Coccidiosis of Piglets

Causal agent		Isospora suis. This is a coccidia a parasite
Age group		Occurs between 8 and 15 days of age. Chronic cases can be seen post-weaning
Clinical signs
Acute		Scour tends to occur in individual pigs from approximately 6 days of age, but most of the litter scour at 8-10 days. At the start of diarrhoea, vomiting may be seen
		Diarrhoea ranges from white to pasty cream faeces through to a yellowy watery diarrhoea
		Piglets tend to be in poor condition, hairy and growing more slowly than other piglets within the litter
		Mortality rates reach 20% in acute cases
		The scour is not responsive to antibiotic therapy -excluding sulph medicines
		Piglets which survive often become unthrifty finishers when exposed to high pathogen concentrations, as they have little passive immunity and an immature gut
		Failure to recognise the disease leads to increased farrowing house mortality, poorer weaning weights and increased post-weaning problems
Sub-clinical		Most farms will have Coccidiosis at a low level affecting piglet performance
Infectivity
	The coccidial egg, or oocyst infects young piglets by mouth, and relatively heavy infections are needed to cause disease. After ingestion, the organisms move down to the small intestines, where they invade the gut wall. In successive stages of a complex life cycle, they emerge from the wall at 5-9 days and again at 11-14 days after infection, and it is this emergence which causes diarrhoea.
Transmission
	For clinically significant disease to occur, piglets need to be infected with relatively high numbers of oocysts
	Oocysts survive well in farrowing house environments. They are resistant to drying and most disinfectants
	Infection from the sow plays only a small part in disease development. Sows excrete a different coccidia called Eimeria
	Most piglets are infected by oocysts carried over from previous litters
	Once the piglet starts scouring, the intestinal wall is damaged, and treatment will not work effectively
	Failure to recognise the disease leads to increased farrowing house mortality, poorer weaning weights and increased post-weaning problems
Incubation period
	The incubation period is 5 days

Post-mortem Lesions
	There may be very few postmortem findings – steatorrhea (increase of fat in faeces). Some times there is a generalised enteritis. Scrapes from the intestinal wall may reveal the coccidial parasite. Histological examination are also used, however, note coccidia are also very common (normal?)
Diagnosis
	Can be very difficult. Coccidial oocysts are only excreted in the faeces long after the clinical disease has passed
	Response to treatement with Baycox (toltrazuril) Europe or Marquis (15% ponazuril) US- not licenced for pigs. Dose 7mg/kg. For Marquis use one tube (127g) into 4 litres of water and administer 4 ml orally per 4 to 10 day old piglet.
		Isospora suis oocyst only has two merozoites within the egg		Emeria (from the sow) has four merozoites within the egg, allowing easy differentiation
Treatment
	Give electrolytes
	Give extra bedding. Stop creep feeding. Increase heat to piglets
	Treat with Toltrazuril an oral preparation given at 4 and 10 days of age. Note this can make the pigs vomit. Sulpha-antibiotic medicines may also be used as treatment
Control	Prevent carry over of oocysts from previous litters. Clean the farrowing house with an occide disinfectant such as Oocide (Antec International)
	Control of rapid multiplication in infected piglets can be achieved by early and sometimes repeated treatment
	Reduce/cease cross-fostering after 2-3 days of age
	Use as a preventive measure Toltrazuril oral doser. Pigs should be dosed at 4 and 10 days of age. Note some piglets vomit after being treated
	Sows should be washed/disinfected before entering the farrowing house
	Do not enter pens
	Use separate brushes, forks, shovels in each farrowing room
	Control flies
	Reduce draughts and other environmental stress factors
Common differentials
	Other causes of preweaning diarrhoea. Stress induced diarrhoea

Non Specific Colitis

Causal agent	None identified. Diarrhoea of weaned pigs of any age from weaning to slaughter. Diarrhoea can occur within hours of consuming a new batch of pelleted feed and they can dramatically cease within hours of the removal of the suspect feed. Considered important factors are nutrition, infectious agents, and draughts
Age group	Weaning to slaughter pigs, most common between 25-30 kg pigs
Clinical signs
	Softening of faeces with/without mucus and/or blood
	Diarrhoea can develop
	Decreased growth rate. Feed conversion increases
	Most common between 8-10 weeks of age
	More commonly seen in fast growing pigs on high density diets
Infectivity
	Agent not recognised, but can appear to spread around and between farms The syndrome classically occurs with a particular feed and when this is changed the ‘disease’ disappears. Nutritional factors known to affect digestion are: Presence of trypsin inhibitors in peas, beans and soya Poor quality fat
Post-mortem Lesions
	The colon and small intestine may demonstrate areas of inflammation both acute and chronic. The spiral colon contains abundant watery green or yellow mucoid and frothy contents. In some cases there may be no gross lesions. The photograph shows raised rugae in the inside of the large bowl but few other lesions
Diagnosis
	Based on the clinical signs and absence of other specific organisms
Treatment
	Improve the environment, remove draughts and ensure that the stocking rate is correct – photo shows a growing shed being examined for draughts
	Do not place pigs into buildings which are damp and cold
	Check and clean the water supply
	Ensure the correct pig is placed in the building
	Change the feed to a meal
	Establish an all-in/all-out programme
Common differentials
	Other causes of post-weaning diarrhoea