating that early selection against SINS will likely reduce skin damage. Additionally, we identified genetic variants and genes associated with inflammation and tissue malformation through a genome-wide association study.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.