Post-weaning Illthrift Syndrome
Causal agent |
None –
starvation. The piglets fail to learn
to eat and drink post-weaning |
|
Age group |
Immediately
post-weaning – not dependent on weaning age but more common when piglets
weaned before 17 days of age |
|
Clinical signs |
||
|
Severe
emaciated weaners 10-15 days post-weaning |
|
Weaners
gaunt, dehydrated often incoordinated and lethargic |
||
Affected
weaners often exhibit signs of vice – penile sucking, sham nursing |
||
Other
weaners look normal |
||
|
|
|
Infectivity |
||
|
None |
|
Transmission |
||
|
None |
|
Post-mortem
Lesions |
||
|
In
the classical case the stomach and small intestines will be empty of food. The
stomach may be filled with fluid and possibly just straw (if housed on
bedding) |
|
However,
the weaner may have just figured out how to eat. |
||
Absence
of body fat and the superficial inguinal lymph nodes may be more prominent |
||
Liver
may be pale |
||
Histological
changes in small intestine include villus atrophy and fusion |
||
|
|
|
Stomach and intestines empty |
Liver paler than normal |
Diagnosis |
|
|
Small
intestinal histology indicative of not eating |
Treatment |
|
|
Improve
management of the post-weaning period |
Gruel
feeding |
|
Ensure
that gruel feeding does not continue beyond day 5 post-weaning or a double
weaning effect will occur |
|
Examine
pig flow and weaning age. Increase
weaning age if possible |
|
Feeding
creep feed pre-weaning appears to have little impact on the progression of
the condition Ensure |
|
Common
differentials |
|
|
PMWS/PCVAD
– but normally occurs after 15 kg – pigs with PMWS have learned to eat
post-weaning |
Zoonotic |
|
|
None |