Disease Checklist:

[mikey]

Frostbite
This is the end result of the destruction of the skin and surface tissues by low temperatures. The ears, tail and feet are particularly vulnerable areas. Frostbite is not uncommon in outdoor pigs.
Symptoms
All Pigs
The skin initially becomes pale then bright red, swollen and painful.
If exposure to low temperatures continues, the affected tissues die and a line of demarcation develops between damaged and healthy tissues becoming blue.
Secondary skin infections or dermatitis develop.
Causes / Contributing factors
Exposure to low temperatures.
Diagnosis
This is based upon skin lesions and a history of exposure to low temperatures. It can be confused with acute infection by erysipelas, salmonella or pasteurella bacteria or a toxic condition.
Treatment
Cover affected areas with an antiseptic cream
Topical antibiotic cream may be required to control infections
Move affected animal indoors

[mikey]

Gastric Ulcers
Erosion and ulceration of the lining of the stomach is a common condition in sows and growing pigs. (More common in growing pigs than breeding animals). It occurs around the area where the food pipe (oesophagus) enters the stomach. In the early stages of the disease this area becomes roughened and gradually changes as the surface becomes eroded until it is ulcerated. Intermittent bleeding may then take place leading to anaemia or massive haemorrhage may occur resulting in death. The incidence in sows is usually less than 5% in growing pigs at slaughter is up to 60%.
Symptoms
These depend on the severity of the condition.
Piglets

Uncommon.
Often no symptoms.
Wasting.
Sows
In the less acute form:

Pale skin.
Weak.
Breathless.
Dehydration.
Grinding of the teeth due to stomach pain .
Passing of dark faeces containing digested blood.
Not eating.
Vomiting.
A tucked up appearance.
In its most acute form:
Previously healthy animals are found dead and very pale.
Weaners & Growers
Acute form:

Previously healthy animals are found dead.
The most striking sign is the paleness of the carcass due to internal haemorrhage.
Less acute form:
The affected pig is pale.
Weak.
Shows breathlessness.
Grinding of the teeth.
Vomiting.
The passing of dark faeces containing digested blood is often a persistent symptom.
Usually the temperature is normal.
In chronic cases:
The pig has an intermittent appetite and may lose weight.
Causes / Contributing factors
There is usually more than one causal factor. They may include nutritional factors, management deficiencies that lead to stress, and infections.

Nutritional factors

Low protein diets.
Low fibre diets. (The introduction of straw reduces the incidence).
High energy diets.
High levels of wheat in excess of 55%.
Deficiencies of vitamin E or selenium.
Diets containing high levels of iron, copper or calcium.
Diets low in zinc.
Diets with high levels of unsaturated fats.
Diets based on whey and skimmed milk.
Physical aspects of the feed
Size of feed particle - the more finely ground the meal the smaller becomes the particle size and the higher the incidence of ulcers. This is still the case if the feed is then pelleted.
Pelleting feeds in itself increases the incidence. Feed meal.
However, sometimes changing from pellets to meal itself causes problems. A compromise is to feed alternatively.
Cereals with a high moisture content sometimes seem to contribute to ulcers.
Rolling cereals as distinct from grinding them will often produce a dramatic drop in the incidence but the penalties of feed use have to be taken into consideration.
Managemental factors that increase the incidence:
Irregular feeding patterns and shortage of feeder space.
Increased stocking densities and movement of pigs or any other undue stresses including poor stockmanship.
Transportation.
Excessive aggression between sows.
Poor management of sows in stalls and tethers.
Noisy unsympathetic stockmanship in the farrowing rooms.
Periods of starvation.
Poor availability of food or water.
Fluctuating environmental temperatures.
Other diseases.
There is a clear relationship between outbreaks of pneumonia and the incidence of gastric ulceration.
Ulceration may occur following bacterial septicaemias such as those associated with erysipelas and swine fever.
Breed.
More common in certain genotypes.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs and post mortem lesions. A sample of faeces should be examined for the presence of blood and to eliminate parasites. An examination of stomachs at slaughter should be carried out.
Gastric ulcers must be differentiated from haemorrhage of the bowel, eperythrozoonosis, the red stomach worm Hyostrongylus rubidus and porcine enteropathy.

[mikey]

Getah Viruses
These have been associated with foetal death and abortion in sows in Japan and Korea but little is seen or noted in other countries. It is not of great significance.

[mikey]

Glässers Disease
Related Products:
PARAPAC®
PNEU PARAPAC® +ER (Multi efficacy)
Porcilis Glässer
Glässers Disease is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus parasuis (Hps), of which there are at least fifteen different types. It is found throughout the world and organisms are present even in high health herds. If such herds are set up using SPF or MEW techniques and are free from Hps it can be devastating when they first become contaminated, producing an anthrax-like disease with high mortality in sows.
In the majority of herds in which the bacterium is endemic, sows produce a strong maternal immunity which normally persists in their offspring until 8 to 12 weeks of age. As a result, the effects of the infection in weaners are usually nil or minimal. . Disease may however be seen in sucking pigs. Pigs usually become sub-clinically infected when still protected by maternal antibody and then stimulate their own immune response. If however the maternal immunity wears off before they become infected they may develop severe disease. This is usually sometime after weaning. It can also act as a secondary pathogen to other major diseases particularly enzootic pneumonia (EP) (Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae). Outbreaks of disease are sometimes experienced in sucking pigs, particularly in gilt herds.

Hps attacks the smooth surfaces of the joints, coverings of the intestine, lungs, heart and brain causing pneumonia, heart sac infection, peritonitis and pleurisy. It is respiratory spread.

Symptoms
Sows
Disease is rare in sows, unless the dry sow is naive.
Occasionally seen in gilts:
Lameness / stiffness.
Slight swellings over the joints and tendons.
Meningitis rarely.
Piglets
Acute disease:

Rapidly depressed.
Elevated temperature.
Inappetence .
Reluctant to rise.
Characteristic feature a short cough of 2-3 episodes.
Sudden death in good sucking piglets is not uncommon.
Also causes individual cases of arthritis and lameness with fever and inappetence.
Chronic disease:
Pale and poor growing pigs.
Sudden deaths may occur.
Weaners & Growers
Pigs with glässers disease become rapidly depressed or may be just found dead.
Elevated temperature.
Stop eating.
Reluctant to rise.
Fever.
Nervous signs - fits and convulsions including meningitis.
Poor pigs, wasting, hairy often result.
In young growing pigs the following are common:
Fever.
Mild meningitis.
Arthritis.
Lameness.
Pneumonia.
Heart sac infection.
Peritonitis and pleurisy.
A characteristic feature is a short cough of only 2-3 episodes.
Causes
It is respiratory spread. Disease may be precipitated by PRRS, flu or EP.
Poor environments, draughts etc. predispose.
Stress.
Diagnosis
This is made by clinical observations, post-mortem examinations and isolation of the organism in the laboratory. Gl?ssers disease has to be differentiated from Actinobacillus suis infection, App, mulberry heart disease, streptococcal meningitis and arthritis and bacterial septicaemias.

[mikey]

Greasy Pig Disease
This is caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus hyicus which lives normally on the skin without causing disease. It is not known why sometimes it flares up and causes a dermatitis which oozes greasy fluid. It produces toxins which are absorbed into the system and damage the liver and kidneys. In the sucking piglet disease is usually confined to individual animals, but it can be a major problem in new gilt herds and weaned pigs. During the days immediately preceding farrowing the bacterium multiples profusely in the sow's vagina so that piglets are infected during the birth process or soon after.
Symptoms
Sows
Uncommon but localised lesions may be seen particularly behind the face and eyes.
Piglets
Severely affected piglets will die.
Localised lesions on the flanks and behind ears. Lesions usually commence with small, dark, localised areas of infection around the face or on the legs.
The skin along the flanks the belly and between the legs changes to a brown colour gradually involving the whole of the body.
The skin becomes wrinkled with flaking of large areas and it has a greasy feel.
In severe cases the skin turns black due to necrosis and the piglets die.
A more localised picture is seen if the sow has passed some immunity to the piglet, with small circumscribed lesions approximately 5-10mm in diameter that do not spread.
Weaners & Growers
Usually commence about 3 days after weaning with localised, brown areas of infection or dermatitis around the face or on the legs, where the skin has been damaged. It may ulcerate.
The skin along the flanks the belly and between the legs changes to a brown colour gradually involving the whole of the body.
The skin becomes wrinkled with flaking of large areas.
It progresses to a dark greasy texture and in severe cases turns black.
Such cases usually die due to the toxins produce by the staphylococci organisms.
In nurseries up to 15% of the population may be involved.
Dehydration is common.
Causes / Contributing factors
The sharp eye teeth cut the skin around the mouth during competition for a teat.
Abrasions on the knees from sucking may also trigger it off.
Abrasions from poor concrete surfaces or metal floors, side panels.
Faulty procedures for iron injections, removing tails and teeth.
Fighting and skin trauma at weaning.
Mange giving rise to skin damage.
Damage to the face by metal feeding troughs can precipitate disease.
Abnormal behaviour - tail biting, ear biting, navel sucking, flank biting.
Badly clipped teeth at birth.
Diagnosis
This is based on the characteristic skin lesions. It is important to culture the organism and carry out an antibiotic sensitivity test. A moist wet area should be identified, the overlying scab removed and a swab rubbed well into the infected area.

[mikey]

Haematoma
A haematoma is a pocket of blood that forms beneath the skin or in muscle tissue and usually results from ruptured blood vessels following trauma particularly over the shoulders, flanks or the hind quarters. The most common site is the ear.
Symptoms
Sows
Blood from the vulva.
Head on one side.
Large swellings which develop suddenly.
The swellings contain blood or serum due to haemorrhage.
Piglets
Uncommon but as for sow.
Weaners & Growers
Large swellings which develop suddenly.
The swellings contain blood or serum.
Causes / Contributing factors
Fighting.
Mange.
Trauma.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs. Differentiate from an abscess, test with a needle and syringe

[mikey]

Hepatitis E Virus
This caused some public concern in 1997 when it was isolated from pigs' livers which were suffering from another condition. Antibodies were found to be widespread in the pig population of the Mid-western United States. It was shown later that the pig hepatitis virus was distinct from the human one and there was no cross-species transmission. Hepatitis E has also been identified in pigs in Australia. This virus should not worry pig farmers

[mikey]

Hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycaemia is the term for low blood sugar level. During the first few days of life the newborn piglet is unable to mobilise the low glycogen reserves in the liver to provide adequate levels of glucose in the blood. It is therefore dependent for energy on a regular intake of lactose from the sows milk. If a piglet cannot obtain sufficient lactose to maintain its energy output, it runs out of energy, its body temperature drops and ultimately it goes into a coma and dies.
Hypoglycaemia usually occurs in the first 12-24 hours of birth.

Symptoms
Sows, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Piglets
Piglet with Hypoglycaemia
Laid on belly.
Shivering.
Becoming very cold.
Starvation.
Paddling.
Fits and convulsions.
Frothing at the mouth - salivation.
Comatosed.
Eyes are sunken and the head bent backwards due to dehydration.
High mortality.
Causes / Contributing factors
Low level of sugar in the blood.
No milk - starvation.
Severe chilling.
Wet pens.
Low viable piglets.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs. Examine the eyes to see that there is no evidence of rapid back and fore lateral movements which would indicate meningitis not hypoglycaemia.
Diseases associated with Hypoglycaemia
The following diseases can give rise to hypoglycaemia in piglets.
Clostridial Diseases
Congenital Tremour
Diahorrea - acute e.coli infections
Low birth rate / poor maturity
Mastitis, no milk, no colostrum
Navel Bleeding
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)
Pseudorabies / Aujesky's disease
Splay leg
Transmissible Gastro Enteritis (TGE)

[mikey]

Hps - (Haemophilus Parasuis)
Related Products:
DRAXXIN®
EXCEDE®
Glässers Disease is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus parasuis (Hps), of which there are at least fifteen different types. It is found throughout the world and organisms are present even in high health herds. If such herds are set up using SPF or MEW techniques and are free from Hps it can be devastating when they first become contaminated, producing an anthrax-like disease with high mortality in sows.
In the majority of herds in which the bacterium is endemic, sows produce a strong maternal immunity which normally persists in their offspring until 8 to 12 weeks of age. As a result, the effects of the infection in weaners are usually nil or minimal. . Disease may however be seen in sucking pigs. Pigs usually become sub-clinically infected when still protected by maternal antibody and then stimulate their own immune response. If however the maternal immunity wears off before they become infected they may develop severe disease. This is usually sometime after weaning. It can also act as a secondary pathogen to other major diseases particularly enzootic pneumonia (EP) (Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae). Outbreaks of disease are sometimes experienced in sucking pigs, particularly in gilt herds.

Hps attacks the smooth surfaces of the joints, coverings of the intestine, lungs, heart and brain causing pneumonia, heart sac infection, peritonitis and pleurisy. It is respiratory spread.

Symptoms
Sows
Disease is rare in sows, unless the dry sow is naive.
Occasionally seen in gilts:
Lameness / stiffness.
Slight swellings over the joints and tendons.
Meningitis rarely.
Piglets
Acute disease:

Rapidly depressed.
Elevated temperature.
Inappetence .
Reluctant to rise.
Characteristic feature a short cough of 2-3 episodes.
Sudden death in good sucking piglets is not uncommon.
Also causes individual cases of arthritis and lameness with fever and inappetence.
Chronic disease:
Pale and poor growing pigs.
Sudden deaths may occur.
Weaners & Growers
Pigs with gl?ssers disease become rapidly depressed or may be just found dead.
Elevated temperature.
Stop eating.
Reluctant to rise.
Fever.
Nervous signs - fits and convulsions including meningitis.
Poor pigs, wasting, hairy often result.
In young growing pigs the following are common:
Fever.
Mild meningitis.
Arthritis.
Lameness.
Pneumonia.
Heart sac infection.
Peritonitis and pleurisy.
A characteristic feature is a short cough of only 2-3 episodes.
Causes
It is respiratory spread. Disease may be precipitated by PRRS, flu or EP.
Poor environments, draughts etc. predispose.
Stress.
Diagnosis
This is made by clinical observations, post-mortem examinations and isolation of the organism in the laboratory. Glässers disease has to be differentiated from Actinobacillus suis infection, App, mulberry heart disease, streptococcal meningitis and arthritis and bacterial septicaemias.

[mikey]

Heat Stroke
This usually occurs where ventilation has failed or in extremely hot weather.
Symptoms
Piglets
Uncommon, but as for sow.
Sows, Weaners & Growers
Distress.
A very high respiratory rate.
Muscle trembling.
Skin red.
Weakness.
Prostration.
Vomiting.
Diarrhoea may be seen.
Rectal temperature may rise to 43?C (109?F)
Causes / Contributing factors
High temperatures.
Exposure to sunlight.
Combined with high humidity and poor ventilation in indoor housing.
Diagnosis
The history and clinical signs.
Treatment
Give immediate treatment
Immerse the animal in cold water or spray
Dribbel cold water into the rectum using a flutter valve

[mikey]

Ileitis (Lawsonia intracellularis)
Related Products:
Aurofac / Aureomycin
Enterisol® Ileitis
This comprises a group of conditions involving pathological changes in the small intestine associated with the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis. This exists on most if not all farms. Disease takes four different forms: porcine intestinal adenopathy (PIA) an abnormal proliferation of the cells that line the intestines; necrotic enteritis (NE) where the proliferated cells of the small intestine die and slough off with a gross thickening of the small intestine (hosepipe gut); regional ileitis (RI), inflammation of the terminal part of the small intestine and proliferative haemorrhagic enteropathy (PHE). In the latter there is massive bleeding into the small intestine, hence the common name bloody gut and this is the commonest form in growing pigs. The other three forms are rarer and progress from PIA. PHE is more common in 60-90kg pigs and gilts.
All are uncommon in the mature female but outbreaks of one of the forms, bloody gut or porcine haemorrhagic enteropathy (PHE), are occasionally seen in maiden and pregnant gilts.

The organism is impossible to keep out of farms probably because it also infects other species. Infected faeces are the major vehicle for spread around the farm.

Symptoms
Weaners & Growers

Clinical signs of PIA, NE, RI are different from PHE.

PIA:
The pig appears clinically normal.
Initially eats well.
Chronic watery, sloppy diarrhoea.
Necrosis.
Gradual wasting.
Loss of condition.
In some cases a pot bellied bloated appearance.
Pigs with the chronic form of the PIA recover over a period of four to six weeks, however there can be considerable losses in feed efficiency and daily gain of up to 0.3 and 80g/day respectively. As a consequence there can be marked variations in sizes of pigs.
NI or RI follow from it with similar signs.
PHE is an acute disease:
Bloody scour.
The pig may die suddenly.
Appears very pale and passes black bloody faeces.
Anaemic.
Sows
Gilts with PHE have pale skins.
Appear weak.
Bloody or black tarry diarrhoea.
May suddenly die.
Abortions
Piglets
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
These are not fully understood.
The use of continually populated pens.
Lack of all-in, all-out production.
Naive animals.
Change of environment.
Changes in feed.
Carry over of infection between batches appears to be a main means of spread.
Associated with continual population of finishing pens.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical picture, post-mortem examinations, histology of the gut wall and demonstrating the organism in faeces by an ELISA test. A serological test is also available. Only a few laboratories can do these tests. Tissue cultures have been recently developed.

[mikey]

Inherited Thick Legs, Hyperostosis
This is a very rare condition of newborn piglets which is thought to be inherited. Individual litters are born with boney thickening of the legs, most notably the front legs. The pigs can not walk properly and usually fail to thrive. If such a condition arises check that the boar has not thrown other similar litters and do not mate the sow with the same boar again.

[mikey]

Internal Parasites (Worms etc.)
In the sow the important parasites are the large white worms ascarids (Ascaris suum), red stomach worms (Hyostrongylus rubidus) and whip worms (Trichuris suis). Pigs can also get ring worm, which although needs treatment, is of little economic significance, however it can be passed to humans.

The sow becomes the source of potential infection to piglets. The threadworm (Strongyloides ransomi) is important in the piglet. The life cycles of all are direct from eggs in faeces to adult in the intestine.
Internal parasites are an uncommon problem in the weaned, growing and finisher pig unless they are housed in continuously occupied straw based or bare concrete pens in which case ascarids may become a problem.

Symptoms
Sows
May include the following:

Coughing.
Loss of body condition.
Hairy pigs.
Vomiting.
Blood in faeces but rarely.
Anaemia.
Diarrhoea - sloppy.
Piglets (Thread Worm)
Coughing.
Stiffness.
Pain.
Vomiting.
Bloody diarrhoea.
Some mortality.
Weaners & Growers
Coccidiosis could cause diarrhoea within 7 to 10 days of entry to continually used pens.
Strongyle infections (poor growth and sloppy faeces) within 3 to 4 weeks
Coughing.
Blood in faeces.
Pneumonia / Heavy breathing.
Pale pigs.
Causes / Contributing factors
Management systems that allow regular access to faeces.
Faeces allowed to accumulate for more than 3 - 4 days (allows eggs to become infective).
Moist wet areas encourage survival of eggs.
No all-in, all-out management.
Permanently populated yards or paddocks outdoors.
Failure to monitor faeces for egg output.
Failure to carry out routine treatments when indicated.
Continuously used pens predispose.
Wet dirty floors.
Carrier pigs.
Diagnosis
This is based on symptoms and identification of the parasites. Laboratory examination of faeces for worm eggs.
Photo's of the various worms
Large white worm Eggs
(Ascaris suum)
 Large white worm
(Ascaris suum)
 
 
Threadworm Eggs
(Strongyloides ransomi)
 Threadworm
(Strongyloides ransomi)
 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
Whipworm Eggs
(Trichinosis)
 Whipworms
(Trichuris suis)
 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ringworm in Dry Sows

 

[mikey]

Iron toxicity (Vitamin E Deficiency)
Iron toxicity occurs when the sow and her piglets are deficient in vitamin E. Iron dextran injections become toxic and cause severe muscle reactions at the injection site.
Symptoms
Piglets
The piglets become acutely lame, stiff and the affected muscles swell.
The piglets develop heavy breathing and look pale.
Anaemic.
Death occurs within 24 hours.
Sows
None
Weaners & Growers
Rare
Causes / Contributing factors
Vitamin E deficiency in the sow occurs when fats in the diet become rancid or cereals or corn have fermented and spoiled and the vitamin E is destroyed. Piglets are then born deficient
Poor quality iron dextran will predispose.
Diagnosis
A history of acute lameness within 12 hours of iron injection, often with high mortality. Swellings at the sire of injection.

[mikey]

Japanese B Encephalitis Virus (JE)
This virus is spread by mosquitoes and is only important in countries where the insects are prevalent. Most domestic animals are affected. It causes an encephalitis in the human. The pig is an important source of infection.

Symptoms
Sows, Weaners & Growers
No clinical effects.
Piglets
Mummified piglets
Stillborn piglets
Nervous signs in piglets - Fits and convulsions.
Oedema fluid in piglets.
Boars
Infertility in boars.
Swollen testicles.
Causes / Contributing factors
The presence of mosquitoes.
Susceptible pigs (na?ve).
Viral reservoirs in other species.
Diagnosis
Viral isolation. HI and ELISA tests.