Porcine Top Diarrhea - Part 1

Question 1

what are the 6 most common causes of diarrhea in neonatal pigs that are 0-3 weeks in age?

Answer 1

clostridium perfringens type c, clostridium perfringens type a, e coli, rotavirus, clostrioides difficle, & coccidiosis

Question 2

T/F: when treating neonatal pigs for diarrhea, antimicrobials may work but prevention is more effective

Answer 2

TRUE

Question 3

what vaccines are available for neonatal diarrhea causes in piglets?

Answer 3

vaccines available for clostridium perfringens type c, e. coli, & rotavirus

Question 4

how can you boost immunity in sows & gilts when they arrive at the farm & before farrowing?

Answer 4

expose them to the farrowing room feces when they arrive & before they farrow

Question 5

what three diseases have an age of onset of 0-3 days of age in diarrhea in piglets?

Answer 5

clostridium perfringens type c, clostridium perfringens type a, & e. coli

Question 6

what gross lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with clostridium perfringens type c?

Answer 6

hemorrhagic small intestines

Question 7

what gross lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with clostridium perfringens type a?

Answer 7

flaccid, thin walled gas-filled small intestines

Question 8

what gross lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with e coli?

Answer 8

dilated small intestine + congestion of wall

Question 9

what microscopic lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with clostridium perfringens type c?

Answer 9

necrotic crypt epithelium

Question 10

what microscopic lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with clostridium perfringens type a?

Answer 10

villous type necrosis

Question 11

what microscopic lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with e coli?

Answer 11

mild villous atrophy

Question 12

what does the diarrhea look like in piglets affected by clostridium perfringens type c?

Answer 12

bloody

Question 13

what does the diarrhea look like in piglets affected by clostridium perfringens type a?

Answer 13

creamy to watery, yellow or white

Question 14

what does the diarrhea look like in piglets affected by e coli?

Answer 14

clear to creamy, white to brown, mild to profuse, & alkaline pH

Question 15

what is the age of onset of rotavirus in piglets?

Answer 15

0-20 days

Question 16

what is the age of onset of clostridioides difficile in piglets?

Answer 16

0-7 days

Question 17

what is the age of onset of isospora suis (coccidiosis) in piglets?

Answer 17

7-11 days

Question 18

what does the diarrhea look like in piglets affected by rotavirus?

Answer 18

watery to creamy, yellow to white, & acidic pH

Question 19

what does the diarrhea look like in piglets affected by clostridioides difficile?

Answer 19

yellow & watery

Question 20

what gross lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with rotavirus?

Answer 20

thin walled, flaccid small intestines

Question 21

what gross lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with clostridioides difficile?

Answer 21

mesocolonic edema, large intestine contains watery content

Question 22

what microscopic lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with rotavirus?

Answer 22

villous blunting & atrophy

Question 23

what microscopic lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with clostridioides difficile?

Answer 23

focal suppuration in the colonic lamina propria

Question 24

what is split suckling?

Answer 24

only allowing half of the litter to nurse at a time to ensure you are maximizing colostrum intake

Question 25

when are piglets usually weaned? what is the risk at this time?

Answer 25

weaned around 3 weeks of age - stressful time for pigs when transitioning diets, can predispose them to gi disease

Question 26

what is the agent that causes post-weaning diarrhea?

Answer 26

enterotoxigenic e coli - must have one or more toxins that cause severe secretory diarrhea & must have an adhesin for attachment to cause diarrhea

Question 27

what are the two adhesins involved in post-weaning diarrhea? what do they cause?

Answer 27

F18: associated with edema disease, severe profuse watery diarrhea with neurologic signs, & sudden death & K88: post-weaning diarrhea, mild to moderate diarrhea, dehydration, & lethargy

Question 28

how is post-weaning diarrhea treated?

Answer 28

antimicrobials in the water can help, but prevention is more effective - preventative measures include piglet vaccines & improved hygiene (clean & dry nursery rooms)

Question 29

what adhesin is associated with causing edema disease in piglets?

Answer 29

F18

Question 30

what gross lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with edema disease?

Answer 30

edema in ALL BODY TISSUES

Question 31

what gross lesions are seen on necropsy in piglets with post-weaning diarrhea?

Answer 31

dilated small intestines

Question 32

what should the temperature under heat lambs be for neonatal piglets?

Answer 32

95°F