Diseases and Parasites of Swine

Goal of producers should be to Goal of producers should be to prevent rather than treat diseases.prevent rather than treat diseases.

Causes of Swine Diseases

BacterialBacterial ViralViral NutritionalNutritional GeneticGenetic UnknownUnknown

Common bacterial diseases

Atrophic Rhinitis (AR)Atrophic Rhinitis (AR) Caused by Bordetella bronchisepticaCaused by Bordetella bronchiseptica Destroys the nasal turbinatesDestroys the nasal turbinates Mortality is lowMortality is low Significantly affects growth rate and feed Significantly affects growth rate and feed

efficiencyefficiency

AR continued

Symptoms in baby pigs include sneezing Symptoms in baby pigs include sneezing and discharges of the eyes and noseand discharges of the eyes and nose

A distorted (twisted) snout is a later A distorted (twisted) snout is a later symptomsymptom

AR Prevention and Treatment

Vaccines are available to prevent AR.Vaccines are available to prevent AR. Sows are vaccinated before farrowingSows are vaccinated before farrowing Use of SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) Use of SPF (Specific Pathogen Free)

breeding stock is an approach to preventing breeding stock is an approach to preventing ARAR

Sulfa drugs, such as CSP-250 are the most Sulfa drugs, such as CSP-250 are the most effective treatmenteffective treatment

E. Coli scours

Also referred to as baby pig scours or white Also referred to as baby pig scours or white scours or bacterial enteritisscours or bacterial enteritis

E. coli is a highly contagious disease caused E. coli is a highly contagious disease caused by several strains of E. coli bacteria.by several strains of E. coli bacteria.

Usually affects the newborn pig within the Usually affects the newborn pig within the first week of life.first week of life.

Mortality may be highMortality may be high

E. Coli continued

Preventive steps include: sanitation, proper Preventive steps include: sanitation, proper sow nutrition and vaccinationsow nutrition and vaccination

Commercial vaccines as well as autogenous Commercial vaccines as well as autogenous vaccines are effectivevaccines are effective

Antibiotic treatment should be administered Antibiotic treatment should be administered orally to be effectiveorally to be effective

Edema

Also known as gut edema or E. coli Also known as gut edema or E. coli enterotoxemiaenterotoxemia

Generally occurs soon after weaningGenerally occurs soon after weaning Sudden death is usually the first noticeable Sudden death is usually the first noticeable

symptom. symptom. Other symptoms include swollen eye lids Other symptoms include swollen eye lids

and convulsionsand convulsions

Edema continued

No effective vaccine availableNo effective vaccine available Treatment generally includes: withholding Treatment generally includes: withholding

feed for 24 hours; adding whole oats to the feed for 24 hours; adding whole oats to the diet; adding or changing antibioticdiet; adding or changing antibiotic

Swine Dysentery

Also referred to as bloody scours or Also referred to as bloody scours or vibrionic dysenteryvibrionic dysentery

Caused by Treponema hyodysenteriaCaused by Treponema hyodysenteria Generally affects pigs 8-14 weeks of ageGenerally affects pigs 8-14 weeks of age Highly contagiousHighly contagious Mortality is moderate (30%)Mortality is moderate (30%) Reduces overall performanceReduces overall performance

Bloody scours continued

There is no effective vaccine availableThere is no effective vaccine available Treatment includes the use of antibioticsTreatment includes the use of antibiotics Carbadox (Mecadox) and Lincomycin are Carbadox (Mecadox) and Lincomycin are

two drugs of choicetwo drugs of choice

Erysipelas

Caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiaeCaused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Occurs in acute, mild and chronic forms.Occurs in acute, mild and chronic forms. Chronic erysipelas causes lameness in G-F Chronic erysipelas causes lameness in G-F

swine due to arthritis.swine due to arthritis. Effective vaccines are available.Effective vaccines are available. Pigs are usually vaccinated at 8-10 weeks of Pigs are usually vaccinated at 8-10 weeks of

age.age.

Brucellosis

Caused by Brucella suis.Caused by Brucella suis. Usually spread by ingesting the organismUsually spread by ingesting the organism Causes abortion and sterility or reduced Causes abortion and sterility or reduced

fertility in boarsfertility in boars No vaccine availableNo vaccine available No effective treatmentNo effective treatment Prevent by using disease free breeding stockPrevent by using disease free breeding stock

Leptospirosis

Caused by five different strains:Caused by five different strains: L. pomonaL. pomona L. grippotyphosaL. grippotyphosa L. canicolaL. canicola L. icterohemorragiaeL. icterohemorragiae L. harjoL. harjo L. bratislavaL. bratislava

Leptospirosis continued

Results in abortion, stillborns and weak pigs Results in abortion, stillborns and weak pigs at birthat birth

Prevention includes vaccinating the Prevention includes vaccinating the breeding herd every 6 monthsbreeding herd every 6 months

Mycoplasma

A bacteria that causes both arthritis and A bacteria that causes both arthritis and pneumonia in growing-finishing pigspneumonia in growing-finishing pigs

Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae cause arthritishyosynoviae cause arthritis

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae causes Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae causes pneumonia pneumonia

Most swine herds are infected with Most swine herds are infected with mycoplasmamycoplasma

Mycoplasma continued

Vaccines are available; however Vaccines are available; however effectiveness is variableeffectiveness is variable

Lincomycin seems to be an effective Lincomycin seems to be an effective treatmenttreatment

SPF stock are mycoplasma freeSPF stock are mycoplasma free

Porcine Pleuropneumonia

Formerly called Haemophilus Formerly called Haemophilus pleuropneumonia (HPP) pleuropneumonia (HPP)

Caused by the bacteria Actinobacillus Caused by the bacteria Actinobacillus plesropneumoniae.plesropneumoniae.

Often fatal-usually affets finishing hogs.Often fatal-usually affets finishing hogs. Treat with an antibiotic/Prevent: AIAOTreat with an antibiotic/Prevent: AIAO

Common viral diseases

Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE)Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE) High mortality in new born pigsHigh mortality in new born pigs Affect all ages of swineAffect all ages of swine Symptoms include: vomiting, diarrhea and Symptoms include: vomiting, diarrhea and

deathdeath Often referred to as “Winter-time Disease”Often referred to as “Winter-time Disease”

TGE continued

Vaccines are availableVaccines are available Exposure of gestating swine to the disease Exposure of gestating swine to the disease

prior to farrowing will result in immunityprior to farrowing will result in immunity No effective treatmentNo effective treatment TGE recovered sows should be kept for TGE recovered sows should be kept for

breedingbreeding

Pseudorabies (PRV)

Caused by a Herpes virusCaused by a Herpes virus Affects the CNSAffects the CNS High mortality in baby pigs High mortality in baby pigs Affects all agesAffects all ages Causes abortion, stillborns, etc.Causes abortion, stillborns, etc. No effective treatmentNo effective treatment

PRV continued

PRV is also referred to as Aujeszky’s PRV is also referred to as Aujeszky’s disease (mad itch)disease (mad itch)

Vaccines are available; however, Missouri Vaccines are available; however, Missouri producers cannot use the vaccine unless producers cannot use the vaccine unless approved by the State Veterinarianapproved by the State Veterinarian

Only PRV infected herds quarantined by Only PRV infected herds quarantined by the State Veterinarian are vaccinated in the State Veterinarian are vaccinated in MO.MO.

Parvovirus

Causes reproductive problems including Causes reproductive problems including abortions, stillborns, small litters, infertility, abortions, stillborns, small litters, infertility, etceteraetcetera

Sows can be vaccinated Sows can be vaccinated No effective treatmentNo effective treatment Formerly referred to as SMEDI (a complex Formerly referred to as SMEDI (a complex

of disease symptoms; stillborn, mummified, of disease symptoms; stillborn, mummified, embryonic death and infertility)embryonic death and infertility)

Swine Influenza (Flu)

A respiratory disease caused by a A respiratory disease caused by a combination of a virus and a bacteriacombination of a virus and a bacteria

Symptoms include fever, coughing and off Symptoms include fever, coughing and off feed for several daysfeed for several days

Vaccine available. ?? Effectiveness.Vaccine available. ?? Effectiveness. Producers often provide pigs with an Producers often provide pigs with an

antibiotic to prevent secondary infectionsantibiotic to prevent secondary infections

Genetic Related Disease

Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS)Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS) Symptoms include nervousness, tail Symptoms include nervousness, tail

twitching and muscle tremorstwitching and muscle tremors Death may occur as a result of handling due Death may occur as a result of handling due

to poor blood circulation and respiratory to poor blood circulation and respiratory failurefailure

PSS continued

PSS animals are generally heavy muscledPSS animals are generally heavy muscled PSS is an inherited condition caused by PSS is an inherited condition caused by

recessive genesrecessive genes Prevention or elimination of the disease is Prevention or elimination of the disease is

through rigid selection against the recessive through rigid selection against the recessive genesgenes

Halothane testHalothane test

Nutrition Related Disease

AnemiaAnemia Confinement raised pigs need a Confinement raised pigs need a

supplemental source of iron to prevent supplemental source of iron to prevent anemiaanemia

Unknown Causes of Swine Diseases

Mastitis, Metritis and Agalactia (MMA)Mastitis, Metritis and Agalactia (MMA) Results in death of newborn pigs due to Results in death of newborn pigs due to

starvationstarvation Disease may be present at parturition or Disease may be present at parturition or

may appear several days after birthmay appear several days after birth Bacteria, hormone imbalance and stress are Bacteria, hormone imbalance and stress are

all thought to contribute to MMAall thought to contribute to MMA

MMA continued

Treatment may include the use of the Treatment may include the use of the hormone oxytocin “PoP” to stimulate milk hormone oxytocin “PoP” to stimulate milk letdownletdown

Sows may also be given an antibioticSows may also be given an antibiotic

Internal Parasites

The large roundworm (ascarid) is the most The large roundworm (ascarid) is the most common internal parasite of swinecommon internal parasite of swine

Other roundworms include: stomach Other roundworms include: stomach worms, intestinal treadworms, kidney worms, intestinal treadworms, kidney worms, lungworms and nodular wormsworms, lungworms and nodular worms

Symptoms of worm infestation include: Symptoms of worm infestation include: poor growth, thin rough hair coat, diarrhea poor growth, thin rough hair coat, diarrhea and coughingand coughing

Internal parasites continued

Ascarid migration increases susceptibility to Ascarid migration increases susceptibility to pneumoniapneumonia

Ascarid migration results in white spots in Ascarid migration results in white spots in the liverthe liver

Worms can be controlled by the use of Worms can be controlled by the use of anthelmintics and good sanitationanthelmintics and good sanitation

Common vs Technical Terms for Internal Parasites Large roundworms = AscaridLarge roundworms = Ascarid Stomach worms = HydrostrongylusStomach worms = Hydrostrongylus Intestinal treadworms = StrongyloidesIntestinal treadworms = Strongyloides Kidney worms = StephanurusKidney worms = Stephanurus Lungworms = MetastrongylusLungworms = Metastrongylus Nodular worms = OesophagostomumNodular worms = Oesophagostomum Whipworms = TrichurusWhipworms = Trichurus

Internal parasites continued

Some common dewormers include:Some common dewormers include: Atgard = Dichlorvos (feed)Atgard = Dichlorvos (feed) Banminth = Pyrantel Tartrate (feed)Banminth = Pyrantel Tartrate (feed) Tramisol = Levamisole (feed or water)Tramisol = Levamisole (feed or water) Ivermectin = Ivomec (injectableIvermectin = Ivomec (injectable

External Parasites

Lice (hog louse)Lice (hog louse) Are blood suckers. Approximately ¼” longAre blood suckers. Approximately ¼” long Result in economic loss due to reduced Result in economic loss due to reduced

performanceperformance Control by use of insecticidesControl by use of insecticides Insecticides available as a spray, pour-on, Insecticides available as a spray, pour-on,

dust, granule or injectibledust, granule or injectible

Mange

Caused by microscopic mites that burrow Caused by microscopic mites that burrow beneath the skin.beneath the skin.

Causes severe itchingCauses severe itching Will reduce swine performanceWill reduce swine performance Control by the use of insecticides. Control by the use of insecticides. Ivermectin is the insecticide of choiceIvermectin is the insecticide of choice