Disease Checklist:

[mikey]

Jaw and Snout Deviation
This is a common yet little recognised condition in the sow. When the jaw is at rest, a proportion of sows (often around 5%) and particularly those housed in confinement, show a misalignment of the lower jaw to the left or right of centre. In extreme cases this can give the appearance of rhinitis but it is of no significance.
Symptoms
Piglets
N/A
Sows
Misalignment of the lower jaw when at rest.
The upper jaw and nose become shortened and flattened, in some cases to a grotesque degree.
Weaners & ocassionally in Growers
Occasionally, as in sows.
Causes / Contributing factors
Constant trauma from bar biting or the use of nipple drinkers.
Infection of the bone as a result of faulty teeth clipping.
Prolonged feeding of very finely ground meal in narrow troughs.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical symptoms and absence of rhinitis.

[mikey]

Joint Ill in Piglets
The conditions commonly referred to as “joint ill” is more correctly referred to as an arthritis affecting one or more joints, usually in young pigs. It is a condition seen in the young of most species and results from infection gaining entry to the blood stream at or soon after birth, circulating around the body and then settling out in the joints or occasionally in other parts of the body, particularly the brain causing meningitis.
Cause
The cause of joint ill is bacterial infection of the piglet. The majority of cases are caused by opportunist infection from the environment with, for example, E coli, Staphylococci and Streptococci. There are specific infectious agents that can produce epidemics of joint ill (and meningitis) such as Strep Suis type 14.

There are a number of possible routes by which the bacteria can gain access to the blood stream and, hence, spread to the joints:-
Through the navel
Through badly clipped teeth
Through contamination of a docked tail stump
Through wounds or abrasions
Through the tonsil of the piglet (especially strep suis)
Clinical Signs
The first signs usually seen will be a piglet carrying a leg or reluctant to stand. Some may “dog sit”. As the pigs’ ability to compete for a teat is compromised, loss of condition and starvation will occur.

It is often the case that visible and palpable swelling of specific joints occurs later and, when evident, the hock and knee are most commonly affected.

Without treatment the infection will persist and, in severe cases, the abcessation resulting will burst out from the joint.

Cases of arthritis can be seen post weaning, either as a delayed manifestation of earlier infection or resulting from inadequate treatment of an earlier case.
Treatment
Early individual antimicrobial treatment is essential if a recovery is to be made. The medication used should be tailored to the needs of the farm and laboratory testing of the cause(s) may help. In general, penicillin, ampicillin or lincomycin are likely to be effective. Use of pain killers (e.g. ketoprofen) may also be indicated as this condition can be very painful.

Treatment should be continued for at least 3 and preferably 5 days.

Failure to respond and evidence of burst abscesses from joints should lead to euthanasia. In rare cases an early problem with joint ill can contaminate the end of the bone and affect the growth plates with the result that later in life (e.g. at 3 months) spontaneous fractures occur.
Prevention
The key to controlling joint ill is firstly to improve hygiene in the farrowing area and secondly to identify and rectify the route of entry of infection.
Teeth Clipping - Teeth must be clipped singly with clean sharp clippers or ground off. Some producers stop teeth clipping in the face of joint ill problems but it must be remembered that the fighting damage that results can itself lead to joint ill!
Tail Docking - Always use separate instruments from those used to clip teeth. Ideally, use thermocautery. Tail stumps can be dipped or sprayed with iodine immediately after docking.
Navels - Navels should be dipped in iodine at birth.
Use of dry disinfectants in the farrowing pens can help but are not a substitute for a failure to wash and disinfect or to keep the pen clear of sow faeces. Do not allow sows to spend more than 5 days in the farrowing crate before farrowing.
Where tonsillar penetration is suspected, and in particular with Strep suis 14 infection, prevention can be achieved by:-
a) Routine treatment of piglets at birth with long acting penicillin or amoxycillin.
b) Treatment of the sows in the farrowing area with appropriate antibiotics, either by inclusion in the feed or by top dressing onto the feed.

[mikey]

Lameness
Lameness is a common cause for culling sows second only to reproductive failure. Cases can occur at any time during the dry period or in lactation. Increased unplanned culling for lameness increases the non productive sow days so reducing the litters per sow per year. Often problems involve first parity or second parity animals before they have reached the most productive part of their life. Sows culled for severe lameness have to be shot on the farm because they should not be transported.
Lameness is prevalent in growing pigs with levels ranging from 1 to 5%. If more than 2% of pigs are recorded lame per month further investigations are necessary.

Lameness can account for significant losses in growing pigs either because the pigs are unfit to travel on welfare grounds and require to be destroyed, or they are part or totally condemned at slaughter. Early identification of lame animals and their removal to hospital pens for treatment is a vital part of the control and healing process.

Symptoms
Sows
Pig off food.
Sometimes fever.
Reluctance to stand.
Swollen joints / Fractures.
Evidence of other diseases.
Loss of balance.
Arthritis.
Dog sitting position.
Not accept boar at mating.
Pig shows pain / discomfort.
Piglets
As for sows.
Shivering.
Weaners & Growers
Pig may be off food.
Sometimes fever.
Reluctance to stand. Difficulty moving.
Swollen joints / Fractures.
Evidence of other diseases.
Causes / Contributing factors
The common ones *
Arthritis caused by bacteria. *
Back muscle necrosis - a stress related disease.
Bursitis.
Bush foot. *
Cuts or breaks in the skin related to sharp projections.
Damage to nerves.
Erysipelas. *
Fighting.
Foot-and-mouth disease and swine vesicular disease in those countries where they occur.
Fractures. *
Gl?ssers disease.
Haematomas.
High stocking densities.
Laminitis (inflammation of the tissues attaching to the hoof).
Leg weakness or Osteochondrosis. *
Mycoplasma arthritis. *
Myositis (inflammation of muscles).
Nutritional deficiencies.
Osteitis (inflammation of bone).
Osteochondrosis (degeneration of bone growth plate and cartilage).
Osteomalacia (softening of bone, calcium and phosphorus deficiency).
Osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone and bone marrow).
Osteoporosis (weak bones, imbalance of calcium and phosphorus).
Penetrated sole.
Periostitis (inflammation of the membrane around bone).
Poor floor surfaces. *
Porcine stress syndrome associated with the halothane gene.
Separation of the head of the femur.
Separation of the muscle from the pelvis.
Split horn (poor hoof quality).
Tail biting (see vice - abnormal behaviour). *
Torn muscle and/or ligament. *
Trauma. * (Stocking density and mixing are the two major factors that precipitate traumatic disease).
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs.
Further Reading

[mikey]

Laminitis
Inflammation of the soft highly vascular sensitive tissues that connect the bone to the hoof. It is an uncommon but very painful condition causing animals to walk on their knees.
Symptoms
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Sows
Animals walking on their knees. Reluctant to stand.
Lameness.
Pain over hooves.
Causes / Contributing factors
The cause is unknown.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs.

[mikey]

Leg Weakness
"Leg weakness" is an imprecise term used to describe different forms of lameness. For example, it is sometimes used to describe poor leg conformation. More often it is used to describe a clinical condition associated with degeneration of the bone and cartilage, called osteochondrosis (OCD).
Changes in the cartilage that lead to clinical OCD take place in most modern pigs from as early as two months of age. The severity and its effect depend largely on the environment and the speed of growth of the animal. OCD in modern pigs results from the many years of selecting animals for rapid growth, large muscle mass, and efficient feed conversion and therefore much greater weight on the growth plates whilst they are still immature, together with the stresses of intensive methods of production.

OCD may be seen within three months of gilts being introduced on to the farm, during their first pregnancy, in lactation or in the first 2 to 3 weeks post weaning.

Leg deformities are common in the rapidly growing pig but are usually of no commercial consequence. Separation of the head of the femur at the growth plate however occurs in rapidly growing pigs on some farms.

Symptoms
Piglets
None.
Sows

In acute cases of OCD:
There is separation of the bones at the growth plate resulting from sudden movement.
The animal walks on three legs, the affected leg swinging freely.
Crepitus, the rubbing of the broken bones together, can usually be felt.
Fractures in the spine can also occur particularly during lactation and immediately post weaning.
In such cases the sow is in acute pain.
Often in a dog sitting position with the hind legs well forward.
Nervous signs.
In chronic cases of OCD, the onset is gradual.
The sow shows abnormal leg conformation and gait with or without stiffness and pain.
The temperature and affected joints remain normal.
The front legs may be straight, the pig walking with a long step on its toes, or the knees may be bent inwards or flexed, the pig walking with short steps. In some old sows, the pasterns may be dropped. The feet may be rotated or twisted.
The hind legs are often straight, the pig walking with a swinging action from the hips. In some cases the legs are tucked beneath the body. The hocks are turned inwards and are close together. The pig walks with a goose stepping action. Again in old sows the pasterns may be dropped.
Weaners & Growers
Acute cases are characterised by the sudden onset of acute lameness, highlighted by poor conformation of legs, bending of bones and dropped pasterns.
The pig refuses to put the foot to the floor.
Fractures in the hip, knee and shoulder joints. Evident at slaughter or post mortem.
Long-term the joint changes may lead to arthritis.
Causes / Contributing factors
Environmental factors that cause the foot to slip on the floor.
The design of slats can contribute to OCD. Some slats slope to the edges from the centre and are so smooth that when the animals stand, the feet slip into the gaps, causing repeated pressure on the growth plates.
Full confinement of pregnant gilts when they are still growing can be a major contributing factor.
Are the gilts mixed with sows at weaning? The modern hybrid gilt often suckles produces large litters and large amounts of milk which depletes her body calcium and phosphorous. The bones become weak and are therefore more prone to injury.
High levels of vitamin A (in excess of 20,000 iu/kg) particularly in the younger growing pigs can interfere with the normal development of the growth plates.
High stocking densities increase the incidence, particularly in the growing period and where animals are housed on solid concrete floors or slats.
Trauma.
Rapid weight gain.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs. There are no laboratory tests and post-mortem examinations may be misleading because many pigs that were not lame before death may be found to have lesions.
OCD has to be distinguished from Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and erysipelas arthritis.

[mikey]

Leptospirosis
Leptospira are long slender spiral-shaped bacteria, found in most mammalian host species. Over 160 serotypes are known, generally called serovars, with cross infections occurring between some host species. Each serotype has one or more (usually only two or three) reservoir hosts which multiply it up and maintain it. A serotype can remain as a life-long infection in its reservoir host.
The pig is a reservoir host for Leptospira pomona, L. tarassovi, L. bratislava and L. muenchen, the last two being very closely related. It is not a reservoir host for L. icterohaemorrhagiae but it can be infected from rats urine and become ill. It can also become infected by other serotypes from other animals urine, for example L. canicola from dogs and L. hardjo from cattle but the infections are subclinical and do not result in disease. The pig is then an incidental host i.e. does not perpetuate the infection and is only responsible for minimal spread.

L. pomona causes important reproductive problems in female breeding pigs spreading slowly through the herd. It remains in the herd permanently unless steps are taken to eradicate it. It is not in the UK or Ireland and seems to have disappeared from Western Europe but is widespread throughout the rest of the pig rearing world. In America the skunk is an alternative reservoir host.

L. tarassovi causes a similar syndrome (i.e. a collection of signs and lesions) to L. pomona but tends to be milder and to spread more slowly. It is found in Eastern Europe and the Antipodes. It is thought that some wild animals are also reservoir hosts.

The pig is also a reservoir host for certain subtypes of L. bratislava and L. muenchen which are widespread throughout the pigs of the world. They cause a different syndrome to L. pomona and L. tarassovi and affect mainly pregnant gilts and second litter females because they will not previously have encountered it.

Once these organisms are introduced into a herd the pigs become permanent carriers with infection of the kidneys and intermittent excretion of the organism into the urine. L. bratislava/muenchen also permanently inhabit the fallopian tube of sows and the reproductive organs of boars and they are spread in semen.

Disease is uncommon in the sucking pig and would only infect individuals.

Growing pigs are occasionally exposed to Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae from the urine of rats.

Remember that this disease can be transmitted to people.

Symptoms
Piglets
Uncommon.
Illness.
Inappetence.
Jaundice.
Blood in urine.
Severely infected pigs die.
Sows In acute outbreaks:
Inappetence.
Fever.
Depression may be observed.
Chronic low grade disease is more common with:
Abortions.
Stillbirths.
Increase in poor, non-viable pigs.
If abortions in a herd are more than 1% then investigations for leptospirosis should be considered. A reduction in farrowing rates and numbers of live pigs born per sow is also an associated factor particularly with L. bratislava infection.
Signs associated with acute L. bratislava disease:

Repeat breeders are common particularly in first and to some extent second pregnancy gilts.
This often follows embryo loss and there may be copious vaginal discharges.
Late term abortions.
An increase in premature piglets.
An increase in stillbirths.
Mixed litters of live poor pigs and dead piglets at birth.
An increase in mummified pigs.
An increase in repeat breeding animals.
Often there is a two year cycle of disease.
Reproductive failure occurs in second litter females, rather than gilts following their introduction to older carrier boars.
Disease is less common in older animals.
In long standing carrier herds disease can be difficult to recognise.
Weaners & Growers
Acute jaundice.
Haemorrhage.
Rapid death.
Pale pigs.
Causes / Contributing factors
Introduction of infected gilts and boars.
The presence of PRRS in the herd.
AI
Infection brought into the herd by other animals; rats, mice and dogs can be reservoirs of infection.
Exposure of the herd to indirect sources of contamination, e.g.: contaminated water, poor floor surfaces allow urine to pool. Spread in urine.
Diagnosis
This is difficult but the following will help:

Records. Study the levels of abortions, repeats, stillbirths, week piglets and the age of occurrence in sows and gilts.

Study the clinical picture.

Blood sample suspicious animals and repeat 2-3 weeks later. Look for rising antibody titres e.g. 1st sample result 1:100, 2nd result 1:800. This would confirm active infection and indicate probable involvement.

Blood sample ten females that have a history of infertility.

In chronic disease however, the significance of titre levels are very difficult to assess.

Test the aborted foetuses, urine or kidneys and fallopian tubes of slaughtered gilts.

Eliminate other diseases - Chronic PRRS, endometritis.

Eliminate non infectious causes of infertility - Summer infertility, management failures.

The symptoms of leptospirosis can be mistaken for other causes of infertility.

[mikey]

Listeriosis
This is caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes which may colonise the tonsils and be passed out in faeces. Listeria are wide spread in nature and are often found in cheese and silage. Exposure results in infection but disease is uncommon.

Symptoms
Sows
None.
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
The bacterium may cause a septicaemia and high temperature in piglets.
Nervous signs possibly meningitis.
Weak piglets at birth.
Pneumonia.
Head on one side.
Middle ear infections.
Causes / Contributing factors
Stress causing the bacteria to invade the system.
PRRS or Flu.
Heavy environmental exposure
Diagnosis
Laboratory examinations are necessary.
Treatment
Listeria are usually sensitive to penicillin and ampicillin
In outbreaks it is necessary to identify the sources of infection and reduce the exposure to them.

[mikey]

Lymphosarcoma
This is a tumour affecting all the lymph glands throughout the body but particularly those of the intestines and lungs. The condition is very occasionally seen in the Large White where a hereditary component is thought to be involved.
Reported levels of lymphosarcoma found at slaughter are extremely low (0.002%).

Symptoms
Piglets
N/A
Sows, Weaners & Growers
These are usually seen in young growing pigs.
Pale skin.
Sometimes slightly jaundiced.
Loss of weight.
Pot bellied appearance - abdomen distended.
Enlarged glands may be seen in the neck.
Most pigs die within 4-5 months.
Causes / Contributing factors
Unknown but thought to be associated with a virus and genetic predisposition.
Diagnosis
This is based on clinical tests confirmed by post mortem examinations.
Treatment
None - Destroy affected pigs

[mikey]

M-Hyo (Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae) Infection
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Ingelvac M.hyo
M+Pac®
LINCOMIX®
RESPISURE-ONE®
Porcilis M Hyo
Enzootic pneumonia is caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. It is widespread in pig populations and endemic in most herds throughout the world. As an uncomplicated infection in well-housed and well-managed pigs it is relatively unimportant and has only a mild effect on the pig. However if there are other infections present particularly App, Hps, Pasteurella, PRRS or SI, the pneumonia can become more complex with serious effects on the pig.
EP always attacks the lower areas of each lung lobe causing consolidation. The extent of this consolidation in each lobe is scored out of either 5 or 10 depending upon the lobe affected. Thus a severely affected pig with all lobes involved would score 55. This scoring system can be used to assess the severity of disease and its effects on the pig.

If more than 15% of lungs are affected it is highly probable that EP is present in the population. Herds that do not carry M. hyopneumoniae rarely show consolidated lesions in more than 1 % and even then they are very small.

If EP is not present in the growing population then the effects of the other respiratory pathogens are greatly reduced. It is therefore considered a primary pathogen that opens up the lung to other infections.

Clinical signs of enzootic pneumonia only occur in the lactating sow and piglets when the disease has been introduced into a fully susceptible herd for the first time. The breakdown of disease usually takes place over 6 to 8 weeks with sows coming into the farrowing house continuing to be affected.

There is a widely held but erroneous belief that sows and gilts will become carriers and pass this infection to their next litters. They may do so early on and their piglets may cough but by the time they farrow again 4 to 5 months later they will have eliminated the infection and will provide a solid immunity to their piglets via colostrum. If weaning is at 3 to 4 weeks, subsequent litters are not likely to become infected until after weaning.



 
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Symptoms
All pigs
It usually has an incubation period of two to eight weeks before clinical signs are seen but may be longer. Acute disease is normally only seen in new break-downs of disease.

Over the first six to eight weeks after it enters there may be: (This picture however is extremely variable).

Severe acute pneumonia.
Dehydration.
Heavy breathing.
Coughing, prolonged.
Respiratory distress.
Fever.
High mortality across all ages of stock.
Chronic disease is the normal picture when the organism has been present in the herd for some considerable time.
Maternal antibody is passed via colostrum to the piglets. It disappears from seven to twelve weeks of age after which clinical signs start to appear including:
A prolonged non-productive cough, at least seven to eight coughs per episode, is a common sign around this time, with some pigs breathing heavily ("thumps").
30 to 70% of pigs will have lung lesions at slaughter.
Causes / Contributing factors
It is commonly transmitted through the movement of carrier pigs.
Wind-borne infection for up to 3km (2 miles) if the climatic conditions are right. The organism dies quickly outside the pig, particularly when dried.
Incoming pigs.
Increased clinical disease is associated with the following;
Overcrowding and large group sizes.
Less than 3 cu.m.air space per pig and 0.7 sq.m. floor space per pig.
Houses that are too wide for good air flow control.
Variable temperatures and poor insulation.
Variable wind speeds and chilling.
Low temperature, low humidity environments.
High levels of carbon dioxide and ammonia.
High dust and bacteria levels in the air.
Pig movement, stress and mixing.
Housing with a continuous throughput of pigs.
Other concurrent diseases particularly PRRS, App, flu, and aujeszky's disease.
Poor nutrition and dietary changes at susceptible times.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical picture and examination of the lungs at post-mortem examination or at slaughter, combined sometimes with histology of the lesions. However, these do not provide a specific diagnosis and in the herds supplying breeding stock or in special cases (e.g. litigation) it may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis by carrying out one or more of the following tests: Serological (ELISA) tests, microscopic examination of stained touch preparations (TPs) of the cut surface of the lungs, fluorescent antibody tests (FATs), polymerase chain reaction (PCRs) tests and finally culture and identification of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.
These tests are becoming more widely available and some diagnostic laboratories cannot do them. The PCR is probably the most sensitive. FAT, serology and cultures are used in Denmark, but only FATs are available in many laboratories.

EP must be differentiated from Flu, PRRS, Hps and other mycoplasma infections. Laboratory tests are required to differentiate them. Furthermore, all or some of these may occur as mixed infections together with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

[mikey]

Mammary Hypoplasia, Undeveloped Udder
This term defines failure of udder development and is relatively uncommon.

It can occasionally be seen in gilts because the hormones that are responsible for the development of the udder have not been produced in sufficient quantity. Such animals should be culled.

Occasionally herd problems are seen where poor nutrition, heavy worm burdens, chronic disease or mycotoxins may be implicated. The most likely mycotoxin to cause it is from ERGOT poisoning in pregnant gilts running in grass paddocks. Shortage of water is a common cause.

Rarely, hypoplasia may be due to a genetic mutation in the affected gilts ancestors.

[mikey]

Mange Mites, Sarcoptes Scabiei
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IVOMEC Injection
IVOMEC Premix
The IVOMEC HM/LE Program


Acute mange: The skin is covered by minute red pimples.
Mange is a parasitic disease of the skin caused by one of two mites either Sarcoptes scabiei or Demodex phylloides. Sarcoptic mange (sometimes called scabies) is by far the most common and important because it is irritant and uncomfortable for the pig, causing it to rub and damage the skin which becomes unsightly. It significantly depresses growth rate and feed efficiency. The life cycle is direct and takes 14-15 days from adult to adult to complete. The mite dies out quickly away from the pig, under most farm conditions, in less than five days. This is an important factor in control. If a herd is free from mange, it is one of the easiest of diseases to keep out because it can only be introduced by carrier pigs. However, once it is introduced it tends to become permanently endemic unless control measures are taken.

 
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Symptoms
Piglets
Skin irritation after 7 days.
Sows

In acute disease:
Ear shaking.
Severe rubbing of the skin against the sides of the pen causing reddening. Approximately three to eight weeks after initial infection the skin may become sensitised to the mite protein. A severe allergy may develop in some pigs with very tiny red pimples covering the whole of the skin.
Intense irritation and rubbing to the point where bleeding may occur.
In chronic disease:
Thick asbestos-like lesions on the ear, along the sides of the neck, the elbows, the front parts of the hocks and along the top of the neck.
Weaners & Growers
Its presence affects food conversion and daily gain, particularly if the weight of infection is heavy.
Tiny red pimples over the skin.
Irritation and rubbing/scratching.
Ear shaking.
Chronic condition - Thick asbestos like scabs, mainly on the ears, often with slight bleeding and constant rubbing.
Poor growth.
Causes / Contributing factors
The mite spreads directly from pig to pig, either by close skin contact or contact with recently contaminated surfaces.
The boar helps to maintain infection in the herd because he is constantly in direct skin contact with breeding females and he remains a chronic carrier.
If pigs are housed in groups there is increased opportunity for spread.
Newly purchased pigs.
Disease is more easily spread where sows are group housed.
Continually housed pens.
Diagnosis
This is confirmed by demonstrating the presence of the mite. Scrapings are taken from suspicious lesions on the skin and particularly inside the ears. A teaspoon is an ideal instrument to scarify material from the interior of the ear. This material can be spread onto a piece of black paper and left for ten minutes. Mange mites which are rounded in shape and only 0.5mm in length may be just visible to the naked eye. However to positively identify the mite the scrapings should be submitted to a laboratory for microscopic examination. An ELISA blood test is also available.

[mikey]

Mastitis
Mastitis in one or more mammary glands is caused by a variety of bacteria or it may be secondary to other diseases. It is a common condition that occurs sporadically in individual sows or sometimes as herd outbreaks. It starts around farrowing and becomes clinically evident up to 12 hours later. It can arise because bacteria have gained entry to one or more mammary glands for the first time, or it may be a flare-up of a long-standing sub-clinical latent infection. The route of entry of the bacteria is probably the teat orifice but it may be from the blood stream or by injection on piglets' teeth. It also commonly occurs at weaning time.
The bacteria that cause mastitis in the sow can be grouped into three broad categories: coliform bacteria, staphylococci and streptococci, and miscellaneous bacteria.

Coliform mastitis - Coliform bacteria are related to E. coli, the commonest being E. coli itself and klebsiella. They produce a severe acute mastitis which results in reduced milk yield, a very ill sow and poor "doing" piglets. Marked discoloration of the skin over the udder and dark blueing of surrounding skin, ears and tail is a feature.

Herd problems can develop because the organisms are present in faeces and may also be in sows' urine. Consequently, they may be everywhere in a piggery. Coliform mastitis may thus be regarded as environmental in origin.

Staphylococcal and streptococcal mastitis - These are usually less acute and less severe than coliform mastitis. They tend to occur sporadically in individual sows in one or more glands and usually do not make the sow ill. The exception is an acute severe staphylococcal infection usually in a single gland which becomes swollen, hard and discoloured and makes the sow toxic.

Unlike coliform bacteria the source of these organisms is not usually the contaminated environment but the skin and possibly orifices of the sow herself. There is some evidence to suggest that as in the dairy cow and sheep some of these bacteria may persist sub-clinically in the udder and then flare up at or after farrowing

Miscellaneous bacteria - These include organisms such as pseudomonas which can produce a serious mastitis and toxaemia and which are often resistant to antibiotic treatment. Fortunately such infections are rare.

Symptoms
Piglets
Hungry.
Thin.
Squealing due to lack of milk.
Sows
Acute disease

Inappetence at farrowing or before if mastitis is already developing.
Obviously ill will not suckle.
Fever.
Mucous membrane of her eyes are brick red.
Affected glands swollen, red colour and painful.
Discoloration of the ears and the whole of the udder, but particularly over the affected glands.
Blue skin.
Chronic disease (Usually seen in dry sows):
Mammary tissue is infiltrated with hard lumps that are usually not painful when palpated.
They may ulcerate to the surface and become a potential source of infection to other sows.
Weaners & Growers
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
The continual use of farrowing houses.
Poor farrowing pen hygiene, bad drainage, inadequate and poor quality bedding.
The use of saw dust or shavings for bedding that become soaked in water or urine.
A warm temperature for the organisms to multiply.
Worn pitted farrowing house floors.
Wet farrowing house floors.
Contaminated drinking water.
Adverse temperatures, draughts and poor ventilation in the farrowing houses.
A build up of faeces behind the sows.
Klebsiella in the water system.
Diagnosis
The clinical signs are usually sufficient to diagnose mastitis. However if there is a herd problem with a number of sows affected, you should examine all animals clinically at farrowing and again at weaning, to determine the starting point of the mastitis. A sample of the secretions from the infected quarters should be submitted to a laboratory for examination. This is carried out by wiping the teat end with cotton wool soaked in surgical spirit, injecting the sow with 0.5ml of oxytocin and once there is a good flow squirt the milk on to a sterile swab. The swab should be immersed in a transport medium. It is very important that mastitis is diagnosed early and that prompt treatment is given.

[mikey]

Meningitis
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Porcilis Cobactan 2.5%
SS Pac®
See also streptococcal infections
Meningitis is uncommon in the sow but it is sometimes secondary to middle ear infection. If an infectious disease enters a herd for the first time sporadic cases in sows may be seen. Meningitis is seen in the sucking pigs and weaners associated with streptococcal infections. See Streptococcal meningitis.

Symptoms
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
Shivering.
Pigs show pain / discomfort.
Hair raised.
Grinding teeth
Lateral movement of eyes (nystagmus).
Fits and convulsions.
On side paddling.
Sows (unusual)
The sow is off feed.
Trembling with an unsteady gate.
The temperature is elevated, often as high as 42?C (108?F).
As the meningitis develops:
The eye moves sideways.
Fits occur and the sow cannot stand.
The head may be on one side.
Causes / Contributing factors
Middle ear infection.
Specific bacteria e.g. streptococci, Haemophilus parasuis.
Aujeszky's disease.
Poisons.
Poor environments in nurseries.
Diagnosis
This is based upon the signs in an individual sow, or if there are a number of cases, a specific infectious disease. It may require a post-mortem examination, including histology of the brain and culture of the causal organism to confirm the diagnosis.

Meningitis must be differentiated from the following:-

- Acute kidney infection.
- Aujeszky's disease (AD) (PR).
- Brain abscess.
- Heat stroke.
- Middle ear infection.
- Poisons.
- Water deprivation (salt poisoning).

[mikey]

Metritis
Metritis is inflammation of the womb caused by bacterial infection. It is fairly common in the immediate post-farrowing period.
After farrowing the womb contracts and squeezes mucus, white fluid and afterbirth out through the vagina. This discharge can continue for up to 4 days and is normal. If the sow is eating well, has a normal temperature and no mastitis ignore it. However abnormal discharges can also indicate the presence of infection requiring treatment.

Symptoms
Piglets
Starvation - no milk.
Lactating Sows only
Temperature.
Sow is off her food and toxic
Signs of mastitis.
Bright red mucous membranes around the eyes.
Discharge from vulva - white or brown colour.
No milk.
Dry Sows
Discharge from the vulva.
Sow normal in health.
Regular, irregular returns.
Not in pig.
Weaners & Growers
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
Prolonged farrowings.
Manual assistance during farrowing.
In association with mastitis.
Refuses to suckle.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs.

[mikey]

Middle Ear Infections
This is caused by a variety of bacteria, that gain access to the middle part of the ear which is responsible for balance. Infection probably arises from the tonsils at the back of the throat and travels down the eustachian tube to the middle part of the ear. The common organisms involved include; Haemophilus parasuis, streptococci, and staphylococci.
The condition is sporadic but common particularly in the weaned pig and sow and occurs occasionally in the sucking pig from 7 to 10 days of age. If treatment is prompt there is usually a good response. If treatment is delayed there is the risk that infection will spread from the middle ear into the inner ear and inwards to cause meningitis

Symptoms
All Pigs
The pig stands with its head to one side often shaking.
As the disease progresses there is a gradual loss of co-ordination until ultimately the pig walks around in a circle eventually falling over.
Jerky eye movements may be evident.
Nervous signs i.e. fits, convulsions and meningitis may result.
Unusual in young piglets.
Causes / Contributing factors
Disease may result from:
Mange.
Skin trauma.
Vice - Abnormal behaviour.
Fighting.
Greasy pig disease.
Joint infections.
PRRS infection.
Diagnosis
Based on clinical signs. Bacteriological examinations should be carried out if many pigs are involved.