Swine diarrhea & GI dz

Question 1

At what age would you expect to see Clostridium perfringens A + C?

Answer 1

1-7 days

Question 2

At what age would you expect to see Lawsonia intracellularis AKA proliferative enteritis?

Answer 2

Older pigs, >25 kg

Question 3

At what age would you expect to see Clostridium difficile?

Answer 3

1-2 days

Question 4

At what age would you expect to see Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae AKA Swine dysentery?

Answer 4

Older pigs, >25 kg

Question 5

At what age would you expect to see Enteric colibacillosis AKA E. Coli?

Answer 5

1-14 days, again during the first 2 weeks post weaning

Question 6

At what age would you expect to see Trichuris suis AKA whipworms?

Answer 6

Older pigs, >3 months

Question 7

At what age would you expect to see Rotavirus?

Answer 7

All ages, most often 1-5 weeks

Question 8

At what age would you expect to see Ascaris suum AKA roundworms?

Answer 8

> 2-3 months

Question 9

At what age would you expect to see Intestinal coccidiosis?

Answer 9

Especially 5-7 days

Question 10

At what age would you expect to see Salmonella?

Answer 10

Any age, usually >2-3 months

Question 11

At what age would you expect to see Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE)?

Answer 11

All ages

Question 12

Clostridium perfringens Type A + C clinical signs

Answer 12

Slow spread of infection seen often after introduction of new pigs.
Pigs develop sudden onset of watery yellow/bloody diarrhea

Question 13

Clostridium perfringens type A + C pathogenic lesions

Answer 13

Dark red small intestine with hemorrhage

Question 14

Clostridium perfringens type A + C morbidity/mortality

Answer 14

Type A: high morbidity, low mortality

Type C: high morbidity, high mortality

Question 15

Clostridium perfringens type A+C treatment

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Clostridium difficile clinical signs

Answer 16

Pasty yellow to watery diarrhea.

Often associated with antibiotic treatment at birth

Question 17

Clostridium difficile morbidity/mortality

Answer 17

Variable morbidity, lower mortality (20-50%)

Question 18

Enteric Colibacillosis (E. Coli) clinical signs

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Enteric Colibacillosis (E. Coli) treatment

Answer 19

Prompt oral fluid therapy and antibiotics. Prevention by addressing poor management.

Question 20

Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) clinical signs

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) treatment

Answer 21

No specific treatment. Oral hydration with electrolytes. Intestinal immunity is critical. Vaccine is available but not very effective. Biosecurity is key to prevention.

Question 22

Rotavirus clinical signs

Answer 22

Low mortality, variable morbidity.

Often gray, pasty feces with poorly digested feed.

Question 23

Rotavirus treatment

Answer 23

No specific treatment, supportive care is most helpful

Question 24

Intestinal coccidiosis characteristics

Answer 24

Isospora suis is most common. Also many eimeria species can infect pigs.
Fetid, yellow to white diarrhea. Also can see “sheep pellet feces”

Question 25

Intestinal coccidiosis treatment

Answer 25

Sulfamethazine or Ponazuril.

Prevention through fecal removal. Disinfection of farrowing facility is difficult due to hardy spores.

Question 26

Lawsonia intracellularis / proliferative enteritis characteristics

Answer 26

Hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic forms.
May pass fibrinonecrotic casts.
Pathologically, see thickening of the intestinal mucosa with a fibrinonecrotic membrane.

Question 27

Lawsonia intracellularis / proliferative enteritis treatment

Answer 27

Injectable antibiotics to affected pigs and by feed to the rest of the herd.

Question 28

Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae (swine dysentery) characteristics

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae (Swine dysentery) treatment

Answer 29

Antibiotics (often in water) but drug resistance is common

Question 30

Trichuris suis (whipworms) characteristics

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Trichuris suis (whipworms) treatment

Answer 31

Levamisole (double strength), dichlorvos, or benizimidazoles

Question 32

Ascaris suum - roundworms characteristics

Answer 32

> 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

Question 33

Ascaris suum - roundworms treatment

Answer 33

Many treatment options - fenbendazole, pyrantel, ivermectin, levamisole, dichlorvos, piperazine, hygromycin.

Question 34

Salmonella characteristics

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Salmonella diagnosis and treatment

Answer 35

Dx: fecal culture or from culture of mesenteric LN

Tx/prevented with AB either in water to herd (neomycin, nitrofurazones) or carbadox in feed.