90. Non-infectious skin diseases in swine

Question 1

What are the non-infectious skin diseases in swine?

Answer 1

Thrombocytopenic purpura

Parakeratosis

Question 2

Ethiology of Thrombocytopenic purpura?

Answer 2

• Rare
• Suckling piglets, 7-21 days, litters of older sows

Etiology

• Type 2- cytotoxin hypersensitivity
• Sow produces antibodies against the piglet’s blood cells (mostly thrombocyte, but erythrocyte and leucocyte

also possible) antigen (coming from the boar’s side)

Question 3

Clinical signs of Thrombocytopenic purpura?

Answer 3

Clinical signs

• Best piglets die suddenly
• Weakness, anaemia, haemorrhages on the whole body, purple bruises
• Haematoma and bleeding around small wounds

Question 4

Lesions of thrombocytopenic purpura?

Answer 4

Lesions

• Anaemia, haemorrhages on the whole body, blood under the skin, serous membranes and in the body

cavities

Question 5

Differential diagnosis of thrombocytopenic purpura?

Answer 5

Differential diagnosis

• Mycoplasma haemosuis (Eperythrozoon suis)
• Septicaemia (DIC)
• CSF, ASF
• Warfarin poisoning
• Congenital haemophilia (extremely rare)

Question 6

Treatment and prevention of thrombocytopenic purpura?

Answer 6

Treatment

• Not treatable, transfer piglets to another sow if you notice the signs early

Prevention

• Use another boar
• Cull sow
• Transfer piglets of affected sow right after birth

Question 7

Parakeratosis Ethiology?

Answer 7

Etiology

• Zn deficiency
• Decrease Zn bioavailability (high amount of copper or calcium or low saturated fatty acid content in the

feed)

• 2–4-month-old piglets

Question 8

Clinical signs of parakeratosis?

Answer 8

Clinical signs

• No systemic clinical signs, except lower weight gain
• Skin: macules on the abdomen and inner thighs, then papules that later form squamous crusts

(parakeratosis)

• If they spread on the legs, back or head, they are easily noticeable
• Secondary infection when scales fracture

Question 9

Treatment of parakeratosis?

Answer 9

Treatment

• Change feed composition
• Treat secondary infection

Question 10

Miscellaneous non-infectious diseases?

Answer 10

Miscellaneous non-infectious disease

• Sunburn, necrosis caused by chemicals
• Stachybotryotoxicosis
• Food allergy
• Photosensitisation
• Injuries
• Abscesses