Swine diarrhea & GI dz Flashcards
At what age would you expect to see Clostridium perfringens A + C?
1-7 days
At what age would you expect to see Lawsonia intracellularis AKA proliferative enteritis?
Older pigs, >25 kg
At what age would you expect to see Clostridium difficile?
1-2 days
At what age would you expect to see Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae AKA Swine dysentery?
Older pigs, >25 kg
At what age would you expect to see Enteric colibacillosis AKA E. Coli?
1-14 days, again during the first 2 weeks post weaning
At what age would you expect to see Trichuris suis AKA whipworms?
Older pigs, >3 months
At what age would you expect to see Rotavirus?
All ages, most often 1-5 weeks
At what age would you expect to see Ascaris suum AKA roundworms?
> 2-3 months
At what age would you expect to see Intestinal coccidiosis?
Especially 5-7 days
At what age would you expect to see Salmonella?
Any age, usually >2-3 months
At what age would you expect to see Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE)?
All ages
Clostridium perfringens Type A + C clinical signs
Slow spread of infection seen often after introduction of new pigs.
Pigs develop sudden onset of watery yellow/bloody diarrhea
Clostridium perfringens type A + C pathogenic lesions
Dark red small intestine with hemorrhage
Clostridium perfringens type A + C morbidity/mortality
Type A: high morbidity, low mortality
Type C: high morbidity, high mortality
Clostridium perfringens type A+C treatment
Usually ineffective in pigs with clinical signs. In outbreaks, antitoxin or antibiotic given to piglets at birth can be protective and vaccination of sows prior to birth may provide some immunity via colostrum
Clostridium difficile clinical signs
Pasty yellow to watery diarrhea.
Often associated with antibiotic treatment at birth
Clostridium difficile morbidity/mortality
Variable morbidity, lower mortality (20-50%)
Enteric Colibacillosis (E. Coli) clinical signs
Often associated with dirty/damp environment, poor management practices and low temperatures.
White to yellowish watery diarrhea with gas and fetid odor leading to rapid dehydration.
May see.TAIL NECROSIS.
Enteric Colibacillosis (E. Coli) treatment
Prompt oral fluid therapy and antibiotics. Prevention by addressing poor management.
Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) clinical signs
Caused by a coronavirus.
May be endemic (enzootic) with low mortality/morbidity or episodic with near 100% mortality/morbidity in piglets less than 10 days of age.
VOMITING is often initial sign but not always present.
Diarrhea with CURDS OF UNDIGESTED MILK.
Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) treatment
No specific treatment. Oral hydration with electrolytes. Intestinal immunity is critical. Vaccine is available but not very effective. Biosecurity is key to prevention.
Rotavirus clinical signs
Low mortality, variable morbidity.
Often gray, pasty feces with poorly digested feed.
Rotavirus treatment
No specific treatment, supportive care is most helpful
Intestinal coccidiosis characteristics
Isospora suis is most common. Also many eimeria species can infect pigs.
Fetid, yellow to white diarrhea. Also can see “sheep pellet feces”
Intestinal coccidiosis treatment
Sulfamethazine or Ponazuril.
Prevention through fecal removal. Disinfection of farrowing facility is difficult due to hardy spores.
Lawsonia intracellularis / proliferative enteritis characteristics
Hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic forms.
May pass fibrinonecrotic casts.
Pathologically, see thickening of the intestinal mucosa with a fibrinonecrotic membrane.
Lawsonia intracellularis / proliferative enteritis treatment
Injectable antibiotics to affected pigs and by feed to the rest of the herd.
Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae (swine dysentery) characteristics
Anaerobic spirochete infection
mucoid large bowel diarrhea with flecks of blood
Pathologically, see mucosa of large intestine covered by gray mucus layer or yellow necrotic debris.
Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae (Swine dysentery) treatment
Antibiotics (often in water) but drug resistance is common
Trichuris suis (whipworms) characteristics
2 inch long worm that lives in cecum and upper large intestine. Slender head penetrates lining of intestines causing irritation and hemorrhagic diarrhea. diagnosed by observation of classic double operculated eggs in feces. Eggs survive in soil, dirt, or feces covered floored for long periods.
Trichuris suis (whipworms) treatment
Levamisole (double strength), dichlorvos, or benizimidazoles
Ascaris suum - roundworms characteristics
> 30 cm long worm of the SI
May cause intestinal obstruction and migrate into bile ducts and liver causing subcapsular white spots.
Can cause pulmonary signs (pneumonia) from lung migration and may cause abdominal breathing known as thumps. Ascarid eggs may be identified in feces
Ascaris suum - roundworms treatment
Many treatment options - fenbendazole, pyrantel, ivermectin, levamisole, dichlorvos, piperazine, hygromycin.
Salmonella characteristics
Young pigs are more likely to develop septicemia
Older pigs develop fever, yellow liquid diarrhea that may have flecks of necrotic debris.
May cause rectal strictures should suspect salmonella in an epidemic of rectal strictures.
Salmonella diagnosis and treatment
Dx: fecal culture or from culture of mesenteric LN
Tx/prevented with AB either in water to herd (neomycin, nitrofurazones) or carbadox in feed.
