Diseases of Piglets

Question 1

What is the main disease seen in piglets?

Answer 1

Scour

Question 2

What are the three categories of piglet scour?

Answer 2

1. Milk Scour
2. Infectious
3. Non-infectious

Question 3

When might milk scour be seen in piglets and what causes it?

Answer 3

Seen either when very young or from 3wks

Caused by GIT overload into LI

Question 4

How is milk scour Tx?

Answer 4

It isn’t - its self limiting

Question 5

When is scour due to an infectious agent most commonly seen?

Answer 5

Usually within first 48hrs of life

Question 6

List 4 causes of non-infectious scour

Answer 6

Environment/hygiene
Stress
Poor colostrum intake
Poor nutrition

Question 7

List the 6 main causes of infectious scour

Answer 7

1. Rotavirus
2. TGE / PED
3. PRRS
4. E. coli
5. Cl. perfringens
6. Coccidiosis

Question 8

How does scour due to a viral agent tend to present?

Answer 8

Very watery, often secondary bacterial infection

Question 9

How is scour due to rotavirus Tx?

Answer 9

Hydration
Improve hygiene
Sow vaccine

Question 10

What causes TGE and PED?

Answer 10

Coronavirus

Question 11

How does TGE and PED Px?

Answer 11

Profuse watery scour with V+

Question 12

What is PRRS?

Answer 12

Porcine Respiratory & Reproductive Syndrome

Question 13

What are Sx of PRRS?

Answer 13

Scour, conjunctivitis, bruising, anaemia

Question 14

When is E. coli scour most commonly seen and what is it associated with?

Answer 14

Within first few wks

Indoor pigs, gilts, poor hygiene

Question 15

Which two types of Cl. perfringens can cause scour in piglets?

Answer 15

Type C

Type A

Question 16

How does scour due to the two types of Cl. perfringens differ?

Answer 16

Type C = haemorrhage enteritis with sudden death

Type A = pasty scour affecting growth

Question 17

In which piglets is Cl. perfringens type C mostly seen?

Answer 17

Those bred outdoors

Question 18

How does Tx for Cl. perfringens differ for type C and A?

Answer 18

Type C = metaphylactic Tx at birth with penicillin (effective)

Type A = penicillin (works variably)

Question 19

When might piglets become affected by coccidiosis and how does it present?

Answer 19

From 10-21d

Pasty, yellow, loose scour

Question 20

What is the spp which causes coccidiosis in piglets?

Answer 20

Isosphora

Question 21

How is coccidiosis Px?

Answer 21

Toltrazuril coccidiostat at 4d to resolve the clinical impact

Question 22

What is the main cause of nervous disease in piglets?

Answer 22

Bacterial meningitis

Question 23

What is the main cause of bacterial meningitis?

Answer 23

Secondary to bacterial penetration through wounds or navel etc

Question 24

What are the three main bacterial spp associated with meningitis?

Answer 24

Strep. suis
E. coli
Haemophilus parasuis

Question 25

What disease is is meningitis associated with?

Answer 25

Joint ill

Question 26

What are the main Sx of bacterial meningitis?

Answer 26

Nystagmus, opisthotonus, pyrexia, convulsions, sudden death

Question 27

How can bacterial meningitis be Tx?

Answer 27

Hydration, steroids, AntiB cover

Question 28

How can bacterial meningitis be Px?

Answer 28

Colostrum management, hygiene

Question 29

What are congenital tremors?

Answer 29

Intentional tremors

Question 30

How are congenital tremors classified?

Answer 30

A1-A5

Question 31

Which congenital tremor is of most importance to identify and why?

Answer 31

A2 - often self-limiting and grow out of it

Question 32

What causes each class of congenital tremors?

Answer 32

``` A1 = CSF infection A2 = pestivirus infection A3 = inherited in male landrace A4 = inherited recessive in Saddleback A5 = organophosphates ```

Question 33

What pathology is each class of congenital tremor associated with?

Answer 33

``` A1 = cerebellar atrophy A2 = cerebellar atrophy & hypomyelinogenesis A3 = cerebellar atrophy A4 = cerebellar atrophy A5 = cerebellar atrophy & hypomyelinogenesis ```

Question 34

What are the three main causes of lameness?

Answer 34

Joint Ill Splayleg Injuries