Diseases or disorders of the
weaner and grow/finish pig
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Common –associated with streptococci or Arcanobacter pyogenes. |
Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia Can cause severe pleuropneumonia and death. Classic ‘strawberry’ lesions in the caudal
(diaphragmatic) lobe of the lung. In
most pigs APP causes no problems. When
problems occur review environment and stress factors |
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Arthritis in growing pigs associated with infection of the joint
multiple causes |
Larval
migration through liver results in ‘white spots’. |
Associated with shaking of the head.
Can become very large. Most
will resolve with time. |
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Atrophic rhinitis – progressive Often subclinical on a lot of farms.
Toxin from Pasturella multocida
results in deformation and twisting of the snout which can be very severe. |
Aujeszky’s Disease – Pseudorabies In naive herds can result in severe pneumonia with neurological signs |
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Can cause moderate temporary atrophic rhinitis and conjunctivitis |
Common – contact with hard surfaces results in a fluid filled lump
blemish on the leg can lead to rejection of gilt |
Infection of the toe with streptococci results in severe lameness and
swelling of the lower foot |
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Associated with E. coli F18. Review farm genetic make-up if problems
are severe. |
Can result in severe disease and mortality with haemorrhage throughout
the carcase. |
Clostridial diseases can enter the nursery from the farrowing house. |
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Isospora suis can enter the
early nursery with diarrhoea |
Common – chronic diarrhoea check housing, stress, and feed/water
contamination |
The photograph shows the classic loose stool. |
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Can be very severe on farms – review atrophic rhinitis control and
environmental factors |
Coliform post-weaning diarrhoea Common – medication aims to control.
Review environment of nursery |
Endocarditis May result in sudden death – streptococci and erysipelas common causes. |
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Enzootic (Mycoplasma) pneumonia Very common – classically results in pneumonia at 60-90 kg. Generally complicated with secondary
infections. Most are associated with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (left) but
SIV and Pasteurella (right) can produce very similar clinical and
pathological signs. |
Eperythrozoonosis Clinically uncommon may result in anaemia. Associated with Mycoplasma haemosuis. |
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Can be explosive in the finishing herd, characteristic diamond shaped
skin markings shown. |
Stressed pigs bite at other pigs flanks. Often associated with well docked
pigs. Check for draughts |
Vesicle and ulcers suddenly on the feet and snout – any suspicion must
contact your vet immediately |
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When recognized – euthanasia the only option. |
Common – result of not eating for 24 hours and maintained by fine feed
and stress. Note pale dead pig left
and large ulcer in stomach right |
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Generally small, problem when castrating |
Can become very large – once over 30 cm, damaged or in contact with
the ground – euthanize. |
Common post-weaning classically - polyserositis |
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Common in nursery – check for stressors leading to fighting |
Kinky Back When recognized and severe euthanase |
Jaundice Consider Leptospirosis from rodent., PMWS or anaemia |
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Very common
with many causes as shown |
- Deformed legs Review
breeding program |
- infections Review flooring management |
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- OCD Very common
only painful when bone surface exposed |
- sore feet - bruised Review
flooring type and management |
- sores Review flooring management |
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Insect bites Common leads to damage in skin condition PRRSV risk |
L.
icterohaemorrhagica can cause hepatitis and death.
Pigs
may present with jaundice. |
Uncommon now – Haematopinus suis
– large biting louse – easily seen. |
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Mange mites (Sarcopties scabiei) Common – causes scratching and increased stress in the finishing stage |
Associated with infection from the nose and Eustachian tube to the
ear. |
Common - affects the strongest pigs 2-3 weeks post-weaning resulting
in sudden death. |
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M. hyosynoviae – clinically more
common in introduced gilts or boars – synovitis and shifting lameness. |
Parakeratosis Associated with a deficiency of zinc or excess of calcium |
Check feacal worm egg numbers.
Photograph shows a strongyle egg |
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Very common – secondary infection of the lung – picture shows lung
abscesses originated from a tail bite. |
Common in growing pigs. The
lesions are genetic in origin and self resolve. |
Generally uncommon, unless farm suffers from PMWS. Need to differentiate from CSF |
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Porcine Enteropathy Ileitis PIA Common – numerous
forms of Porcine enteropathy (ileitis or porcine intestinal
adenomatosis). Result in uneven growth
in the finishing phase. |
Severe thickening of the distal ileum results in very emaciated pigs. |
Severe form with damage to the lining of the intestinal tract which
dies and is shed. |
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More often seen in older finishing pigs, sudden death with small
intestines full of blood. |
- Porcine Intestinal adenomatosis -
PIA Occurs in most pigs areas of thickening in distal ileum. |
Very common. Contributes to severe respiratory disease in the nursery
and growing pigs. Also may have severe
reproductive effects. Difficult to
control. |
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PSS Genetic condition of pigs – results in sudden death, classically in
transport |
Post weaning Multi Systemic Syndrome Can produce severe debilitating disease is some countries killing 20%
of post-weaned pigs. |
Preputial ulcers Areas of wet eczema around the skin on the end of the prepuce – can be
infected with Clostridia. |
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Common – may be difficult to treat successfully, many progresses to
rectal strictures. |
Often a consequence of rectal prolapse or biting of the rectal mucosa
during defecation. Once recognized
euthanasia the only option. |
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Pustular dermatitis Common in young growing pigs similar to acne in man. |
Uncommon. Infected skin show
increasing circular areas |
Specific salmonella of pigs – resulting in diarrhoea and pneumonia in
the same group of pigs |
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Together with other types of salmonellae cause mild to severe diarrhoea and
enteritis |
Spinal abscess Sudden presentation with hind limb paralysis, but the front end is
fine. Common with tail bitten pigs. |
Brachyspira
pilosicoli resulting in a colitis and chronic diarrhoea |
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Many abscess, foot problems and some pneumonias are associated with
streptococci infections |
Infection in the meninges with streptococci suis II results in a
severe, often fatal meningitis |
Common and self limiting, small red spot, develops into vesicle which
ruptures and scab turns black.
Resolves over 3 weeks. |
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Sunburn Can occur in indoor pigs if insufficient protection offered against
the sun |
Associated with Brachyspira
hyodysenteriae can result in a severe, often fatal haemorrhagic colitis
and typhlitis. |
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Rapid spreading cough and pyrexia in the finishing herd characterizes
flu. |
Sudden death in grow/finish pigs may
commonly be associated with an intestinal torsion, shown is the gross pig,
torsion of the stomach/spleen and on the right torsion of the liver. |
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Disease less fatal in weaned pigs but still may be associated with
chronic diarrhoea. |
Generally diagnosed at slaughter with enlarge caseous lymph nodes as
shown |
Stressed pigs may present with a variety of vice. Ear biting is common in weaner/grower pigs |
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Ear suckling more common in the nursery stage |
Flank biting is generally seen in the finishing herd often as a
replacement to tail biting |
Generally occurs in the nursery can lead to deformities of the penis |
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In grow/finish pigs stress often present with mild to severe tail
biting. |
Yersinia infections Generally no clinical signs, reacts with Brucella tests. |
Water deprivation Salt poisoning final stage of water deprivation. Chronic shortage very common. |
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Zearalerone 1 to 5mg/kg results in swelling and reddening of vulva and
enlargements of the teats in pre-pubertal gilts |
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