Pig Health Flashcards
(238 cards)
1
Q
Describe the reproductive cycle in sows.
A
- Heat 4-6 days after weaning
- Piglets weaned at 21-28 days
- 21 day cycle length
- 115 days pregnancy – 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days
2
Q
Name 3 feeding system and what each one allows.
A
Individual sow feeders decrease competition for feed and bullying and they are not confined in these
Electronic sow feeders have transponders in their ears and get fed the amount to correspond to their stage of pregnancy
Trickle feeders more like routine behaviour
3
Q
How can group dynamics be identified by positioning in housing?
A
Sows like to lie against things to more dominant sows will be seen against walls and less dominant further away. So can reduce bullying behaviour by having more walls in housing
4
Q
What is the average wean to service interval?
A
5.5 days
5
Q
How are boars used in servicing sows?
A
Boar needs to be max 1.0m away from sows – consider using a V boar
6
Q
What are the considerations for weaning to service?
A
- The body condition of the sow/gilt
- Length of lactation
- Number and weight of piglets
- Feed intake
- Management at weaning
- Requirement for nurse or foster sows
- Parity
7
Q
Why might weaning to service interval be increased?
A
- Excessive weight loss during lactation
- Suckling period
- Litter size
- Piglet size
- Discharge/MMA in farrowing house
- Poor weaning management
- Endemic disease
- Poor oestrus expression
- Poor boar exposure
8
Q
What age are piglets weaned?
A
No earlier than 28 days
9
Q
What does lactation length depend on?
A
- Length of service pattern
- Sow condition and feeding
- Size and weight of weaners
- Future farrowing space requirements
- Culling policy
- Fostering techniques
10
Q
Why might there be a lack of oestrous in weaned sows?
A
- Low BCS
- Poor appetite
- Cold environment
- Insufficient lighting
- Inadequate boar exposure
- Heat during suckling
- ‘Silent’ heat
11
Q
What are the signs of heat in sows?
A
Ears prick
Sharp grunt
Enlarged red and moist vulva
Mounting activity
If applied back pressure and is not moving, she is on heat
12
Q
Why is habituation avoided in sows?
A
Continual boar exposure can be bad, especially for prepubertal gilts
13
Q
When is AI done
A
- Ovulation occurs 2/3rd of way through oestrous (36-44 hrs after onset of heat)
- Need to AI before ovulation
14
Q
Name 2 pig zoonoses.
A
Brucellosis (metritis)
Chlamydia
15
Q
What happens in the first 30 days of pregnancy?
A
- Day 4 – move to uterus
- Day 7-10 – migrate along uterus
- Day 12-14 – placenta elongates and attaches to uterine wall
- Day 28-30 – pregnancy is reasonably firmly established - PD scan from 24 days
16
Q
Why might reproduction fail in sows?
A
Parvovirus
PRRS
Leptospirosis
Erysipelas
Cystitis and pyelonephritis
Influenza
CSF/ASF/Brucellosis/Aujezsky’s Disease
Nutritional deficiencies
Mycotoxins
Lameness
Management
17
Q
What is done 21 days before farrowing?
A
Increase feed in 21 day before with fibre
18
Q
What is maximised prior to farrowing?
A
- Piglet birth weight
- Vigour of piglets
- Improve condition for lactation
- Maintain and support dam
19
Q
What are sows vaccinated against 3-4 weeks before farrowing?
A
E. coli
Clostridia spp
Salmonella spp
PRRS
Autogenous vaccines
20
Q
What are the non-infectious and infectious causes of infertility?
A
Non-infectious causes – failure to conceive, management, stress, nutrition, failure to identify NIP
Infectious causes – PRRS, erysipelas, parvovirus, leptospirosis, SIV, PCV 2
21
Q
What is PRRS?
A
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome
22
Q
What are the herd level indications of PRRS?
A
- Anorexia
- Abortion/early farrowings
- Irregular returns to service
- Increased stillbirths and mummified piglets
23
Q
What are the clinical signs of PRRS?
A
- Transient pyrexia
- Laboured breathing
- Poor piglet quality and higher pre weaning mortality
- Agalactia
- Decreased appetite in lactation
- Anoestrus
24
Q
What are the causes of abortions in pigs?
A
Pyrexia
PRRS
Parvovirus
Circovirus
Mycotoxins
Erysipelas
Leptospirosis
Notifiables
Management factors
Environmental factors
25
What causes of abortion can be investigated using serology?
- PRRS
- Leptospirosis
- Parvovirus/Erysipelas serology may be less useful due to widespread vaccination
26
What are the features are gilts selected for?
- Good feet and legs
- At least 14 functional teats
- Mature vulva
- Good temperament – handling
- Avoid deformity
- Increased back fat
27
What are the causes of anoestrous in gilts?
Age – immature
Poor environment
Bullying/stress
Disease
Lameness
No boar presence
Poor light
Nutrition
Sunburn
Already pregnant
28
What is the best option for frequency of boar contact?
Best for 2x a day
29
How can gilts be synchronised?
Feed progesterone for 18 days
30
Why might a boar be bleeding after service?
Torn penile frenulum
Blood reduces semen fertility
Rest boar for 6-8 weeks
31
What is bush foot?
White line lesion
32
What are the causes of bush foot?
- Wet floors
- Rough abrasive concrete
- Sudden turns and aggression, beside ESF, mixing sows, fighting
- Biotin deficiency
33
How is bush foot treated?
- Antibiotic cover – penicillin/lincomycin
- NSAID’s
- Consider flooring during recovery
- Address poor flooring
34
When do the epiphyseal plates in pigs close?
Distal humerus – 12m
Proximal femur 1-3 yrs
Tuber ischii 2-7 yrs so detachment of teh tuber ischii is more common
35
What are the causes of upper leg lesions in pigs?
- Femoral neck fractures seen in young boars
- OCD/osteochondrosis – erosion of articular cartilage
- Slippery floors in service area
- Excess mounting
- Over crowding
- Gilts reared on finishing rations – lower dietary Ca (to keep P low)
- Mixing sows with gilts at weaning
- Excess weight loss in lactation
- Inadequate dietary mineralisation
- Inadequate exercise during rearing, leading to immature skeleton
36
Why is observation needed to diagnose leg injuries?
Not good at standing on 3 legs
37
How are leg injuries treated?
- Move to firm floor straw based pen
- Easy access to food and water
- NSAID’s
-Wait – may take 1-2 months to fully recover
- Consider welfare – if prolonged recovery or significant lameness euthanasia may be the appropriate option
38
What are the causes of post weaning mastitis?
- Sows running milk
- Wet, dirty floors – best to clean out daily
- Slippery floors
- Failure to clean out daily
- Over crowded
- Mouldy straw bedding
39
What are the causes of vulva biting?
- Over crowded
- Continual mixing of sows in dynamic groups
- Uncomfortable housing
- Inadequate feeding or drinker space
- Rogue sow, temperament
- Overfat/pregnant
40
What is the parasite of mange in pigs?
Sarcoptes scabei var suis
41
How is mange diagnosed?
- Thickening of skin around neck
- White crusts in ear – black discharge is normal
- Red scabs on inside of boar legs
- Skin scrape and microscopy
42
What are the consequences of mange?
- Reduced weight gain
- Rubbing/itching sows damages buildings
- Reduced carcase value if skin has to be removed
43
How is mange treated?
- Ivermectin – injection 2 doses 2 weeks apart, as eggs persist for 2 weeks in the environment, may not penetrate certain presentations
- Boars and older sows may need repeated doses if badly affected
- Ivermectin in feed for whole herd for 10-14 days
44
Where are haemtopinus suis lice common on pigs?
Neck
45
How are haemtopinus suis lice treaed?
Ivermectin by injection
46
What are the most common pelvic organ prolapses in pigs?
Cervical most common over vaginal
47
How are pelvic organ prolapses managed in sows?
- Get sow out of crate and walk her around
- Generally leave well alone – poor response to epidural and replacement with purse string suture
- Care if sow is to be culled – be aware of transport welfare regulations
48
How are uterine and rectal prolapses managed?
Separate sow to allow slow healing
Other pigs will traumatise the prolapse
49
What are the causes of sudden death in sows?
Gastric torsion
Clostridial infections
Pyelonephritis with/without cystitis
Stomach ulcers
Endocarditis (erysipelas lesions)
Heat stroke
Notifiable diseases
50
What happens in gastric torsion in pigs?
- Massively bloated carcase
- Gross dilation of stomach
- Commonly twisted at the mesenteric axis
51
How is gastric torsion prevented?
Check feed availability/frequency of feeding
52
When might gastric torsion be in combination with splenic torsion?
- Irregular feeding intervals
- Excess excitement
- Usually lactating sows
53
What can predispose clostridium novyi/oedematiens?
Straw bedded systems, dirty straw or soil
54
What are the post mortem findings of clostridium novyi/oedematiens?
- Typical ‘aero chocolate’ liver
- Blood throughout carcase
- Haemorrhages in heart and muscle
55
How is clostridium novyi/oedematiens controlled?
- Will takes minimum of 5 weeks to get all sows covered
- Need to give all at risk sows long acting penicillin during the risk period
56
What are the characteristics of cystitis and pyelonephritis in pigs?
- Haemorrhage on bladder wall
- The bladder valve becomes eroded, can get ascending infection to kidney
- Blood in urine is cystitis/pyelonephritis
- Pus is more likely to be vaginitis
57
How is feed managed in gestation?
- Increase later on - 0.5kg once/day to improve piglet viability but not if sow too fat
- Avoid overfeeding
- Reduce feeding on day of farrowing - tell by nest building
58
Why is overfeeding avoided near farrowing?
- Constipation
- Predisposes towards mastitis, metritis and agalactia
59
Why is environmental enrichment for nesting behaviour provided near farrowing?
- Reduces still births and prevents constipation
- May reduce stress, reduce farrowing time
60
What are the advantages of induction of farrowing?
Often little benefit
- Day time farrowing – better staffing levels and supervision
- Easier to cross foster – piglets are roughly the same age
- Wean and serve in better groups
61
How are sows induced to farrow?
- Calculate mean gestation length
- Records are essential
- Sows farrow after 30hrs
- Some systems use oxytocin or Reprocine after 24hrs
62
Why should prostaglandin be used with care?
- Do not use on gilts
- Do not administer if female of CBA/pregnant/asthmatic
- If given more than 3 days prior to farrowing date piglets will not be viable
63
How is farrowing assisted?
- Rare and usually uncomplicated
- Hygiene
- Lubrication
- Antibiotic treatment following intervention?
- Care using oxytocin – do an internal before hand in case there is a blockage
64
Why might there be a smooth bulge in the birth canal and what is the effect of this?
Smooth budge in the wall of the birth canal – bladder fills up with urine and occludes wall when sow doesn’t stand up for a while – stand up the sow
65
How is uterine torsion managed?
Uterine torsions is a euthanasia event, it is not recoverable and they cannot be rolled – 2 long horns twisted will cause twists elsewhere. Can euthanise with/without retrieving piglets if enough recipient sows
66
What are the possible complications of uterine torsions?
- Over sized, oedematous and/or emphysematous piglet – try to manually remove but wire is not feasible choice (not enough remove)
- Uterine torsion
- Uterine tear
- Prolonged farrowing
- Sick sow/dead piglets
- Retained piglet = sow paddling leg
- Metritis and endometritis
- Normal and abnormal discharges
67
What are the characteristics of still born piglets?
- Degenerative changes
- Meconium staining
- Lungs to fail to float
- Slippers visible
68
What are the causes of increased still born piglets?
- Older sows
- Overfat sows
- Slow farrowings
- Excessive or inadequate manual interference
- Nervous/agitated mothers
- Last piglets born
- Low birth weights
- Stress during early pregnancy/implantation
69
What are the possible causes of increased dead pigs?
- Uterine inertia
- Sow pyrexia, septicaemia
- Erysipelas
- Leptospirosis
- Parvovirus
- Mycotoxicosis
- Chlamydia
- PRRSv – toxic effect on the sow
- Aujezsky’s Disease
70
What are the diseases that cause mummified piglets?
PRRSv
Parvovirus
PCV2
Aujezsky’s Disease
Mycotoxin challenge
71
What is the importance of colostrum?
Intake of antibodies, especially IgG/IgA
72
Why are piglets particularly at risk at birth?
- Small size/large surface area means they lose heat fast
- Limited energy reserves
- Lack of brown fat - no internal heat source
- Little surface fat and no hair - no insulation
- Born wet with birth fluids - further chilling
73
How is colostrum given at birth?
100 ml of colostrum within 16 hours is crucial to provide the energy, nutrients and antibodies needed for survival
Composition of colostrum changes rapidly with time – consider split suckling with larger litters
74
How is optimum immune function achieved in pigs?
- Colostrum – early passive maternal antibody
- Active immune responses to exposed pathogens
- Vaccination
75
What are the mammary gland factors for quality of passive immunity?
- Insufficient teats
- Nipple necrosis
- Mastitis
76
What are the systemic factors for quality of passive immunity?
Systemic illness
Dehydration
Anorexia/insufficient feed
Savaging/other stress
77
What are the environmental factors for quality of passive immunity?
- Poor crate design stops piglets sucking
- Cold
78
What are the piglet factors for quality of passive immunity?
- Hypoxia (prolonged farrowing)
- Congenital abnormality
79
How can previous immune exposure of the sow boost colostrum quality?
- Thorough acclimatisation of gilts (exposure to endemic pathogens pre breeding)
- Pre-farrow vaccination of gilts and sows to further boost colostral antibody
- Parity
80
What are the disadvantages of milk substitute feeding piglets?
- Reservoir of infection
- Often get scour with artificial feeding
81
What is farrowing fever?
- MMA = mastitis metritis and agalactia (lack of milk) syndrome
- Nutritional management
- Goes off food, may have mastitis with/without metritis and vaginal discharge
82
Why do smallholdings have increased susceptibility to farrowing fever?
Entirely down to management being too well conditioned before farrowing and don’t want to eat afterwards leading to spiral of disease
83
How is farrowing fever treated?
- Broad spectrum antibiotics, NSAID’s and oxytocin
- Oxytocin is essential
84
How is farrowing fever/MMA prevented?
- Control feeding around farrowing
- Avoid udder oedema (overfeeding, overfat sows)
- Avoid constipation?
wash sows/dry disinfectant
- Stimulate appetite – may use sweeter food initially
- Clean out trough regularly
- Water access
- Enrichment?
85
What is split sucking useful for?
- May be useful where there are larger litters or prolonged farrowings
- Ensuring adequate colostrum intake
86
When is fostering done?
- If that teat is low/non functional, piglet growth reduced or dies > 5 days
- Important to move early before piglet is too disadvantaged
87
What are the fostering options?
- Move to another sow – but only if she has spare teat
- Wean early
- Provide artificial milk, (or cow colostrum)
- Forward fostering
- Using nurse sows
88
What is cross fostering?
- Move all smaller piglets onto 1 sow (low parity)
- Do not move piglets back
- Can move weaned sow into current farrowing house
89
What is shunt fostering?
- If sow dies
- Early wean a strong 3w old litter
- Move 7d old piglets onto the early weaned sow
- Move piglets from dead sow onto 7d old sow
90
What are the options for the disadvantaged piglet?
- Move to another sow (can mix piglets into litters without rejection issues)
- Move back a week
- Shunt foster
- Artificial rearing in Nurtinger unit – no antibodies in milk
- Use a weaned sow to forward foster
- Use milk replacer in the crates/milk cups
91
What should be checked if a sow is not eating at farrowing?
- Mastitis – do not use intramammary antibiotics in sows
- Pyrexic
- Faecal colour and consistency – gastric ulceration, constipation
- Vaginal discharge
- Condition of piglets
92
How can a sow not eating at farrowing be treated depending on clinical signs?
- Antibiotics – discharge, pyrexia, mastitis
- NSAID’s - pyrexia, signs of discomfort
- Oxytocin – discharge, mastitis, agalactia
- Tagamet – dark faeces
93
What are the causes of sow shoulder sores?
Thin sows and rough floors or slats
94
How can sow shoulder sores be managed?
- More food/higher energy feed
- Better floor quality
- Improve weight gain in dry period
- Carpet/shoulder pads – by the time the glue wears off and carpet falls off, the wound has healed. Expanding foam can also be used to reduce trauma to the shoulder
95
What are the vaccinations given to sows and when are they given?
- Erysipelas – at weaning/late pregnancy
- Parvo – at weaning and before service
- E.coli – late pregnancy
- Clostridia – late pregnancy
- Salmonella – late pregnancy
- PRRS – in farrowing house
- PMWS – booster prior to service
96
What are the advantages of batch vs weekly farrowing?
- Management of disease
- Internal biosecurity (no mixing)
- Better use of experienced staff
- Decreased age variation at weaning
- Aids 3 site production logistics
- Regular, scheduled downtimes for maintenance
97
What are the disadvantages of batch vs weekly farrowing?
- Increased farrowing space may be needed
- Decreased fostering ability
- Increased culling rates
- Less selective culling
- Increased hormone usage (synchronisation)
98
How and why might teeth be reduced?
- Teeth may be ground or clipped – grinding is far more accurate
- Remove only the sharp tips of the teeth
- Reduces damage to skin when piglets fight over teats
- Increases sow comfort with larger litters
99
If teeth reduction is not done properly, what are the possible consequences?
- Increased cases of joint ill
- Infection in mouth/jaw can reduce milk intake as piglet reluctant to feed
- Sharp points left may increase risk of greasy pig/facial necrosis
- Transfer of infection between litters if hygiene isn’t observed
100
What can be used to tail dock?
- Gas heated dock, which cauterises as it cuts
- If clippers are used they must be sharp and regularly replaced and disinfected in between piglets/litters
101
How are why are most indoor piglets injected with iron?
- Sows milk is deficient in iron
- Inject at 24-48 hours
- Into hindleg
102
Why might starvation occur in piglets?
- Piglet rapidly establishes on 1 teat, even if it is non functional
- Starvation seen in the unlucky piglets from day 5 onwards
103
Why might there be too few teats?
- Mastitis in previous lactation
- Insufficient teats
- Blind teats
- Inverted nipples
- Trauma
104
What causes blind teats?
- Piglets born onto rough concrete get rubbed nipples
- Teats then no longer functional
105
How are uneven birth weights managed?
- Transfer all small piglets onto one sow after colostrum
- Need to decide if too small to survive – lack of suckling reflex
106
What might cause uneven birth weights?
- 'Domed’ head/splay leg/obvious malformation
- Late gestation feed management
- Disease
107
What is savaging usually associated with?
Nervous mother, often first parity gilt, noisy farrowing house, large piglets being born
108
How is savaging be avoided?
- Bring gilt in 2-3 days pre-farrowing
- Straw or other nesting material
- Genotype
- Music
- Reduce sudden noises
- Calm handling by stock person
109
How can savaging be controlled?
- Oral meloxicam as farrowing starts
- Remove piglets into box or creep (away from sow) as soon as born
- Sedation
- Consider white noise
- Give them cider or beer can take the edge off
110
Why might piglets be lame?
- Abrasion from flooring
- Trauma
- Strep/staph infection
- Joint ill
111
How are general wounds treated to avoid joint ill?
Use drying powders, clean the sow dung out regularly and disinfect between batches
112
How is the navel treated to avoid joint ill?
Use iodine
113
How are infected tail stumps treated to avoid joint ill?
Use a tail cauteriser or at least a separate implement to what is used on teeth. Use iodine on the stump
114
How is piglet tonsilitis treated to avoid joint ill?
Treat piglets at birth and sows with long term antibiotic
115
What are the congenital aetiologies of piglet lameness?
Splayleg
Syndactyl
Thick forelegs
Arthrogriphosis
116
What are the acquired aetiologies of piglet lameness?
Strep suis type 14
Trauma – iron injections
FMDV/SDV
117
How is piglet lameness treated?
Antibiotics by injection
Address cause
- Colostrum intake
- Flooring
- Management procedures
- Hygiene
- Vaccination/injection protocols
118
What is splay leg?
- Weak piglets – low birth weights, compounded by smooth floors
- Strep legs together
- Usually die from starvation or overlay
119
What are the management factors that contribute to piglet scour?
- Poor hygiene
- Draughts/chilling lowering resistance
- Lack of/inappropriate vaccination
- Excessive fostering/piglet tourism
120
What are the clinical signs of piglet scour?
- Poor BCS
- Hairy piglets
- Red anus, perineum and/or vulva
- Wet around tails
- Hollow flanks
- Smell
121
What are the possible causes of piglet scour?
E.coli - if under 5yo
Viral cause more likely
PRRSv
PEDv/Transmissible Gastroenteritis
Coccidiosis (prevent with toltrazuril 3-5d)
Rotavirus - less significant than other species
122
Which pathogens may cause piglet scour dependent on weaning status?
Neonatal period from 1-7days – E.coli, clostridium campylobacter, virus
Suckling period 8 days-weaning – E.coli, salmonella, coccidia
123
What diagnostic methods are used for piglet scour?
Rectal swab for bacteriology
Fresh dead pig to lab
Untreated piglets only
124
What supportive treatment can be used for piglet scour?
- Supportive treatment with electrolytes
- Hygiene
- Vaccination regime
- Antibiotic therapy
125
What is PEDv?
Porcine epidemic diarrhoea:
- Explosive outbreak of watery diarrhoea with reduced appetite and lethargy, sometimes with vomiting, affecting all ages of pig
- High mortality
126
What are the neurological conditions seen in pigs?
- Hypoglycaemia
- Congenital tremors
- S.suis meningitis = nystagmus, ataxia
- Aujezsky’s disease (ND)
- ASF (ND)
- Talfan/Teschen (ND)
127
What is the clinical significance of congenital tremors?
More common in gilt litters, gilt has met viral infection at the point when neural tube is forming. Only a problem when the tremor prevents them from being able to feed. This is a disease process that has already happen so comes down to how we manage gilts
128
How is S.suis meningitis treated?
Prompt antibiotic treatment and rehydration essential
129
What are the causes of skin lesions in pigs?
- Trauma
- Greasy pig/staphylococcus hyicus
- Epitheliogenesis imperfecta
- Pityriasis rosea
- Abrasive necrosis
130
Name 3 congenital deformities of pigs.
Atresia ani – cull
Cleft palate
Hydrocephalus
131
What age are pigs weaned?
Weaning age 28 days unless weaned into appropriate housing then 21 days
132
What are the vaccinations given at weaning?
- Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae – EP
- Porcine circovirus – PCV-2/PMWS
- Glasserella parasuis – Glassers Disease
- Strep. suis
- PRRS
- (Erysipelas)
- Oral vaccines - ileitis, salmonella, E.coli
133
What can stockpersons do to help pigs during weaning?
Try to introduce the concept of water and food access as they would in weaning houses before they are weaned
134
What is the effect of feed efficiency with age?
- Feed efficiency declines with age
- Capacity for lean growth declines with age - “middle aged spread”
135
What is the effect of small pigs at weaning?
- Prone to disease
- Less able to compete
- Will continue to be disadvantaged
- Produce bottlenecks in pig flow
136
What are the clinical signs of a sick pig?
- Social interactions
- Eating/drinking
- Scour/perineal soiling
- Skin colour/wounds/swollen joints
- Respiration rate
- Stomach fill
- Lameness/posture
- Behaviour – if they do not look up and come and investigate and scatter slightly
137
What are high health herds frequently monitored for using serology?
PRRSv
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Enzootic Pnuemonia)
Ileitis
Swine influenza
138
How is blood sampling in pigs done?
- Jugular vein
- Hold pig with snout wire
- Needle into jugular furrow – 1/3 distance sternum to chin, perpendicular to skin, aspirate
139
What is monitored in abattoirs with slaughter pigs?
Pneumonia
Pleurisy
Pericarditis
Peritonitis
Milk spot
Skin rash (mange)
140
What are the post weaning enteric disorders?
Ileitis
E.coli (Bowel Oedema)
PCV2-AD
PEDv
Salmonella
Colitis
PMWS
Swine dysentery/brachyspira species
141
What are the clinical signs of E.coli infections in post weaning?
Scour or bowel oedema
Good piglets growing well
Squeaky squeal, puffy eyes
Sudden deaths
142
How is post weaning dairrhoea managed?
- Dietary manipulation – reduce fermentation rates where bowel oedema seen
- Maintain even feed intakes
- Meal vs pellets – pigs eat meal more slowly
- Zinc oxide in ration
- Antibiotic
- Vaccination if E.coli found and typed
143
What are the possible causes of meningitis?
- Most common cause is streptococcus suis type 2
- Glasserella parasuis/Glassers Disease – peritonitis, pericarditis
- Consequence of pyaemia - from tail biting
- Salt poisoning/water deprivation
144
What are the environmental conditions/stresses associated with meningitis?
- Large temperature fluctuations especially in autumn and spring
- High humidity
- Poor ventilation
- Overstocking
145
What are the clinical signs of meningitis?
Sudden death
Neurological signs – ataxia, recumbency, paddling, proprioceptive deficits, pyrexia
146
How is meningitis treated?
- Penicillin and NSAID’s
- Water (per os/per rectum)
147
How is meningitis controlled?
- Ventilation
- Stocking density
- Strategic antibiotic - trimediazine, lincomycin or penicillin (pelleting reduces activity)
148
What are the clinical signs of systemic streptococcus suis?
Joint swelling
Lethargy
Inappetance
Seizure
Nystagmus
Sudden death
149
How is streptococcus suis diagnosed?
Post mortem examination – nothing, fibrin-polyserositis, endocarditis
Microbiology – heart blood, joint fluid, meningeal swab
150
What are the clinical signs and post mortem findings of of mulberry heart?
- Sudden deaths
- Rapidly growing pigs
- Vitamin E deficiency
- Enlarged heart with excess
- Pericardial fluid
- Enlarged liver
- Fibrin tags in abdomen
- Increase vitamin E levels in feed
151
What is the cause of post weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome?
- Porcine circovirus type 2
- 3-4 weeks after weaning
- Pigs weaned in good condition start to lose weight, then yellow scour, then death
- No useful treatment – nursing/symptomatic care
152
What are the typical post mortem signs of post weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome?
- Massive haemorrhage and oedema of mesenteric and inguinal lymph nodes
- Yellow scour in colon
- Enlarged spleen and liver
- Lung congestion – hence sometimes increased coughing)
- Kidney - enlarged and mottled, also in ASF
153
What is PDNS?
Porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome:
- Massive dark skin lesions, especially over scrotal area
- Most affected disease die off eventually
- ASF differential
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How are post weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome and PDNS controlled?
PCV2 vaccination of piglet
Circoflex (most successful vaccine
155
What are the possible causes of diarrhoea in older pigs?
- Colitis – dietary factors
- Ileitis – Lawsonia intracellularis
- Salmonella - clinically significant?
- Swine dysentery – brachyspira hyodysenteriae/pilosicoli/innocens
- Yersinia enterolitica
- Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea/Transmissible Gastroenteritis
- Intestinal parasites, management, cold/damp
156
What are the 4 syndromes of lawsonia intracellularis causing ileitus?
Peracute – sudden death from intestinal haemorrhage. ‘Haemorrhagic enteropathy’
Acute – magenta colour scour
Chronic – scour, greyish in colour
Subclinical – poor growth
157
How is ileitis be controlled?
- Hygiene – scrape
- Ensure all-in, all-out and maintain pig flow
- Vaccination – injectable
- Vaccination – oral vaccine at weaning. Live vaccine, so feed must be free from antibiotics
- Antibiotic - tylosin, tiamulin, OTC, CTC
158
How are acute and chronic ileitis distinguished?
Acute:
- Extensive haemorrhage in intestine
- Can be difficult to distinguish from intestinal torsion, so open pig very slowly
- If bowel wall is not inflamed, check for stomach ulcer
Chronic:
- Typical diphtheritic gut
- Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes
- Thickened diphtheritic terminal ileum
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What are the clinical signs of swine dysentery?
Dysenteric scour
Massive weight loss
Deaths
160
How is swine dysentery diagnosed?
- Clinical signs
- PCR (care), culture
- Antimicrobial sensitivity
161
How is swine dysentery treated?
- Tiamulin – in feed or via the water
- Lincomycin or lincospectin – via water
162
How is swine dysentery controlled?
- More of a food safety problem rather than a clinical issue
- Eradication preferred – medication or depopulation/repopulation
- Biosecurity
- Some strains resistant to some antimicrobials – so no choice but to cull out, repopulate and depopulate
163
Contrast swine dysentery from acute ileitis.
SD in colon not ileum
SD gives higher mortality
SD can affect sows
SD generally in older pigs
164
What are the clinical signs of septicaemic salmonellosis?
- Depressed, weak, dead
- Nervous signs, pyrexia
- Cyanosis of ears/limbs
165
What are the clinical signs of acute salmonellosis?
- Dull, pyrexic
- Nervous signs (paralysis/ tremor)
- Skin discolouration
166
What are the clinical signs of chronic salmonellosis?
- Weight loss
- Persistent diarrhoea
- Intermittent pyrexia
- Asymptomatic
- Contamination from carrier pigs can contaminate meat at slaughter
167
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How is salmonella diagnosed in pigs?
Post mortem:
- Inflammation of the small intestine
- Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes
- Necrotic Peyer’s patches
- Diphtheresis/typhlocolitis
Bacterial culture of parenchymal organs and faeces (care)
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How is salmonellosis treated?
- Water medication apramycin/neomycin or trimethoprim sulphonamide
- Hygiene/internal biosecurity
- Vaccination of weaned pigs
169
What are the respiratory clinical signs in pigs?
Coughing
With/without increased resp. effort
With/without nasal/ocular discharge
With/without decreased appetite
With/without condition loss
With/without reproductive effects
With/without death
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How is respiratory disease diagnosed?
- Blood samples – serology, PCR
- Nasal/tonsillar/tracheal swabs
- Post mortem examination – lung pathology, histopathology
171
What are the clinical signs of mycoplasma hypopneumoniae?
- Consolidation of tips of apical and cardiac lobes
- Coughing, especially in older pigs
- Weight loss
- Reduced weight gain and FCR
- Pale pigs
- Increased mortality
172
How is mycoplasma hypopneumoniae controlled?
- Vaccination of piglets prior to or at weaning
- Biosecurity
- Improve ventilation
- Reduce sticking density
- Medication
173
What are the clinical signs of APP/actinobacillus pleuropneumonia?
- Lesions in centre of diaphragmatic lobe
- Area of intense haemorrhage and overlying pleurisy
- Deep abdominal cough
- Reduced growth rates
- Sudden deaths, sometimes without coughing
174
How is APP/actinobacillus pleuropneumonia diagnosed?
- Diagnosed at PME/abattoir monitoring
- Culture on blood agar with V factor to confirm
175
How is APP/actinobacillus pleuropneumonia controlled?
- Ventilation and stocking density
- Medication of creep or grower – usually only short period required
- Vaccination of sows or piglets
- Autogenous vaccines if commercial vaccines not available for that serotype
176
What are the clinical signs of glassers disease?
- Pericarditis and pleurisy
- Polyserositis, so can affect all serous surfaces, joints, meninges, pericardium, peritoneum
- Often occurs following immune suppression, eg with PRRS or PMWS
- Pericardium is thickened and the guts are stuck together and fibrous
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How is Glassers disease controlled?
- Vaccination
- Strategic medication
- Check environment, especially ventilation
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What is the pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis?
- Nasal distortion
- Bordetella damages the nasal membrane allowing toxigenic Pasteurella to enter and damage turbinates
- Turbinates get eroded and destroyed – filtering function lost, so secondary bacterial infections are common
- Tear staining due to nasolacrimal blockage
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What is blue ear?
PRRS = porcine respiratory and reproductive disease. Not pathognomonic
180
Describe acute outbreaks of blue ear?
- Sick sows, abortions, deaths
- Very high piglet mortality
- Increase in other diseases, especially respiratory
181
What is the pathogenesis of blue ear?
- Pneumonia, with lung congestion and oedema
- PRRS can predispose to other diseases, such as piglet scour
- Often see ear tip and snout necrosis
182
What is blue flu?
Blue flu’ = PRRS + flu. Very little you can do except supportive treatment
183
What is the PRDC/porcine respiratory disease complex?
PRRSv coronavirus
Swine influenza virus
Circovirus (PCV2)
With/without:
- Mycoplasma hypopneumoniae
- Haemophilus parasuis
- Streptococcus suis
- Bordatella bronchiseptica
- Actinobacillus suis
- Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
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What are the predisposing factors for rectal prolapse?
- Low fibre (constipation)
- ‘Grist’ of food too fine
- Over crowding
- Fighting
- Inadequate feed space
- Fright
- Cold – pigs pile up
- Excess coughing
- Scouring and rectal irritation (lincomycin)
- More in males
- Tail dock too short
- Mycotoxins
- Excess lysine
- Big loss of BCS can cause then to fill up with faecal matter and cause prolapse
185
How are rectal prolapses treated in pigs?
- If left in pen will become traumatised
- Remove to recovery area – hands off, leave, NSAIDs
- Surgical replacement pointless
186
What are the clinical signs of erysipelas?
- Skin ‘diamonds’ - may scab
- Pyrexia
- Inappetance
- Reduced fertility in sows
187
What are the clinical signs of erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae?
Lethargy
Inappetence
Pyrexia
Skin lesions
Joint swelling
Congested extremities
Sudden death
188
How is erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae diagnosed?
- Clinical signs
- Post mortem examination – nothing, endocarditis, polyserositis
- Microbiology – joint fluid, endocarditis lesion, heart blood
189
How is erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae treated?
Penicillin by injection
May get endocarditis of heart valves and joint lesions – will be in heart failure, no point giving NSAIDs
190
How is erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae controlled?
Vaccination at weaning - maternal antibody lasts 10-12 weeks so mat have to vaccinate finishers
191
What is a differential diagnosis for erysipelas?
Differential diagnosis for end stage heart failure from erysipelas is blue ear
192
What causes greasy pig/exudative epidermitis?
Staph. hyicus occurs in weaners and growers, commonly in association with poor ventilation, damp conditions, fighting and skin damage (mange)
193
What is the consequence of greasy pig?
High suckling losses, especially in gilt litters
194
How is greasy pig treated?
- Penicillin, lincomycin by injection
- Topical disinfection
- NSAID’s
- B vitamins
- Managing environment
- Can occur in farrowing house, especially in gilt litters
195
What is pityriasis rosea?
- Looks a bit like circular patches of ringworm
- Autosomal recessive Leave to recover
- Happens rarely but is dramatic
196
What is straw rash?
In summer, especially warm, humid weather, stagnant water, biting flies
May only be a small rash on live pig but quite severe after processing. Pig has to be ‘Z’ graded = skinned
197
How is straw rash treated and controlled?
Treatment – wait a week, NSAID’s
Control – environment and fly control
198
What are the parasite treatments we can use in pigs?
Injectable – ivermectin
In-feed – ivermectin, flubendazole
In-water – fenbendazole, flubendazole
Coccidiostats – oral dose /inject with piglet iron
199
What causes mange in pigs?
Sarcoptes scabei var suis
200
What are the clinical signs of mange?
Pruritus
Hair loss
Trauma/thickening of skin
201
How is mange diagnosed in pigs?
Get a teaspoon to get a scoop of pigs ear and put under microscope. Can do punch biopsy. Damage that mite does allows greasy pig to enter
202
How is mange treated in pigs?
Ivermectin – not in feed due to environmental contamination. Repeat dose after 14d
203
What is the species of ringworm in pigs?
Trichophyton mentagrophytes
Less infectious than other species
204
How is ringworm treated in pigs?
- No licensed treatment
- Self limiting
205
Why is ascaris suum hard to get rid of?
Eggs very resistant – normal cleaning and disinfections won’t work
206
What are the characteristics of ascaris suum?
- Milk spots in liver, scarring from where ascaris has migrated through the liver = exposure in previous 6 weeks. Can see coughing when larvae make it to the lungs
- Can cause total obstruction of small intestine in weaner/growers
207
What are the in feed medications used for ascaris suum?
Fenbendazole
Flubenol
Ivermectin
208
How is ascaris suum controlled?
- Worm sows pre-farrowing to reduce worm burden that piglets pick up
- Rotate with cattle and pigs instead of having pigs on the ground the whole time. Will get worms but worms will die in ruminants
- FEC negative doesn’t mean they don’t have worms as shedding can be intermittent
209
What is the epidemiology of lungworm/metastrongylus species?
- Earthworm vector
- Coughing and dyspnoea
- Worms seen at PM
- Move pasture
210
What anthelmintics are used for lungworm/metastrongylus species?
Fenbendazole, flubendazole, ivermectin
211
What is the consequence of hernias in pigs?
Can’t go to slaughter if hernia is too big or if skin is broken
212
What is the epidemiology of mycoplasma arthritis?
- M hyosynoviae
- Infection from dam to piglet
- Onset of disease often associated with stress
213
What are the clinical signs of mycoplasma arthritis?
Sudden onset of acute lameness – whole leg held. If both hind legs, then reluctant to stand. Pyrexia, sometimes hock swellings
214
How is mycoplasma arthritis treated?
Tylosin, lincomycin, tiamulin, NSAID’s. Can look like spinal injury, if they respond to injury it is not a spinal injury
215
How are spinal issues and mycoplasma arthritis distinguished?
When have spinal issues and mycoplasma arthritis, they sit like dogs to avoid putting weight on anything and reluctance to get up. To differentiate, when they stand up, trying not to put weight on any particular leg, kind of shift legs, this is mycoplasma arthritis.
216
What is the consequence of kyphosis?
- Congenital and progressive
- Leads to depressed growth
- Slaughter early
217
Why might tail biting occur?
- Crowded
- Temperature variation
- Uneven tail dock length
- Inadequate feed or water space
218
How is tail biting treated?
- If tail is at all swollen, must give penicillin
- If unsteady on legs, cull as abscess in spine
- Separate from pen both affected pig and the pig doing the tail biting (which is often the smallest pig)
219
How might ear nibbling, flank biting and navel sucking be managed?
Enrichment ‘pig toys’
220
Why are tail docked?
No innervation to the bottom 3rd of the tail which is docked – so pigs notice immediately that they are biting.
221
222
How can excess mounting be managed?
- Minimise disturbance during the day
- Maintain lower light levels – but within legal limits
- Reduced riding = improved welfare
- Split sexing in finishing phase
- Castration – don’t castrate in the UK, most pigs will go to slaughter before sexual behaviour. Can be to prevent boar taint and certain behaviours
223
Why might anaesthesia be used in pigs?
Surgery – vasectomy, castration
Management procedures – foot trimming
224
Why might sedation be used in pigs?
To limit savaging at farrowing
To prevent fighting
225
Name the anaesthetic and sedative products available for pigs.
Azaperone
Ketamine
Butorphanol
Meloxicam
Xylazine – not licensed but works quite well
Alcohol – particularly if needle shy
226
What are 2 licensed chemical restraints for pigs and their doses?
Stresnil – Azaperone, 0.2-2mg/kg, IM. Contraindicated in boars (might have penile prolapse) and Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs
Ketamidor – ketamine, 15-20mg/kg, IM (following 2mg/kg azaperone IM). Put ket in after pigs are a bit wobbly or won’t work as well
227
How are pigs humanely killed?
Blunt force trauma - neonates only
Mechanical - captive bolt and secondary action, or shutgun/rifle/humane killer
228
How are pigs disposed of?
Especially important for small holders or pet pig owners, you can’t bury pigs, must have someone coming to collect the pig. Essential if mass cull
229
How are pigs mechanically humanely killed?
Correct target – middle of imaginary line between eye and contralateral ear
Pith (rod or screwdriver to destroy brain stem) or bleed/cut jugular if required
230
How do captive bolts work?
- The bolt impacts on the skull
- Transfer of energy from the bolt to the skull
- Net result is total brain dysfunction
231
What are the physical signs of an effective stun?
- Animal collapses immediately and stops breathing
- Front legs and neck extended with hind legs flexed into the lower abdomen
- A fixed glazed expression in the eyes
- Relaxed lower jaw with tongue hanging out
- No corneal reflex
- The foremost sign of a return to consciousness is a resumption of rhythmic breathing
- If an animal continues to breathe immediately post-stun, the stun has been ineffective (stun again immediately)
232
What are the sites for venous access for chemical euthanasia?
Pentobarbital
- Cephalic, saphenous and auricular difficult
- Jugular and mammary possible – hard. Jugular needs neck extension, need snare
- If not, direct into peritoneum with good sedation/restraint – takes longer
- Intracardiac bolus following heavy sedation
233
How are intracardiac boluses done for chemical euthanasia?
- Lateral recumbency – check with needle that they are fully out first
- Point of elbow
- Feel/listen for heartbeat
- Between ribs
- 18-19g, 2 inch needle or spinal needle
- Must be heavily sedated – welfare considerations
234
What foot care is involved with pigs?
- Feet should be regularly checked and trimmed if overgrown or misshapen
- Farriers nippers
- Accessory digits as well
235
How is de-tusking done?
- Don’t want to be sedated as you want them to be pulling, and they are not innervated as they do not have any pulp so won’t hurt them
- De-horning/embryotomy wire and handles
236
What is the basic legislation needed to keep pigs?
- Must register with DEFRA, even if house pig
- No kitchen scraps, meat or meat products due to notifiable disease risk - fresh fruit, veg and bread okay
- Movement records
- Medicines records
- Cannot bury - proper disposal
237
If you get called in to examine some dead pigs, what are the steps taken?
Before opening up, look at living pigs first and see if they have any clinical signs. Post mortem findings to determine whether you need to ring APHA with notifiable risk, buit can call these even without saying notifiable. They make decision, you stay on farm, they will decide if restrictions need to be issued or not.
