Porcine Flashcards
“Greasy Pig Disease”
Exudative Epidermitis
- Exudative epidermitis is a condition of young pigs caused by a Staphylococcal hyicus infection characterized by reddening of the skin and a greasy exudate that is frequently generalized.
- The bacteria can spread quickly with variable morbidity and mortality
Treatment & Management/Prevention of Exudative Epidermitis
“Greasy Pig Disease”
Swine Influenza Pneumonia
(H1N1)
- Like the regular flu, swine flu can lead to more serious problems including pneumonia, a lung infection, and other breathing problems
- “necrotizing bronchiolitis” in swine is almost pathognomonic for influenza infection.
- Although this is a viral infection, it is almost always complicated by secondary bacterial infections which contribute to the severity of the respiratory signs.
- Since there are no antiviral drugs approved (or allowed to be used) in pigs, symptomatic treatment (anti-inflammatory meds/aspirin) and water antibiotics (to control secondary bacterial infections) are the treatment of choice
Most common infectious agents causing diarrhoea in piglets
The most common infectious agents causing diarrhea in nursing piglets include:
- E. coli
- rotavirus
- transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGE) - affects all ages
- Clostridium perfringens type C - highly fatal, necrohemorrhagic enteritis. It most commonly affects piglets 1–5 days old
- Isospora suis
Which of the following cells is the primary target for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus infection?
- alveolar macrophages
- PRRS virus has a high affinity for macrophages especially those in the lung.
- This is part of the reason the porcine immune system is compromised when infected with PRRS making them more susceptible to other pathogens.
Intussusceptions in Pigs
- Intussusceptions can occur in pigs infected with strongyles
- Pigs with intestinal obstructions usually have vomiting as a clinical sign, but no diarrhea. Usually, the obstructed pigs have no stool. They are usually tachycardic, restless, and show signs of colic
- Common causes of obstruction include peach pits lodged in the jejunum of pot bellied pigs, fibrous rings around the spiral colon or small intestine, and intussusception in pigs with strongyle (especially oesophagostomum) infections
- The treatment of choice for obstruction is surgery, otherwise ensure proper deworming protocols for the rest of the herd.
You identify a pig with skin lesions characteristic of Pityriasis rosea. What should you do next?
- Pityriasis rosea is a skin condition in pigs of unknown etiology. It is not a contagious condition and therefore pigs do not need to be separated from the rest of the herd.
- It is non-pruritic and resolves on itself with time.
- Almost all pigs fully recover with no effects on health or growth performance.
Length of pig oestrus cycle?
21 days
When do pigs reach puberty?
Time for first breeding?
How long is oestrus in a pig?
- 2-3 days
- Ovulation is 24-48 hours after the onset of oestrus
- may see them mounting other sows or have a decrease in appetite
- Optimal breeding time is 12-30 hours ater the onset of oestrus, maximum conception if done 12 hours prior to ovulation
- Heat stress tends to cause seasonal anestrus
- CL is not responsive to PGF-2a until after day 12 of cycle - so not useful to use PGF-2a to regulate their cycles like in the horse and cow
Reproductive Diseases of Pigs
(7)
PCVAD = Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease
Porcine Parvovirus
- vaccination can be used pre-breeding to both sows and gilts
- or feed them the ground up mummies :(
Leptospirosis in pigs
- treatment: chlortetracycline in feed
- can vaccinate for
PRRS
(Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome)
- vaccine must match the exact strain you have - PRRS is an RNA virus that replicates often and mutates, the vaccine is not as effective as hoped
Brucellosis in Pigs
orchitis - inflammation of testicles
treatment and control: test and cull, zoonotic
Diseases that can cause abortions/stillbirhs in pigs
(7)
- influenza causes respiratory signs and fever but does not infect the fetuses
What is this?
egg of Ascaris suum
- This is a round worm and as part of its life cycle, it will migrate through the liver and cause characteristic “milk spots” which appear as subcapsular white spots on the liver.
Pleuropneumoniae in Pigs
- Pleuropneumonia in pigs is caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, a gram negative coccobacillus.
- The clinical signs described in the question are typical of pleuropneumonia.
- The disease has a rapid onset and primarily affects young pigs. The pneumonia is characterized by fibrinonecrotic and hemorrhagic lung lesions.
- Concurrent infections with Mycoplasma, Pasteurella, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, or swine influenza virus are common
Clostridium perfringens C
- causes hemorrhagic and necrotic enteritis in piglets
- large gram positive rods in mucosal smears
- High morbidity and high mortality
- Clostridium perfringens type C enteritis usually occurs in neonatal piglets less than 7 days old.
- The disease causes bloody diarrhea and is usually fatal.
- In acute outbreaks, some piglets may be found dead even before developing hemorrhagic diarrhea
- Clostridium perfringens type C enteritis also occurs in neonatal lambs, calves, foals, and poultry
Strongyloides ransomi
- Strongyloides ransomi are threadworms of pigs.
- They reside in the small intestine of suckling piglets.
- Pigs may not show any clinical signs with only light infections.
- Heavy infections can cause diarrhea, anemia, emaciation, and death.
- Diagnosis can be made by fecal flotation, by an intestinal mucosal scraping, or on necropsy.
- Benzimidazoles and ivermectin are effective in treating these worms.
- Transmitted transcolostrally (ingestion of colostrum)
eperythrozoonosis in pigs
(aka MYCOPLASMA SUIS)
- This is a disease caused by a small ricketsial bacterium called Eperythrozoonosis suis (aka MYCOPLASMA SUIS) which attaches to the surface of red blood cells and sometimes destroys them.
- The pig may then become anaemic and the products left after the destruction of the cells may cause jaundice
- It is often associated with anemia, fever, icterus, and reproductive failure
- Eperythrozoonosis in pigs is caused by Mycoplasma suis (previously called Eperythrozoon suis), a disease vectored by biting insects
- Younger pigs are more severely affected than older pigs.
- The treatment of choice for the disease is tetracycline antibiotics.
- Vaccines are not available for the disease.
Which swine pathogen is known to attach to and disrupt the pulmonary mucociliary apparatus?
- Mycoplasma Hypopneumoniae (Swine Enzootic Pneumonia)
- The bacteria attach to the pulmonary mucociliary apparatus and thus prevent it from functioning properly.
- This in turn makes the lungs much more susceptible to other bacterial infections
Which pathogen causes atrophic rhinitis (non-progressive)?
How about the progressive form?
- Non-progressive atrophic rhinitis is caused by B. bronchiseptica
- progressive atrophic rhinitis is caused by toxigenic P. multocida type D.
- They may result in loss of turbinates, facial distortion and poor weight gains.
A group of 3-week old pigs is experiencing lameness issues. Several pigs have slightly swollen joints.
You elect to euthanize one acutely affected pig to submit for diagnostic workup. Which of the following tests would be most valuable in helping you make a diagnosis?
PCR for Mycoplasma hyorhinis
- Both M. hyorhinis and hyosynoviae can cause arthritis in swine. M. hyorhinis is found in younger pigs while M. hyosynoviae is found in in older pigs.
- Mycoplasmas are difficult to culture and require special media. PCR testing is a more sensitive and quicker technique.
Several pigs have died at a farm. Clinical signs included star gazing, blindness, seizures, ataxia, nystagmus, and head pressing. Histologic examination of the brain demonstrates perivascular infiltration of eosinophils. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Salt Poisoning (water deprivation)
- In pigs, observation of perivascular infiltration of eosinophils in the brain is a reliable indicator of salt poisoning.
- Additionally, the clinical signs are consistent with this diagnosis.
What is the causative agent of blue eye in swine?
- The correct answer is blue eye paramyxovirus or rubulavirus.
- Blue eye disease (BED) is the common name for a disease caused by a porcine rubulavirus (Paramyxoviridae; La Piedad Michoacan virus) that is characterized in nursing or growing pigs by central nervous system (CNS) signs and, frequently, by corneal opacities
Pediculosis
- Louse Infestation
- Infestation with the louse Haematopinus suis
- Infestation is common where husbandry and management are poor.
- The lice live only on swine although they may temporarily infest people handling swine.
- All age groups of swine are susceptible to infestation.
- Infestation is more severe in winter although it persists throughout the year. Presumably, the parasitism is worldwide wherever swine are raised.
- Can lead to pruritis and anemia if severe!
Top 2 Differentials for Polyserositis in 4 week old pigs
- The top two differentials for polyserositis in four week old pigs would be Streptococcus suis and Haemophilus parasuis.
- acute/high mortality rate –> Haemophilus more likely
- It is practically impossible to find an acute live pig in cases of Haemophilus parasuis outbreaks; pigs are usually just found dead.
- Tx: Have the owner inject all remaining pigs in the building with ceftiofur
- Note: ceftiofur is not as commonly used in Canada and should be used following confirmatory results on a bacterial culture/sensitivity.
Rectal strictures are a common sequela to what disease in pigs?
Salmonellosis
- Although not common today, pigs with chronic cases of intestinal salmonellosis may have rectal strictures and “button” ulcers in the large intestine as sequelae.
- The disease is more commonly found in weaners and growers.
