Scour in pigs

Question 1

List 4 diseases that can cause D+ in pre-weaning pigs (0-4weeks old)

Answer 1

Rotavirus
C.perfringes
Coccidiosis
E.coli

Question 2

Lit the signs associated with watery scour

Answer 2

generally sickly-sweet smell
sticky, dirty skins
perineal staining
often yellow in colour
look for evidence on pen walls
associated with fading

Question 3

List the signs associated with sloppy looseness

Answer 3

are straw beds harder to maintain
generally no smell
usually green, brown black
check carefully for signs of blood or mucus

Question 4

List 3 diseases that can cause D+ in nursery (4-12 weeks) and finisher (12-25 weeks) pigs

Answer 4

salmonella
Ileitis (lawsonia intracellularis)
Brachyspira pilisicoli and hyodysenteriae

Question 5

List 2 viruses that can underlie many pig diseases but can cause primary gut disease

Answer 5

PCV-2 and PRRS

Question 6

Should you worry about watery scour in pigs

Answer 6

Generally always concerning
Production losses occur quickly

Question 7

List 5 history questions to ask with watery scour

Answer 7

Are the pigs lethargic?
Are the pigs eating?
Are the pigs huddling more?
Are the pigs fading?
Prevalence

Question 8

Should we worry about sloppy looseness in pigs

Answer 8

not always associated with morbidity
assess quality of affected animals
are affected pigs poorer animals??

Question 9

Descrieb what is seen with Clostridia perfringens type C

Answer 9

Peracute necrotic haemorrhagic enteritis
Death before scour
Seen in First 24-48 hours of life
Spread in sows faeces or soil

Question 10

Describe what is seen with Clostridia perfringens type A

Answer 10

low mortality high morbidity
pasty scour
tends to occur in first week

Question 11

Which GI diseases that affect pre-weaning pigs have vaccines

Answer 11

Clostridia perfringens Type A
Clostridia perfringens Type C
Rotavirus
E.coli

Question 12

Describe how to control salmonella in pigs

Answer 12

Vaccinate sow- reduce salmonella levels in sow
piglets get 2 vaccines- one at birth and one at weaning

Question 13

What does Ileitis cause in pigs

Answer 13

Causes sloppy looseness and poor growth due to reduced absorption

Question 14

what is seen with swine dysentery

Answer 14

Severe dysenteric colitis
Blood and mucus in sloppy faeces due to very severe damage to colon
Causes fading and poor growth
Feed Conversion Rate unsustainable
Very good at surviving outside of the pig

Question 15

what causes swine dysentery

Answer 15

Brachyspira hyodysenteriae

Question 16

Describe signs seen with Brachyspira pilisicoli

Answer 16

milder signs than swine dysentery
Causes sloppy looseness and slow growth
Often present virtually sub-clinically / sporadically

Question 17

how does swine dysentery spread

Answer 17

direct contact with contaminated faeces
moving pigs, vechicles and staff

Question 18

Describe how to sample GI disease in pigs

Answer 18

faecal samples for everything
rectal swabs for E.coli/ salmonella culture, lawsonia intracellularis PCR, brachyspira PCR, Bracyspira culture

Question 19

When performing PM on pig with GI signs what do you need to do ASAP

Answer 19

histological samples as gut samples start to degrade quickly

Question 20

Describe how to treat E.coli and salmonella in pigs

Answer 20

Aminoglycosides
Tetracyclines
Fluroquinolones

Question 21

Describe how to treat Lawsonia and brachyspira sp in pigs

Answer 21

Macrolides
Pleuromutilins
Lincosamide

Question 22

describe how to treat coccidiosis in pigs

Answer 22

Injectable – 24-96 hours of age
Oral – 3-5 days of age

Question 23

Describe how to perform controlled exposure in pigs

Answer 23

Collect faecal material from farrowing crates- Brown paper is a good substrate
Place in sow and gilt pens 3-6 weeks pre-farrowing for them to chew- Cannot be put in feed or drinking water
excellent for rotavirus but makes clostridia and PRRS worse

Question 24

Describe how to control E.coli and salmonella in weaning pigs

Answer 24

oral vaccines
crude protein levels key
water and feed acidification
pro and prebiotics
zinc oxide- about to come off market

Question 25

Describe how to control Lawsonia, Brachyspira sp in post-weaning pigs

Answer 25

lawsonia vaccine
diet formulation
pro and prebiotics
zinc chelate