Topic 99 - Erysipelas (WHITE)

Question 1

What is Erysipelas?

Answer 1

It is a worldwide, but sporadic disease seen in small herds. It can can infection mostly in growing or adult swine. It may be clinically inapparent, may cause acute illness involving many animals, or be a chronic disease characterized by enlarged joints, lameness, and endocarditis

Question 2

Causative agent of Erysipelas

Answer 2

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Question 3

Important aetiology of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Answer 3

Form 2 differetn colony types:
S type = More pathogenic, and form a capsule
R type = Less pathogenic, does not form a capsule

There are 26 serotypes, where only 2 are important: 1a and 2a

1a = Causes acute disease
2a = Causes subacute disease and chronic disease

Question 4

Host and age susceptible for Erysipelas in swine

Answer 4

Mammals and birds
!! Zoonotic !!

Generally affects growing pigs over 12 weeks of age

Question 5

Pathogenesis of Erysipelas in swine

Answer 5

1. The bacteria is carried in the tonsils of swine
2. With predisposing factors: It causes skin lesions in the pharynx and it will reach the blood circulation
3. We see acute, subacute or chronic form

Question 6

Predosposing factors of Erysipelas in swine

Answer 6

Warmer weather
Overcrowding
Transport
Not enough water supply

Question 7

Clinical signs of Erysipelas in swine

Answer 7

ACUTE FORM:
1. Fever
2. Lethargy
3. Reddened skin
4. Cyanotic mucosal membrane
5. Abortion

SUBACUTE FORM:
Causing the diamond skin disease
1. Cyanotic skin
2. Rhomboid urticaria

CHRONIC FORM:
1. Lethargy
2. Unwilling to move
3. Arthritis
4. Lameness
5. Skin necrosis

Question 8

Post mortem lesions of Erysipelas in swine

Answer 8

ACUTE FORM:
1. Enlarged lymph nodes
2. Haemorrhages
3. Fibrin in the abdominal cavity

CHRONIC FORM:
1. Endocarditis
2. Chronic arthritis
3. Skin necrosis

Question 9

How to diagnose Erysipelas in swine

Answer 9

Clinical history + clinical signs gives a good suspicion

1. Bacterial culture is very easy
2. Can do smear, from spleen or skin lesions

Question 10

Treatment for Erysipelas in swine

Answer 10

Gives antibiotic to the infected animal, and antibiotics in the feed and drinking water to the whole herd
Vaccinate after recovery

Question 11

Prevention against Erysipelas in swine

Answer 11

Prevent predisposing factors
Vaccination: Given twice at 3 months of age
⭢ Can use live or inactivated: latter mostly in Asia

Question 12

Other species affected by Erysipelas

Answer 12

Birds
Sheep
Humans

Question 13

Predisposing factors of Erysipelas in birds

Answer 13

Warmer weather
Overcrowding
Laying
Feather plucking
Cannibalism
Contact to swine !!

Question 14

Clinical signs of Erysipelas in birds

Answer 14

PER ACUTE:
1. Sudden death !!
2. Fever
3. Not moving

CHRONIC:
1. Arthritis
2. Endocarditis

High mortality ⭢ 50-60%

Question 15

Post mortem lesions in Erysipelas in birds

Answer 15

Haemorrhages
Enlarged spleen and liver
Multifocal necrotic foci

Question 16

How to diagnose Erysipelas in birds

Answer 16

Clinical history + clinical signs gives a good suspicion

1. Bacterial culture is very easy
2. Can do smear, from spleen or skin lesions

Question 17

Treatment for Erysipelas in birds

Answer 17

Antibiotic as a flock treatment and vaccination
Affected birds are euthanised

Question 18

Prevention for Erysipelas in birds

Answer 18

Vaccination given to flocks where birds have been diagnosed

Question 19

Erysipelas in sheep, predisposing factors:

Answer 19

Trauma happening at sheering or castration, navel infection or trauma when dipping

Contact with swine or swine faeces

Question 20

Erysipelas in sheep, age susceptible:

Answer 20

Lambs, but it happens very sporadic

Question 21

Clinical signs in case of Erysipelas in sheep

Answer 21

Septicaemia
Arthritis

Question 22

Treatment for Erysipelas in sheep

Answer 22

Penicillin

Question 23

Prevention method for Erysipelas in sheep

Answer 23

Avoid infection

Question 24

Erysipelas in human, route of infection:

Answer 24

Through swine or fish, the sewage (avløpsvann) will get into wounds and reach the lymph nodes via the blood.

Question 25

Erysipelas in humans, treatment:

Answer 25

Penicillin
Macrolides

Question 26

Prevention method for Erysipelas in humans

Answer 26

Avoid trauma
Use disinfection well