Disease Checklist:

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Abortion and embryo / foetal loss
Abortion means the premature expulsion of dead or non-viable foetuses. Embryo loss occurs when there is death of embryos followed by absorption, or expulsion. Healthy embryos grow into foetuses.
There is often alarm when an abortion is seen but it should be remembered that there can be loss of embryos at any time during early pregnancy, which often go unseen.

Embryo loss or abortion can be considered in three main groups:

During the period from fertilisation to implantation
During the period of implantation at around 14 days post-service to 35 days.
During the period of maturation, which results in premature farrowings. It can be seen therefore that losses can take place at any stage from approximately 14 days after mating, when implantation has taken place, through to 110 days of pregnancy.
Records help to identify reproductive problems. These should include information on:

- Age (or parity) profile of the herd.
- Failure to come on heat.
- Culling rates.
- Bleeding and discharges from the vulva.
- Repeats, sows not in pig.
- Lameness.
- Litter sizes.
- Mastitis, lack of milk, swollen udders.
- Deaths and their likely causes.
- Poor conformation.
- Prolapse of the vagina or rectum.
- Savaging.
Symptoms
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Sows
The delivery of a premature litter with or without mummified pigs.
Mucus, blood, pus discharges from the vulva.
Sow may be ill or normal.
Symptoms of a specific disease.
Sows not in pig.
Usually less than 2% of sows affected, however acute PRRS may cause rates to rise to 20% or more.
Causes / Contributing factors
Infectious Causes (common ones). Consider the following:
Aujeszky's disease.
Influenza virus.
PRRS (Blue ear disease).
Leptospira.
Specific bacteria, E. coli, klebsiella, streptococci, pseudomonas.
Parasite burdens.
Cystitis, nephritis.
Non Infectious Causes
Seasonal infertility.
Decreasing daylight length, poor lighting.
Low temperatures.
Chilling, draughts.
Poor nutrition.
Mouldy feeds.
Contaminated water.
Stress.
No boar contact.
Vaccine reaction.
Lameness.
Poor hygiene.
Diagnosis
Fresh, aborted foetuses should be submitted to a competent diagnostic laboratory where examinations can be carried out for evidence of viral and bacterial infections, together with histological examinations and toxic studies. In many cases the end results of post-mortem and serological tests do not identify any particular infectious organism, which may seem disappointing. However, it is useful in telling us what is not present.
A Checklist for Abortions
Abortion Level. Is this more than 1.5% of sows served? Take action.
Are sows ill? Probably disease.
Are sows otherwise normal? Probably non infectious, Maternal failures.
Is the problem seasonal? Autumn abortion syndrome.
Do they occur in a particular part of the farm? Environmental.
Are the aborted pigs fresh or alive? Suggests the environment.
Are mummified pigs present? Suggests infection.
Is the dry sow accommodation uncomfortable? Suggests the environment.
Are sow pens wet, draughty, poorly lit? Suggests the environment.
Does the ventilation system chill the sows? Suggests the environment.
Are there factors that place the sows in a negative energy state? e.g.: High chill factors, draughts, low feed intake, a change in bedding or availability.
Are sows short of food - Check feed intakes by volume and weight.
Is the food mouldy? Check for mouldy feed.
Do the sows experience 14 hours of good light at eye level?
Are the lights dirty, covered in fly dirt?
Can you read a newspaper in the darkest corner?
Do your sows have boar contact in pregnancy?
Are any other diseases evident in the sows? e.g.: lameness , cystitis, kidney infections.
Are the abortions associated with stress?
Increase feed intake from days 3 to 21 after mating according to body condition and environmental temperatures.
Increase the mating programme by 10-15% over the anticipated period of infertility.
Because boar semen can be affected, particularly by environmental temperatures, follow each natural mating 24 hours later by purchased AI.
Further Reading

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Abscesses
Pockets of pus that contain large numbers of bacteria which usually enter the body through damage to the skin. Near the skin surface they may become painful.
Symptoms
All Pigs
Possibly emaciation and death.
Small to large swellings.
Pigs show pain / discomfort.
Evidence of fluid - pus or blood in the swellings.
Red skin may be ulcerated.
Often damage evident to the skin.
Lameness from spinal abscesses.
Causes / Contributing factors
Fighting.
Secondary infection arising from other conditions such as PRRS, pneumonia or tail biting.
Small widespread abscesses in the skin (pustular dermatitis) may be seen following general illness, septicaemia and or greasy pig disease.
Damage to the skin by sharp objects in the environment.
Trauma to feet, knees, tail.
Teeth removal.
Poor injections.
Chronic abscesses may from around joints following fractures.
Diagnosis
Feel and press the swelling to ascertain if the contents are fluid or solid. Sample the contents by inserting an 18mm 16 gauge needle attached to a 10ml syringe at the lowest soft point of the swelling.
Haemorrhage into the tissues is the only condition likely to be confused with an abscess. In such cases either pure blood or a very thin blood stained liquid will be withdrawn. Such pockets of blood are called haematomas.

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Actinobacillosis
This is caused by the bacteria, Actinobacillus suis and Actinobacillus equuli. The first of these is present in most herds and lives in the tonsils of older pigs, particularly sows. It usually only effects piglets.
Symptoms
Sows
Rarely applicable.
Piglets
Sudden death.
Discoloration of skin (blue).
High fever.
Coughing.
Pneumonia.
Skin lesions (not to be confused with Erysipelas).
Arthritis.
Lameness.
Septicaemia.
Weaners & Growers
Rarely seen.
Symptoms as for piglets
Causes / Contributing factors
It can be precipitated by PRRS.
Teeth clipping .
De-tailing.
Scrubbed knees.
It may enter the piglet via the respiratory system or via cuts and abrasions.
It occasionally multiplies in the blood stream and settles out in various parts of the body, particularly the lungs and the joints. Here it produces multiple small abscesses.
Diagnosis
Post-mortem and laboratory examinations to demonstrate characteristic lesions and the presence of the organism. It has to be differentiated from meningitis, acute E. coli infection, erysipelas, clostridial diseases and piglets that have been laid on.

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Actinobacillus Pleuropneumonia (App)
Related Products:
Nuflor
DRAXXIN®
EXCEDE®
EXCENEL® RTU
Porcilis APP
Porcilis Cobactan 2.5%
Tiamutin
The bacterium Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) consists of at least twelve different serotypes, some of which produce no disease but others cause severe disease. Serotypes vary in different countries. Types 1, 5, 9, 11 and 12 are usually highly virulent and strains 3 and 6 are mild. App is carried in the tonsils and upper respiratory tract. It is transmitted short distances by droplet infection and only survives outside the pig for a few days.
The organism may affect the pig from weaning through to slaughter but usually the age is from 8 to 16 weeks. The incubation period is very short, as little as 12 hours. Toxins produce severe damage to the lungs.

App is uncommon in sows unless they are naive or disease is triggered by PRRS or flu.

Symptoms
All Pigs
Unusual in adult and very young pigs unless a naive herd.
Sudden death/mortality may be low or high - only sign a bloody discharge from the nose.
Sudden death/mortality - no symptoms and more than 1 % of such deaths. Post mortems required.
A short cough perhaps 1 to 3 coughs at a time - different from the prolonged coughing of EP.
Severe heavy breathing difficulties.
Blueing of the ears.
Badly affected pigs are:
- Severely depressed.
- Off feed.
- Body temperatures are high.
Pleurisy.
Haemorrhage from the nose.
Lameness - occassionally.
Pale pigs.
Pneumonia.
Poor pigs - wasting and hairy.
Causes / Contributing factors
Contaminated or carrier incoming pigs.
Can be spread mechanically by equipment and visitors.
Water deprivation.
Low temperature and low humidity predisposes.
Stress / movement.
Nutritional changes.
Continual production.
High stocking densities.
Diagnosis
This is based on herd history, clinical signs, post-mortem examinations including slaughter house checks and culture of the organism in the laboratory. The lesions in the lung are very characteristic. Serology can be used to identify different serotypes but the interpretation can be difficult because of cross reactions between serotypes.

App must be differentiated from enzootic pneumonia, PRRS, flu, and Salmonella choleraesuis pneumonia.

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Agalactia
This is a failure of milk let down, shortage of milk or no milk in an otherwise healthy animal.
Symptoms
Lactating Sows only
Inappetence may or not be present.
May have slight fever but usually no temperature.
Udder tissue is poorly developed and disappearing.
Oedema of the udder.
No milk.
Piglets starving due to no milk.
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
Old age.
Excess body condition.
Water shortage.
Poor crate design.
Sequel to oedema or mastitis.
Diagnosis
This is based upon the appearance of the litter, piglets showing starvation, and the udder which lacks milk and is "drying up", or the udder may be hard with oedema or fluid.
Further Reading
Click on the links below to find out more about this disease, including treatment, management control and prevention information. The top link is the main article on this disease.
Agalactia - No Milk
Mastitis - Inflammation of the Mammary Glands

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Anaemia
Anaemia is caused by the lack of sufficient, or diseased red cells in the blood. This is mainly a disease of the piglet because it is born with limited supplies of iron, a vital component in blood cells. If the piglet does not have access to iron in the first 2 - 3 weeks it's red cell capacity to absorb oxygen (anaemia) is impaired. Anaemic animals will be susceptible to infertility.
Symptoms
All pigs (mainly seen in piglets)
Pale skin.
Rapid breathing.
Jaundiced sometimes(Skin slight yellow appearance).
Mucous membranes of the eyes are pale.
Scour, sloppy diarrhoea.
Signs of haemorrhage.
Symptoms of specific disease.
Weakness.
May be increased stillbirths.
Causes / Contributing factors
Eperythrozoonosis (Epe)
Gastric ulcers
Haematoma
Internal bleeding
Loss of blood visible
Porcine enteropathy (PE)
Prolapse of the rectum
Torsion of the stomach and intestines
Faulty nutrition.
Lack of iron or copper.
Warfarin poisoning.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs and examination of blood samples by red cell counts, levels of haemoglobin and visual appearance of the red cells under the microscope.

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Anthrax
This is an uncommon disease of pigs in most parts of the world. Care however should always be taken in handling diseased pigs or carcasses because anthrax is communicable to people. Effective vaccines are available in some countries for both pigs and people.
Symptoms
All Pigs
Acute illness.
Bloody faeces.
Haemorrhage from the nose.
Fever.
Respiratory distress.
Sudden death.
Swollen discoloured neck.
Blue skin.
Unusual in piglets
Causes / Contributing factors
Contaminated feed or water.
Diagnosis
Anthrax should be suspected if a sow is found dead and post-mortem examination shows copious blood tinged tissue fluid and large red lymph nodes under the skin of the neck and in the abdomen. The post-mortem examination should be discontinued immediately and veterinary help sought.

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Arthritis, joint infections
Related Products:
Porcilis Cobactan 2.5%
SS Pac®
Tiamutin
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints and is common in all sucking, growing pigs and sows. The causes are mainly bacteria. The bacteria include Actinobacillus suis, Haemophilus parasuis, E. coli, staphylococci and streptococci and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae. The commonest in sucking pigs is Streptococcus suis type 1 which causes chronic lesions sporadically in individual pigs but Streptococcus suis type 14, which is less common, also causes severe sudden outbreaks of very painful arthritis. Mycoplasma arthritis is rare in piglets. Erysipelas is uncommon due to the presence of maternal antibody but as this disappears from between 6 - 10 weeks of age disease may develop.
Symptoms
Sows
Lameness.
Stiffness.
Piglets
Sudden death.
Shivering.
Lameness.
Pigs show pain / discomfort.
Reluctance to rise.
Hairy appearance.
Swollen hock and elbow joints.
Stiffness or lameness
Weaners & Growers
Lameness, swollen joints.
Reluctance to stand.
May be signs of specific disease.
Diamond lesions on skin - raised skin patches.
Causes / Contributing factors
Trauma.
Knee necrosis *.
Faulty iron injections.
Poor floor surfaces.
Faulty teeth clipping, tail docking, worn equipment *.
Navel infection *.
Poor sow immunity.
Brucellosis (in countries where this exists).
Gl?ssers disease (Haemophilus parasuis). *
Erysipelas.*
Mycoplasma arthritis (Mycoplasma hyosynoviae infection). *
Leg weakness, Osteochondrosis (OCD) .*
Streptococcal infection .*
Trauma. *
(* common)
Diagnosis
In many cases the only clinical sign is lameness. If a problem exists it is necessary to identify the organisms or diseases

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Atresia Ani - No Anus or No Rectum
The piglet is born with a blind end to its rectum, 5-10mm in length with no anus. It is not worth attempting surgical repair. Death invariably ensues. The incidence in mature herds is usually less than 0.5% but it can be much higher in newly established gilt herds. The condition is heritable but of low penetrance. Records may indicate that a certain boar is involved. The abdomens of affected piglets becomes enlarged. Some piglets may survive to weaning. Affected piglets should be destroyed.

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Atrophic Rhinitis (AR)
Related Products:
Aurofac / Aureomycin
Econor
Porcilis ART
Rhinitis is inflammation of the tissues inside the nose and in its mild form it is very common. During the process of infection the delicate turbinate bones in the nose become damaged and may shrink or become distorted (atrophy). This condition rarely causes clinical disease in the mature animal but if the breeding female has been infected early in life it could still show distortions of the face in adulthood.
There are two forms of the disease: mild and non-progressive where the infection or irritation occurs over a period of 2 to 3 weeks. However, the inflammation does not progress and the turbinate bones repair and return to normality.

The serious disease is progressive atrophic rhinitis (PAR) where toxin producing strains of the bacterium Pasteurella multocidia, present in the herd cause a continual and progressive inflammation and atrophy of the tissues and nose distortion. Progressive atrophic rhinitis is a serious condition both in sucking and growing pigs.

All herds will show some degree of non-progressive atrophic rhinitis.

Symptoms
Sows
None clinically. They may carry the pasteurella organism.
Possible distortion of the face.
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
Early signs can be seen in sucking pigs; sneezing, snuffling and a nasal discharge.
Sneezing often blood stained. Haemorrhage.
Runny eyes, tear staining. Conjunctivitis.
Twisting, shortening and wrinkling of the nose and or upper jaw.
Reduced daily gain and variable growth.
Poor body condition.
Reduced feed efficiency.
Difficulty eating.
Inappetence.
Increase in respiratory diseases.
Pneumonia.
Causes / Contributing factors
More common in young herds particularly those containing large numbers of gilts.
Large permanently populated farrowing houses.
Multi suckling increases the spread of infection.
Poor ventilation, low humidity.
Dusty atmospheres predispose.
Toxic gases predispose.
The presence of diseases such as EP, PRRS, Hps and Aujeszky's disease.
Milder rhinitis, in the absence of toxigenic pasteurella (non progressive disease) in which the turbinate bones heal and regenerate, may be caused by the following.
Air containing high bacterial counts.
Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies).
Bordetella bronchiseptica infection.
Chronic respiratory disease.
Dust.
Gl?ssers disease.
High levels of ammonia.
Porcine cytomegalovirus infection (inclusion body rhinitis).
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).
Poor humid conditions.
Diagnosis
This is based on clinical signs. However do not assume if sneezing alone is occurring in young pigs that it will necessarily lead to progressive atrophic rhinitis. Individual piglets may also develop distortion of the nose from trauma or some cause other than PAR. The disease is easily identified by post-mortem examinations of the nose and culture of the organism from nasal swabs.

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Aujeszky's disease AD,
Related Products:
Porcilis Begonia
PRV/Marker Gold-MaxiVac FLU
PRV/Marker Gold®
This is an important disease of pigs caused by a herpes virus. The virus can remain hidden in nerves of the pig in a carrier state for long periods of time and then be reactivated. Once introduced into a herd the virus usually remains there and it can continually affect reproductive performance at varying levels. The virus can survive for up to three weeks outside the pig. Acute outbreaks of disease occur when virulent strains of the virus first infect an unvaccinated susceptible herd. The virus crosses the uterus and placenta and infects the foetuses.
The pig is the main host. Dogs and cattle may become infected, show nervous signs and die.

Symptoms
Sows
Coughing.
Fever
Nervous signs
Reproductive failure.
Abortions.
Mummified piglets.
Stillbirths.
Birth weak litters.
Piglets
Nervous signs.
Incoordination.
Sneezing.
Coughing.
High mortality.
Low / poor viable piglets.
Weaners & Growers
Fever.
Sneezing.
Coughing.
Pneumonia.
Nervous signs including incoordination, fits and meningitis.
Some strains of the virus can cause severe respiratory disease and others severe rhinitis.
Usually low mortality.
All Other Species
Nervous signs.
Death.
Causes / Contributing factors
Movement of carrier pigs.
Virus airborne - at least 3km (2 miles).
Infection from feral (wild) pigs.
The role of mechanical spread by birds is questionable.
Contaminated carcasses may spread infection.
Mechanically on people.
Contaminated vehicles.
Through infected semen via AI or a carrier boar.
From infected slurry.
Within herds it may be spread by nose to nose contact, or by aerosol droplets.
Periods of stress may activate disease.
Continual production systems perpetuate disease.
Additionally:
The presence of other infections such as PRRS and leptospira may increase the severity of disease.
Diagnosis
When a susceptible breeding herd first breaks down with this disease the clinical signs described above strongly suggest aujeszky's disease and are almost diagnostic. Laboratory tests are required to confirm the diagnosis.

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Back Muscle Necrosis
Back muscle necrosis is part of the porcine stress syndrome and in affected pigs degenerative changes take place in the back muscles along each side of the spine. It is usually seen in the young growing gilt although occasionally it occurs in the adult female. The disease is relatively uncommon.
Symptoms
Growing Pigs and Gilts/Sows
The symptoms are sudden in onset after exercise.
Severe pain in the lumber muscles with obvious swellings.
Incoordination.
Death (necrosis) of muscle fibres with haemorrhages into the tissues themselves.
Lameness - reluctance to stand.
Adopt a dog sitting position.
The temperature is usually normal but may be elevated.
Discoloration of the skin over the affected area.
Piglets & Weaners
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
Sudden movement e.g. from confinement to outdoor accommodation.
Presence of the halothane gene.
Diagnosis
Based on the clinical signs. The pig can be made to stand with difficulty but there is no evidence of fractures. Examine the lumber muscles carefully, they will be swollen and painful on pressure. History includes sudden lameness associated with movement and acute pain.

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Biotin Deficiency
Biotin is present in most nutrient sources and deficiency is unlikely. The role of biotin in nutrition and the changes that result when it is deficient are not clear. Reports and field studies however have highlighted the following associations:
Symptoms
Piglets
N/A
Sows, Weaners & Growers

Lameness throughout the herd or a group of sows.
Laminitis.
Hooves will be soft over the walls.
Haemorrhage over the solar surfaces of the feet.
Dark transverse cracks in hooves.
Excessive hair loss.
Extended weaning to mating intervals - Anoestrus (sows only).
Poor litter size.
Causes / Contributing factors
Biotin deficiency in the diet.
Possible cause trauma from poor floor surfaces.
Diagnosis
Based on the clinical picture and the fact that the herd or a group of animals will be affected. Chronic lesions of swine vesicular disease could be confused with biotin deficiency.

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Blue Eye Disease
This is a viral disease that causes nervous symptoms, reproductive failure and opacity or blueing of the cornea. It is seen mainly in Mexico but has also been reported in other countries. It is not seen in Europe.
Symptoms
All Pigs
Inappetence.
Corneal opacity - conjunctivitis.
Nervous signs - fits and convulsions.
Dog sitting position.
Fever.
Increased returns.
Increased weaning to mating intervals.
Stillbirths
Mummified piglets.
High mortality in piglets
Swollen testicles
Loss of libido
Causes / contributing factors
Carrier pigs.
Nasal spread.
Mechanical spread.
Diagnosis
Clinical symptoms. HI tests. Virus isolation.

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Border Disease (BD)
There are two viruses, which are in the same group of pestiviruses as the virus of swine fever (hog cholera) but which primarily infect cattle and sheep respectively. They can get into pig breeding herds and cause reproductive problems.
The disease is not a common cause of infertility in the sow and would be considered low on the list of possibilities from a diagnostic point of view.

Symptoms
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Sows

Poor conception rates.
A few abortions.
Foetal death.
Mummification.
Small litters.
Low birth weights.
Causes / Contributing factors
Exposure of pigs to cattle or sheep faeces.
Feeding of un-pasteurised cow's milk.
Contaminated live-attenuated virus vaccines.
Diagnosis
Laboratory tests. Serology and isolation.