Nursery and Grower Pigs

Question 1

A farmer calls you out because a number of his pigs have a “rash”, he says that they are reluctant to walk, he also reports that some of his sows have aborted. On examination you notice fever, cyanotic skin, and red to purple areas of skin. What do you suspect?

Answer 1

Etx: Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

• zoonotic disease
• transmitted by carriers in feces and oronasal secretions, shed by infected animals into water, feed, soil. ingestion and skin wounds
• Diamond skin lesions only in acute cases
• chronic disease: enlarged joints, lameness, endocarditis
• may have fever and cyanotic skin, red to purple rash, painful joints, abortion in sows, heart disease may cause exercise intolerance
• control: regular vaccination, good sanitation, elimination of carriers with skin and joint lesions, quarantine
• tx: penicillin or antiserum

Question 2

6 week old piglets with non-pruritic brown spots covered with serum and exudate.

Answer 2

• Etx: staphylococcus hyicus aka greasy pig disease

- control: isolate affected animals, spraying pigs several times with antiseptic solutions