Disease Checklist:

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Bordetellosis (Bordetella bronchiseptica)
Related Products:
DRAXXIN®
Bordetella bronchiseptica is a bacterium found in most if not all pig populations. Some strains cause a mild and non progressive rhinitis that heals spontaneously. The disease is clinically and economically of no consequence. However if toxigenic pasteurella are present in the herd then a combination of the two organisms can produce severe progressive rhinitis (PAR).
Bordetella bronchiseptica can also be a secondary opportunist invader in pneumonia.

Symptoms
Piglets & Growers
Coughing.
Sneezing.
Nasal discharge.
Sows & Weaners
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
High levels of the bacteria may predominate in poor environments.
Recirculation of air in nurseries allows a build up of organisms.
Continual use of housing.
Diagnosis
This is based on cultural and laboratory examinations.

Treatment
None needed unless levels are high
In-feed medicate with trimethoprim sulpha or chlortetracycline
Inject weaners with oxytetracycline lang acting at weaning

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Botulism
Bacteria called clostridia produce toxins (poisons). Clostridium botulinum, which produces this disease grows in decaying vegetable matter producing the toxin which is then eaten. However botulism is rare in pigs. It should be considered as a food poisoning. See also clostridial diseases for additional information.
Symptoms
These are seen 4-48 hours or so after the toxin has been eaten.

All Pigs

Muscle paralysis.
Weakness of limbs leading to complete paralysis.
Blindness.
Excessive salivation.
Loss of bladder function.
Breathing difficulties.
Unusual in piglets.
Causes / Contributing factors
Decaying feed.
Contaminated water or feed.
Diagnosis
This is based on the symptoms, evidence of decomposing food and demonstration of the presence of toxin by a laboratory .

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Bovine (Porcine) Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
No naturally occurring cases of this have been identified in the pig. It has been produced experimentally by direct inoculation of infected bovine brain tissue into the brain. Feeding infected brain tissue however has not resulted in disease. The feeding of meat and bone meal to pigs is now banned in the UK but during its use no cases have been identified.

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Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVD)
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.

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Brucellosis
This disease is caused by the bacterium Brucella suis, which is one of the six different species of brucella. Brucella suis does not exist in the UK, Ireland and in some other EU countries, Canada and most states of the USA but is widespread through most of the rest of the pig rearing world. It is an important disease not least because some strains of it can be transmitted to people where it can cause serious illness. A carrier state persists for long periods of time.
It can be spread by venereal infection and the boar is a major source either by direct contact at mating or via artificial insemination. The organism can survive outside the pig for long periods of time particularly at or near freezing temperatures. The hare in Northern Europe can also be infected where it is considered a natural host. It can be an important source of infection to the pig.

When a female becomes infected, the organism establishes itself in the placenta, causing inflammation and ultimately abortion. B. suis infects the testicles and accessory reproductive glands of the boar, and can be excreted via semen.

Symptoms
Sows
Bacteraemia (bacteria in the blood).
Infertility.
Abnormal oestrus
Abortions at any time.
Vulval discharges with pus or occasionally blood.
Delayed returns.
Lameness
Swollen/ painful testicles (boar only).
Piglets
Paralysis of hind legs.
Weaners & Growers
Swollen testicles.
Lameness
Causes / Contributing factors
Spread by venereal infection.
The boar is a major source either by direct contact at mating or via artificial insemination.
Pigs can also be infected via the conjunctiva, through the nose or by mouth.
The hare in Northern Europe can also be infected and is considered a natural host.
Carrier sows.
Diagnosis
This can be readily carried out by isolation of the organism. Serology is used to detect carrier sows but cross reactions can occur quite extensively due to another organism called Yersinia enterocolitica. If the serum agglutination test (SAT) is used results of 31 international units (iu) or more are considered positive. The complement fixation test (CFT) is often used in conjunction with the SAT for export testing purposes.

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Bursitis
Bursitis is a common condition that arises from constant pressure and trauma to the skin overlying any bony prominence. The membrane or periosteum covering the bone reacts by creating more bone, a swelling develops and the skin becomes thicker until there is a prominent soft lump. Bursitis may cause the skin to become broken and secondary infection can develop. Mycoplasma can also infect the fluid in the swelling.
Under normal circumstances, if there is no secondary infection, the condition is not commercially important but if breeding stock is being produced then the system needs to be adjusted or there will be a drop in selection rates.

Symptoms
All Pigs
Swellings develop over the lateral sides of the hocks and elbows and over the points of the hocks.
Occasional lameness may be seen.
Infection may occur.
If skin is broken and secondary infection occurs abscesses develop.
Ulceration of the skin.
Causes / Contributing factors
Poor floor surfaces.
Lack of bedding.
High stocking densities on slats.
Bad slats in confinement.
Diagnosis
Visual examination.

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Bush Foot, Foot Rot
Bush foot results from infection of the claw which becomes swollen and painful around the coronary band. It arises through penetration of the sole of the foot, cracks at the sole-hoof junction, or splitting of the hoof itself. It usually occurs in one foot only and is more commonly seen in the hind feet especially the outer claws, which are the larger ones carrying proportionately more weight. Infection sometimes penetrates the soft tissues between the claws and this is referred to as foot rot. Foot rot involves both superficial and deep infection of the soft tissues between the claws often caused by fusiform bacteria. The claw becomes enlarged and inflamed. Invariably, unless foot rot has developed, only one claw is involved.
Symptoms
All Pigs
Lameness.
Painful swollen claw.
Cracks at the sole-hoof junction, or splitting of the hoof itself.
As the infection progresses inside the hoof, the claw becomes enlarged and infection and inflammation of the joint often develops.
In most cases a swelling is visible around the coronary band which may form an abscess and burst to the surface.
Causes / Contributing factors
It arises through penetration of the sole of the foot.
Cracks at the sole-hoof junction, or splitting of the hoof itself predispose.
Poor floor surfaces.
Poor concrete surfaces with sharp aggregate cause damage.
Biotin deficiency predisposes.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs. Bush foot has to be differentiated from other forms of trauma and infection including erysipelas, gl?ssers disease, leg weakness or osteochondrosis (OCD) and mycoplasma arthritis.

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Campylobacter
Campylobacters are small curved rods which are present sometimes in large numbers in the small intestines and large intestines of most mammals including pigs. There are several species in pigs. Whether or not they cause diarrhoea in naturally reared piglets is debatable because it seems likely that the antibodies in sows milk would prevent this. However oral infections to newborn colostrum-deprived piglets may result in mild diarrhoea with mucus and sometimes blood in it. Spiral helicobacter species, related to campylobacters, may be found adhering to the stomach wall of pigs and in and around gastric ulcers. However, many other factors contribute to stomach ulcers in pigs and it seems unlikely that helicobacters are a primary cause.
Symptoms
Piglets
Mild, sometimes creamy, diarrhoea in piglets lasting several days if untreated.
Dehydration.
Sometimes diarrhoea with blood and mucous.
Loss body condition.
Sows, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
Dirty pens.
Poor hygiene in farrowing pens.
Poor wet floor surfaces.
Continually used houses without cleaning and disinfection.
Secondary infection to other enteric organisms.
Diagnosis
This is difficult because campylobacters are so common in faeces along with other organisms which can cause diarrhoea such as, E.coli, rotaviruses, coccidia and crytosporidia and it is impossible to decide whether their isolation is significant in any particular outbreak.

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Clostridial Diseases
Related Products:
Gletvax 6
Clostridia are large gram-positive spore-bearing bacteria that are present in the large intestine of all pigs. There are several species. They multiply rapidly and produce toxins that rapidly kill the host. Such diseases can be a major problem in outdoor breeding pigs (C. novyi). The organisms may enter the body through damage to the skin and underlying tissues and muscles. Bacterial spores also get carried from their normal habitat, the gut, to the liver where they may lie latent and inactive for long periods. The course of the disease is extremely short and often the only sign is a dead pig.
The most common disease in sows is associated with C. novyi which causes sudden death. Whenever total sow mortality rises above 4%, this disease should be considered.

The species, C. perfringens, types A, B or C, can under certain conditions produce a severe diarrhoea with very high mortality in piglets. Type C is by far the most important and if it gets into the small intestine and becomes established before colostrum is taken in, disease can result. Piglets are normally infected under 7 days of age and more typically within the first 24 to 72 hours of life.

The disease caused by C. perfringens type A tends to be milder, less dramatic and more prolonged but it can look similar to that caused by type C.

Clostridial infections are relatively uncommon in growers, finishers and the sow during lactation.

Symptoms
Sows
Sudden death.
Gangrene, characterised by painful and discoloured swellings.
Fluid and gas are often present in the tissues.
Piglets
Rotten smelling watery diarrhoea often blood coloured with mucous.
Diarrhoea 0-5 days of age.
Diarrhoea 6-21 days of age
The lining of the small intestine sloughs off (necrosis) and may be observed in the scour.
Many piglets die.
Bubble of gas in the small intestines.
Weaners & Growers
Sudden death in well grown pigs.
Haemorrhage - faeces.
Diarrhoea.
Painful and discoloured swellings over muscle masses.
Gangrene.
Causes / Contributing factors
High numbers of bacteria in the environment.
Unknown factors.
Trauma to muscles.
Immuno suppressive diseases e.g. PRRS, fungal poisoning.
Damage to the skin allowing bacteria to enter.
Diagnosis
In acute cases diagnosis is by the clinical signs and post-mortem lesions, which are diagnostic. It is necessary to submit preferably a live or very recently dead pig to the laboratory (within 3 to 4 hours) because the causal organisms multiply after death and cause rapid post-mortem changes. If the abdomen of a dead pig is cut open the middle portion of the small intestine is often claret wine coloured. A characteristic feature is the very rapid post-mortem change particularly in the liver, which is full of gas and turns a chocolate colour. Confirmation of the diagnosis must be carried out in a laboratory by a fluorescent antibody test to identify the bacterium.

Anthrax should also be considered as a possibility.

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Coccidiosis (Coccidia)
Coccidiosis is caused by small parasites that multiply inside the host cells, mainly in the intestinal tract. There are three types, Eimeria, Isospora and Cryptosporidia.
Disease is common and widespread in sucking piglets but is seen occasionally in growing and finishing pigs and boars when they are moved or housed into continually populated and infected pens.

Coccidiosis should be suspected if there is a diarrhoea problem in sucking pigs from 7-21 days of age that does not respond particularly well to antibiotics.

Symptoms
Sows
None
Sows are carriers
Piglets
Diarrhoea is the main clinical sign in early stages.
In later stages the faeces vary in consistency and colour from yellow to grey green, or bloody according to the severity of the condition.
Dehydration is common.
Wasting.
Weaners & Growers
Poor growth.
Sloppy diarrhoea may be seen.
Faeces / diarrhoea may occasionally be tinged with blood.
Causes / Contributing factors
Dirty pens.
Poor hygiene in farrowing pens.
Poor wet floor surfaces.
Creep feeding on the floor.
Flies.
Dried faeces behind the sow in lactation.
Continually used houses without cleaning and disinfection.
Diagnosis
Faeces samples for laboratory examination should be taken from semi-recovered pigs rather than pigs with scour. Diagnosis is best made by submitting a live pig to the laboratory for histological examination of the intestinal wall. Isospora suis is the most pathogenic of the three types of coccidia.

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Colitis
Related Products:
Econor
Tiamutin
"Colitis" means inflammation of the large bowel. It is common in some countries in growing pigs and is characterised by diarrhoea. It is uncommon in home milled cereal based diets.
Affected pigs are usually 6 to 14 weeks of age and in any one group, up to 50% may be affected. It is not seen in adult or sucking pigs. Colitis may be seen in individual sows. A number of organisms have been implicated but Brachyspira pilosicoli, an organism distinct from the one that causes swine dysentery, is thought to be important.

Symptoms
Sows & Piglets
N/A
Weaners & Growers
Usually appear in rapidly growing pigs from 6 to 14 weeks old fed ad lib on high density diets.
The early signs:
Sloppy "cow pat" type faeces, with no blood and little if any mucus.
Pigs appearing otherwise normal but lose bloom and growth.
As the disease and its severity progress:
Watery diarrhoea.
Dehydration.
Loss of condition.
Poor growth.
During the affected period:
Daily gain and food conversion can be severely affected, with feed conversion worsening by up to 0.2.
Mortality is low but morbidity can be high, ranging from 5 to 50%.
Causes / Contributing factors
Dietary factors. Disease is experienced using all types of diets but particularly those that have been pelleted rather than fed as a meal. It is thought that the pelleting process may have an effect on fats in the diet and thereby initiate digestive disturbances in the large bowel.
It is more common with diets high in energy and protein (14.5MJ DE/kg 21% protein).
Certain components in the feed may also be implicated, such as high levels of wheat.
It is common when fat sprayed diets are fed.
Continual production predisposes.
Diagnosis
This is based on clinical signs and the elimination of other causes of diarrhoea, in particular swine dysentery. Faecal examinations in the laboratory are necessary to assist with diagnosis together with post-mortem examinations and laboratory tests on a typical untreated pig. It is possible that porcine enteropathy may be involved.

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Congenital Tremor (CT) - Shaking Piglets
This is a sporadic disease seen in newborn pigs. Usually more than one pig is affected in a litter. If the tremors are too great for the piglets to find a teat and suckle then mortality maybe high. Mortality in an affected litter or in a herd outbreak could increase above the norm by 3-10%. The condition decreases as the affected piglets grow.
It would be unusual to find a pig farm that sometime in its history had not experienced one or more litters of trembling piglets. There are 4 possible group causes. The causal virus in group 2, which is by far the commonest cause, is widespread among most if not all pig populations, yet little disease is seen in most herds, presumably because an immunity is established in the sow herd. In new gilt herds however, there can be major outbreaks involving up to 80% of all litters during the first parity. This is an unquantifiable risk in any new gilt herd.

Symptoms
Sows, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Piglets
Muscle tremor, only seen when piglets are walking around and not when they are asleep.
Nervous symptoms i.e. shaking of the body.
Incoordination.
Often dog sitting.
Increased mortality in piglets.
Causes / Contributing factors
The causes of the condition are classified into 4 groups based on brain histology.
Associated with a classical swine fever.
Caused by an unknown virus, possibly circovirus type 2. Most of the problems in the field are found in this group.
Associated with either hereditary disorders seen in the Landrace or Saddleback breeds or with organophosphorus poisoning.
Includes aujeszky's disease and Japanese encephalomyelitis virus.
Diagnosis
This is based on clinical evidence although histological examinations in the laboratory can help to differentiate the groups.

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Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidia are parasites similar to coccidia that can also cause diarrhoea but at a slightly older age of 8 to 21 days. They can infect people and are also found in other species such as rats and mice.
Symptoms
Sows & Growers
N/A
Piglets & Weaner
Watery diarrhoea 8 - 21 days of age.
Poor body condition - wasting.
Dehydration.
Inappetence.
Causes / Contributing factors
Rats and mice.
The main water supplies are sometimes infected.
Poor hygiene.
Dirty pens.
Diagnosis
This is made by examining faeces in the laboratory.

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Cystic Ovaries
This is a not uncommon condition particularly in old sows. Large cysts develop in the ovaries which often, but not always produce high levels of oestrogen.
Symptoms
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Sows

Abnormal heat.
Not accept the boar at mating.
Continually on heat.
Infertility.
Repeat matings.
Pigs show pain / discomfort.
May grind teeth.
Causes / contributing factors
Age.
Mycotoxins.
Breeding.
Hormonal malfunctions.
Mouldy bedding or food.
Badly stored grains.
Poor feed bin hygiene.
Diagnosis
This is usually made on clinical grounds and normally only involves individual animals. Carry out a post mortem examination of the ovaries.

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Cystitis and Pyelonephritis
Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder and nephritis is inflammation of the kidney. The bacteria causing cystitis are usually Actinobaculum suis (originally called Corynebacterium suis or Eubacterium suis) or sometimes E. coli. It is impossible to eradicate these organisms. They are present in every herd.
This disease is an important cause of mortality in all ages of dry sows. Occasionally it may be seen in gilts, even maiden gilts, although this is uncommon unless there has been gross and prolonged faecal contamination of the vulva. In badly affected herds sow mortality can exceed 12% per annum.

Sows die rapidly or respond poorly to treatment remaining chronically diseased. Disease can be so acute that death is the only sign. It is more common in the first 21 days post mating because the urine of the sow becomes alkaline and both A.suis and E.coli will survive and multiply in alkaline urine.

Reproductive failure is not associated with this disease specifically unless the sow is ill and as a consequence either dies or aborts. High mortality affects overall sow mortality and therefore pregnancy survival.

Symptoms
Piglets
None
Weaners & Growers
Uncommon
Sows
Appear ill.
Not eating.
Thin sows.
Red rimmed eyes - membranes red.
The area around the vulva is wet and soiled with evidence of blood and pus in the urine.
Death - high mortality
Abortion
Chalky mineral deposits.
Pigs show pain / discomfort.
May grind teeth.
When cystitis occurs alone:
The disease may be prolonged and not fatal.
Appetite and the general condition of the sow can be normal.
Pus in the urine or a slight discharge clinging to the vulva may be seen.
This should be distinguished from inflammation of the womb or vagina.
Causes / Contributing factors
Low water intake.
Infrequent urination.
Faulty drinkers.
Badly drained boar and sow pens increase the risk of infection
The disease is more common in herds that have high numbers of old sows.
Squeezing the prepucial sac at mating increases the bacterial load transmitted to the vagina, (which may also result in increased returns to service).
Sows that are too big for the stalls often adopt a dog sitting position with the vulva becoming heavily contaminated, allowing excessive bacterial multiplication.
Contamination of the vulva with faeces particularly from weaning to 21 days post mating. This occurs in stalls when solid back boards drop down to the ground level.
Stress at farrowing can occasionally activate disease.
Diagnosis
By post-mortem examination. Examinations should be carried out on all sows that have died without obvious cause.
In the live animal, diagnosis is based upon clinical signs and evidence of blood and pus in the urine. Urine can be tested for the presence of blood, protein and the pH (acidity or alkalinity) by using paper strip tests. Urine can be collected in clean receptacles, especially if sows are made to stand up 2-3 hours after feeding when they tend to urinate. Affected animals show evidence of blood and protein in the urine and a pH of 7 or more. (Normal urine is slightly acid, that is, less than the pH7.) Sows showing a pH of 8 or more may die in their next pregnancy.