Management Diseases

Question 1

The outdoor sow

Answer 1

• cold
• sunburn
• salt poisoning
• bird strike
• stavation/bullying

Question 2

Thin sow syndrome

• causes (5)
• bodyweight

Answer 2

• inadequate bodily condition to function properly
• feeding too little in pregnancy
• feeding too little in lactation
• bullying
• excess energy loss e.g. cold and no increase in winter feed
• parasitism

12.5kg increase in body weight from conception to conception

Question 3

Thin sow syndrome

• results
• commonly

Answer 3

• thin layer of SC fat do not cushion the bony prominences
• animals hosed on concrete may develop sores

commonly:

• during farrowing indoors
• over shoulder
• over hips and back

Question 4

Parasites

Answer 4

• hyostrongylus rubidus
• oesophagostomum
• ascaris suum
• trichuris suis
• metastrongylus apri
• sarcoptes scabeii var suis

Question 5

Hyostrongylus rubidus

• Facts (2)
• pathogenesis
• CS (3)
• Dx
• Tx

Answer 5

• 1cm red stomach worm
• infects gastric mucosal glands and gives a morroccan leather appearance
• goes into gastric mucosa in larval stages and lie there inhibited until half way through gestation when they recommence development until lactation –> damage causes protein leakage

CS:

• weightloss in lactation which continues post weaning
• no diarrhoea
• reduced fertility (increased W-S interval, increased irregular returns and decreased fecundity

Dx:

• FEC
• plamsa pesinogen

larval stages do not respond to anthelmintics

Question 6

Oesophagostomum

• Facts (2)
• CS (4)
• Pathology
• Dx

Answer 6

• 1.5 cm, found in colon and and caecum
• periparturinet rise mid gestation and peaks during lactation

CS:

• poor weight gain
• reduced productivity
• ± diarrhoea
• contributes to thin cow syndrome and reduced milk yields

Pathology:
- diffuse enteritis ± nodules of larvae in mucosal surface

Dx: FEC

Question 7

Ascaris Suum

• facts (2)
• CS (3)

Answer 7

• larvae migrate through the liver (milk spot) with mature stages in the SI
• mainly transmitted through environmental contamination but can be passed (rarely) dam –> offspring

CS:

• decreased growth
• decreased fecundity
• soft cough

Question 8

Trichuris Suis (4)

Answer 8

• mature worms are 3-8cm long
• LI worm
• larval stages invade the crypts of the LI, causing mucosal damage –> may be invaded by secondaries e.g. brachyspira
• mild diarrhoea and reduced weight gain
• immunity develops with age

Question 9

Metastrongylus Apri

• facts (2)
• CS (3)
• PM (3)

Answer 9

• lungworm
• IMG = earthworm (common in outdoor pigs)

CS:

• coughing
• dyspnoea
• reduced growth rate

PM:

• pale patches of emphysema in diaphragmatic lobes
• thin, white worms (4-5cm) can be squeezed out of this lung tissue
• may see embryonated eggs in faeces

Question 10

Sarcoptes scabeii var suis (5)

Answer 10

• burrowing mite
• causes intense pruritis (hypersensitivity reaction) and contributes to thin cow syndrome
• mites commonly found around ears –> will flap ears/ have crusting around edges/ wax in ears
• spread pig-pig and from environment
• mite survives up to 2 weeks in environment

Question 11

Anthelmintic protocols

• types
• programmes

Answer 11

• in feed, water and parenterally (no drenches)
• may include ascaracidal activity by using avermectin where herd has sarcoptes or haematopinus suis (sucking louse)

Premixes;

• Ivermectin
• benzimadazoles

Water soluble:
- fenbendazole

Parenternal wormers
- Ivermectins

Worming programmes:

• breeding stock: done 2/year: spring and autumn
• fattening stock: every 2 months form weaning

Question 12

Infertility Problems (4)

Answer 12

• gilt management prior to first service
• supervision of service
• AI timing
• Pregnancy checks and returns

Question 13

Farrowing Problems (5)

Answer 13

• farrowing crate adjustment
• use of prostaglandin on wrong day of gestation
• positioning of creep lights
• poor colostral intake (supervised farrowing)
• poor hygiene at interferance

Question 14

Use of prostaglandin on wrong day of gestation (4)

Answer 14

• used to induce farrowing
• piglets are viable from day 111 (for success, service dates must be precise)
• undersized piglets are more vulnerable and more likely to have splay leg
• colostral quantity and quality may be compromised if induced early

Question 15

Positioning of creep lights (2)

Answer 15

• should be placed to the rear of sow and in creep area
• rear light should be switched off after the sow has finished farrowing –> piglets will then be safe in the creep, away from the sow

Question 16

Poor colostral intake (supervised farrowing) (4)

Answer 16

• colostrum protects against general diseases, stimulates metabolism to warm the pig and acts as a laxative
• intakes is essential to protect the offspring of vaccinated sows
• split sucking may be required
• colostral substitutes may be given by stomach tube, but cross fostering should be avoided in the first 24hours of life

Question 17

Poor Hygiene at interferance

Answer 17

• dirty hands, damage or faecal contamination can lead to intrauterine infection, infected postpartum discharge and reduced fertility at subsequent service

Question 18

Trauma in the Farrowing crate (4)

Answer 18

• piglets may be overlain (most common in first 48 hours): raised edge may prevent
• piglets may be crushed against filiments
• piglets may be savaged (most commonly gilts)
• all crushings/overlying problems should be confirmed by PM

Question 19

Water supply (5)

Answer 19

• unpalatable water/ furred up pipes and nipples depress water intake
• need min. of 2L/minute water delivery to avoid frustration
• if inadequate water will result n overheating, reduced milk production and salt poisoning
• water sprays may be required in hot weather so sows and piglets
• piglet drinkers will reduce mortality fomr diarrhoea dna improve growth rates

Question 20

Salt Poisoning

• faces (3)
• CS of total water deprivation (4)
• CS of excessive salt intake/ incomplete deprivation (6)

Answer 20

• can affect any age
• due to excess dietary salt or water deprivation (freezing/drought/burst pipes) or if individuals are too immobile and unable to reach water
• CS may be exacerbated by re-introduction of water

CS of total water deprivation

• seizures
• prostration with paddling
• coma
• death

CS of excessive salt intake/ incomplete deprivation:

• blindness
• unresponsiveness to external stimuli
• inappetence
• head pressing
• circling
• convulsions

Question 21

Salt poisoning

• Dx (4)
• Tx (5)

Answer 21

Dx:

• no evidence of fever or arthritis = not strep suis
• no evidence of oedema = not oedema disease
• no grows PM change apart from congestion of meninges
• meningoencephalitis with oedema ad eosinophil accumulations around vessels of cerebral cortex and meninges

Tx:

• low sodium diet
• re introduce water slowly: water trough so all can access but with a limited supply
• betamethasone
• keep in subdued light
• euthanase if no improvement after 36 hours

Question 22

Iron deficiency/anaemia

• pathogenesis
• requirements
• CS (5)

Answer 22

• hypochromic, microcytic anaemia of rapidly growing pigs housed on concrete/plastic (iron is found in soil)
• piglets require 15mg/day but sow only supply 1mg/day
• by 3-4 weeks, haemoglobin will have dropped form 120g/l to 35g/l if no access to iron
• iron is contained in creep feed
• clinically apparent by 10-14 days

CS:

• reduced growth
• falling behind rest of litter
• appear pale/jaundiced
• lethargy
• dyspnoea

Question 23

Tooth Clipping (5)

Answer 23

• not permitted as routine in UK
• advantage of 0.5kg/piglet
• injury can occure (particularly to face) resulting in staph. hyicus –> exudative epidermitis (greasy pig)
• injury to sows udder can occur
• take sharp point off only by clipping and grinding

Question 24

Tail bitin

• causes (2)
• triggers (6)
• control (3)
• considerations

Answer 24

• natural tendency to chew
• attracted to blood (metallic taste) once initial damage has occurred

Triggers:

• temperature variation
• draughts
• high stocking rates
• competition for food/water
• mixed genetic lines
• mixed tail lengths

control:

• docking (not routinely permitted in uk)
• increase salt content of diet if house on slats to 1%
• remove affected piglets ASAP
• if no tail remaining, open wound or selling/abscessation at the tail head, euthanise pig on farm
• if the wound has healed without evidence of abscessation: send for slaughter highlighting tail bite on food information form

Question 25

Castration (2)

Answer 25

- not done in UK immunological: - vaccine that produces antibodies to GnRH which stops testosterone being produced - growth rates are maintained up to the late finishing period

Question 26

Sow-sow interactions (5)

Answer 26

- fight for dominance - grouped either 8-16 or very large groups - after weaning - when loose housed after service - when heavily pregnant