87. Congenital tremors, salt poisoning in swine

Question 1

Salt poisoning causes?

Answer 1

Salt poisoning

• Problem with the water supply, high salt content in feed
• Normal salt content 0.4-0.6%, pigs can tolerate up to 2% if water supply is adequate

Question 2

Clinical signs of salt poisoning?

Answer 2

Clinical signs

• 24-48 hours after the disruption of the water supply
• Pigs try to drink from the drinkers but can’t
• Aimless wandering (blindness?)
• Symptoms of meningitis
• Head pressing
• Nose twitched before a seizure starts

Question 3

Treatment of salt poisoning?

Answer 3

Treatment

• By the time clinical signs are present it is usually not successful
• Rehydration

o PO, per rectum, IP

Question 4

Congenital tremors in piglets?

Answer 4

Myoclonia congenita, shaking piglet, dancing piglet disease
• New-born piglets
• Rhythmic, uncontrollable muscle tremors, milder in rest

Question 5

Types of Congenital tremors?

Answer 5

Types

• Based on the histopathology lesions in the CNS
• A- hypomyelinogenesis detectable
• B- no lesions visible

Question 6

Types of A(Hypomyelinogenesis detectable)?

Answer 6

1. Swine fever
2. PCV1 PCV2 ENTEROVIRUS
3. Hereditary
4. Belted breeds
5. organophosphates

Question 7

Swine fever

Answer 7

A1-

• Result of swine fever

o Infection between day 10 and 50 of pregnancy

• Cerebellar hypoplasia and dysplasia, spinal cord hypoplasia

o Cerebellum/ whole brain weight: <10%

• Spinal cord hypomyelinogenesis
• Can affect sows of all ages, both genders of piglets, high mortality
• Disease (swine fever) in other age groups, presence of virus

Question 8

PCV1, PCV2 Enterovirus causes?

Answer 8

A2-

• Other, not yet identified virus infection

o PCV-1, PCV-2, enterovirus

• Hypomyelinogenesis, cerebellar wight normal
• Affects gilts’ litters
• Piglets of both genders can be affected, morbidity up to 80%, low mortality
• Diminished by week 8
• Most cases belong here

Question 9

Hereditary causes?

Answer 9

A3-

• Male piglets of landrace and its crosses

o Hereditary

• High mortality
• Hypomyelinogenesis, abnormally few oligodendrocytes

Question 10

Belted breeds causes?

Answer 10

A4-

• Belted breeds
• Hypomyelinogenesis, lipid content of the myelin sheath is 50% of the normal value
• Autosomal recessive trait

o 25% of the litter is affected, hight mortality

• Both genders
• Sows of all ages can be affected

Question 11

Organophosphates Causes?

Answer 11

A5-

• Organophosphate exposure around day 46-63 of pregnancy
• Spinal cord and/or cerebellar hypoplasia
• Hypomyelinogenesis
• Both genders of piglets, all ages of sows
• Up to 90% morbidity, high mortality

Question 12

B?

Answer 12

B-
• No histopathological lesions
• Functional disorder of the nerves
• Cause unknown

Question 13

Other Poisonings (Rare)

Answer 13

Other poisonings: RARE

Mycotoxins

• Chronic

Plant toxins

• Pigweeds

o Amaranthus spp

Chemical toxins

• Organic arsenic
• H2S
• Heavy metals

o Mercury, lead

• Chlorinated hydrocarbons
• Organophosphates