Flashcards in Pigs Deck (294)
What is the average UK mortality rate for piglets pre-weaning?
Why may it be harmful to give piglets broad-spectrum antibiotics at birth?
Harmful effects on the development of the gut and nasopharyngeal microbiome
Give some non-infectious causes of scour in piglets pre-weaning
Give some viral causes of scour in piglets pre-weaning
PED/TGE (porcine epidemic diarrhoea/transmissible gastro-enteritis)
Give some bacterial causes of scour in piglets pre-weaning
Clostridium perfringens type C or A
Give some parasitic causes of scour in piglets pre-weaning
Isospora suis (coccidia)
Give some triggers of scour in pre-weaners
Lack of colostrum
Lack of sow immunity
What kind of scour is seen with viral scours?
Watery, profuse scour
Mostly produce villous atrophy in SI
How many strains of rotavirus are there?
No cross immunity
Give some clinical signs of rotavirus infection
Sudden death, distended abdomen, rapid decomposition
How can you control rotavirus infection?
Improve immunity (no vaccine; controlled exposure or 'feedback' with sows in late pregnancy using scour material to increase immunity)
Porcine epidemic diarrhoea and transmissible gastroenteritis are types of what?
What kind of diarrhoea is seen with PED and TGE? (porcine epidemic diarrhoea and transmissible gastroenteritis)?
Profuse watery scour and vomiting
Can you vaccinate against PRRS?
Give some clinical signs of PRRS in pre-weaners
Chemosis (oedema of conjunctiva)
How could you sample for PRRS?
Saliva sampling for ELISA or PCR
How does PRRS affect the immune system?
Destroys macrophages in the lung
Relates to waning MDAs
Is E.coli more common in indoor or outdoor pigs?
What kind of scour is seen with E.coli?
Watery to flocculating to creamy scour
E.coli tends to affect pre-weaners at what age?
1-3 days (ie earlier than viral infections)
How do you treat E.coli?
Oral or systemic antibiotics
Choose based on confirmatory tests
Often only fluoroquinalones are effective (last resort)
How can you control E.coli?
Vaccinate sows (only controls disease in first 3-4 days of piglets life)
What would you see on a PM of a piglet with clostridium perfringens type C?
Acute neonatal haemorrhagic enteritis due to B toxin
Does clostridium perfringens type C affect mostly indoor or outdoor pigs?
When do piglets usually die from clostridium perfringens type C?
Within 24 hours of birth
How can you treat clostridium perfringens type C?
Antibiotics: penicillin or beta-lactams
Need to treat at birth
How can you control clostridium perfringens type C?
Vaccinate sows pre-farrowing (2 doses followed by yearly boosters each parity)
What kind of scour is seen with clostridium perfringens type A?
Any other clinical signs?
When is disease seen?
Low-grade pasty scour
Disease seen from 6 hours old til weaning
How can you treat clostridium perfringens type A?
How can you prevent clostridium perfringens type A?
Short-term prophylaxis with antibiotics at birth
Coccidiosis tends to affect piglets of what age?
2-3 weeks old
Describe scour seen with coccidiosis in piglets
When does scour stop?
Non-fatal yellow pasty scour, occasionally with tiny blood flecks
Unresponsive to treatment
Scour stops when milk is withdrawn at weaning, but can leave gut damage with post-weaning fading
How can you control coccidiosis in piglets?
Toltrazuril (coccidiostat) at 96hrs +/- 12 hrs old, single dose 0.4ml/kg
In severe outbreaks, give a second dose at 10 days
How can you diagnose enteric disease in piglets?
Sacrifice live unaffected pigs, fix gut sections in saline plus fresh gut contents
Test for virology, bacteriology, Cl toxins, histopathology
Test scour (virology, bacteriology, toxins)
Rectal swabs (bacteriology +/- PCR)
Describe 'milk scour' in pre-weaners
3 weeks onwards
Self-limiting unless secondary infection
Give some causes of nutritional scour in pre-weaners
Excessive creep feed
Indigestible creep feed
Stale/oxidised creep feed
Give some causes of nervous disease in piglets
Vitamin A deficiency
Miscellaneous poisons (heavy metals, plants, pharmaceuticals)
Describe a congenital tremor of grade CT A2 in piglets
Cerebellar atrophy plus hypomyelinogenesis
Ceases when pigs are asleep
Will recover providing pigs can suckle (4-6 weeks old)
Unknown virus, suspect spread in semen
How do bacteraemia, septicaemia, joint ill and meningitis occur in piglets?
Penetration of bacteria through teeth clipping, navel, wounds, tail docking, tonsil, prenatal infection
Caused by environmental contaminants eg staphs, streps, E coli
Give some clinical signs of meningitis/septicaemia/joint ill and bacteraemia?
-Acute lameness +/- visibly swollen joints
-Cyanosis of extremities
-Subcutaneous petechial haemorrhages
When doing a PM on a piglet with septicaemia, how would the joints look?
Fluid in the joint cavities
How would you treat meningitis/septicaemia/joint ill/bacteraemia in piglets?
What about control?
Control: colostrum intake, hygiene, iodine dips, pre-farrowing treatment of sows
What is arthrogriposis?
Congenital joint contractures in 2 or more areas of the body
When are piglets weaned?
28 days (21=absolute minimum)
What is the target weight for piglets at weaning?
7kg at average of 28 days
How does a piglet's gut change during weaning?
Villous atrophy- natural consequence of removing liquid diet
Why may a piglet fail to wean?
Underweight (3.5-4kg minimum)
Inadequate gut development
Behavioural problems (don't adapt to losing mum)
Biological deficiencies (dietary insufficiency, disease challenges)
How would you identify a piglet that has failed to wean?
Loss of condition, slab-sided, hairy, oversized head
Not eating or drinking
Tail biting and other vices
How can you prevent failing weaners?
Only wean suitable pigs (above 4kg)
Into suitable accommodation
Onto suitable food
Tight farrowing patterns
Identify and treat disease challenges before and after weaning
Aspirin in water for 5 days
Organic acid in water
What should you do with failing weaners?
If not viable/saleable-euthanise
Put back onto isolated cull sow
DO NOT PUT BACK IN FARROWING SHED
Describe classic post-weaning E.coli scour
5-8 days post-weaning
Some sudden deaths
Loss of condition
Only diagnosable in lab (similar to salmonella)
Give some triggers for enteric diseases of the weaned pig
Previous gut damage
How can you treat enteric diseases of the weaned pig?
Antibiotics eg neomycin
Injectable vs water medication
How do draughts lead to enteric disease in piglets?
Draughts -> chilling -> decreased gut motility -> bacterial proliferation
How can you prevent enteric disease in weaned piglets?
Environmental control eg draught control
Zinc oxide via feed (heavy metals have anti-bacterial effects)
Necrotic enteritis in weaners is mostly caused by which strain of salmonella?
Give some causes of CNS disease in post-weaners
Water deprivation/salt poisoning
Middle ear disease
Give some causes of meningitis in post-weaners
Strep suis most common (type 2)
Give some clinical signs of meningitis
How do you diagnose meningitis?
Congestion of meninges
Touch smear-high WBC counts
Culture of meningeal swab/csf aspirate (would see excess fluid)
Serotyping of isolate
How do you treat meningitis?
Injectable antibiotics-beta lactams, florfenicol
Fluids (can die from dehydration as don't get up to drink)
Can you vaccinate against meningitis?
-Autogenous (sow or piglet)
What causes 'Glassers disease'?
What causes bowel oedema/oedema disease?
E coli strains that produce shiga toxins
Describe the pathology of bowel oedema
Shiga toxins from E coli produce oedema to brain, omentum, gastric mucosa, peritoneum
2-4 weeks after weaning
Give the clinical signs of bowel oedema/oedema disease
Subcutaneous oedema of skull
High pitched squeal (laryngeal oedema)
What would you find on a PM of a piglet with oedema disease/bowel oedema?
Fluid deposits in abdomen
Abdominal oedema (greater omentum, spiral colon mesentery)
Brain oedema (minimal WBCs on touch smear)
How can you treat and control bowel oedema/oedema disease?
Individual antibiotic treatment often fails due to toxins
Water soluble metaphylaxis
Zinc oxide in feed
In feed antibiotics
Piglet vaccine (4-7 days old)
Give the clinical signs of water deprivation
Most common in pigs 6-25 weeks old
Sudden onset nervous disease
Manic behaviour around water points
Collapse, dog-sitting, opisthotonus, fall over backwards, convulsions
Rapid rehydration makes cases worse
How do you treat water deprivation?
Slow rehydration per rectum, intraperitoneal injection
Rapid rehydration causes osmotic flow of fluid to the brain -> swelling
Corticosteroids may help
iv drips in pet pigs
Give the clinical signs of middle ear disease in weaners
How do middle ear infections arise in weaners?
Routes of entry:
From external ear-usually associated with mange mites
From nasopharynx-via eustachian tube
How do you treat and control middle ear disease?
Early and intensive
Prolonged systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics
Which diseases make up porcine respiratory disease complex (weaner respiratory disease)?
Porcine circovirus 2
Give some clinical signs of weaner respiratory disease?
When do clinical signs start?
Start at or soon after weaning
Loss of condition
What would you see on a PM of a piglet with weaner respiratory disease?
Lung consolidation; dependent lungs, patchy
What is the incubation period for swine influenza?
Give the clinical signs of swine influenza
How can you treat swine influenza?
No specific treatment
Avoid antibiotics unless secondary infections are a real risk
Aspirin in water
Paracetamol in feed
Can you vaccinate against swine influenza?
Yes, sows only
What is the cause of atrophic rhinitis in piglets?
Pasteurella multocida type D toxin-producing strain
Give the clinical signs of progressive atrophic rhinitis in piglets
Destruction of turbinates
Give the effects of progressive atrophic rhinitis
Reduces filter mechanism of nares -> more inhalation of pathogens and pollutants
Severe growth retardation
Uneconomic to maintain
What is PMWS?
Post-weaning multisystemic wasting disease
Give the clinical signs of PMWS (post-weaning multi-systemic wasting disease)
Fading starting around 7 weeks of age
Rapid loss of condition
+/- respiratory disease
+/- enteric disease
How is PMWS (post-weaning multisystemic wasting disease) controlled?
What causes greasy pig disease?
Is it pruritic?
Is it fatal?
Staphylococcus hyicus (skin commensal)
Can be fatal
When does greasy pig disease typically occur?
How do you treat greasy pig disease?
Individual antibiotic injections (3-5 days) (lincomycin, beta lactams, 3rd or 4th gen cephalosporins)
Wash in Savlon
How can you prevent greasy pig disease?
Reduce damage caused by fighting (eg teeth clipping)
Improve ventilation/reduce humidity
What causes sarcoptic mange?
Most common skin parasite of pigs
Give the clinical sigs of sarcoptic mange
Intense and persistent pruritus (scratching, head shaking)
When do signs of pityriasis rosea appear?
3-5 weeks of age
Spontaneously disappear at 12-14 weeks
Why should pet pig owners not keep pigs in close contact with sheep?
Ovine herpes virus 2 can be transmitted to pigs
Blind, aimless, ocular discharge, corneal clouding, mouth sores
What is the daily water intake of a pig?
What is the normal rectal temp of a pig?
Where can you take blood from a pig?
How much maintenance should a pet pig eat a day?
(smaller breeds up to 2%)
Give some common consequences of obesity in pet pigs
Dermatitis in fat folds
Give some causes of locomotor problems in pet pigs
Joint problems (eg arthritis)
Erysipelas (joint and heart problems)
Streptococcal joint infections
Purulent joint abscess (arcanobacter)
Joint injuries (growth plate fractures, ruptured ligaments)
Bone problems (osteoporosis, vit D deficiency)
Hoof and foot cracks/ulcers/erosions (cracked hooves=biotin deficiency)
Pet pigs with cracked hooves may have a deficiency in what?
How do you de-tusk pet boars?
Noose behind tusks
Saw off with embryotomy wire
Remove all 4 tusks (won't bleed)
Give some causes of skin problems in pet pigs
Mange (sarcoptes scabei var suis)-ivermectins
Lice (haemoatopinus suis)-ivermectins
Insect bites (culicoides, mosquitoes)
Erysipelas-vaccinate twice yearly; penicillin
Ringworm (trichophyton verrucosum, M canis)
Greasy pig disease
Dermatitis in fat folds
Vit B deficiency
Atopic and contact allergies
Give some respiratory problems that may be seen in pet pigs
Rare in pet pigs due to low stocking densities
Metastrongylus in over-used paddocks
Migrating ascarids in uncleaned straw/earth pens
How would you treat glassers, APP, streps and staphs?
What must you need to know before you castrate an adult pet pig?
What is the only licensed sedative in pigs?
Azaperone IM (IV causes excitement)
No analgesic properties
Can combine with GA or LA
Can use with ketamine, +/- diazepam or ACP
Why should you take care when using pentobarbital in pigs?
Not licensed or sterile
Causes heart-block in pigs
When castrating an adult pig, where can you inject pentobarbital and why?
Intra-testicular for rapid recovery
When do the majority of piglet deaths occur?
During the first 72 hours of life
How do you castrate an adult pig?
Two incisions in scrotum
Pull testicle out and wind until artery snaps (doesn't bleed)
(Can tie off but increases risk of infection)
No need to suture-heals well
Beware scrotal hernias. If present, give full GA
Give some geriatric problems of older pet pigs
Severe dental problems
Deformed feet ('flat footed')
How often should you worm a pet pig?
4 times a year
How often should you vaccinate pigs against clostridial disease?
Vaccinate sows twice yearly
What size needle should you use for IM injections?
1.5 inch (16g)
Small pigs maybe 18g
Give some analgesics you can use in pet pigs
Where should you euthanise small pet pigs when using barbiturates?
Anterior vena cava via jugular furrow
Where should you euthanise bigger pet pigs when using barbiturates?
Abdomen (10cm paravertebral, cranial to umbilicus)
Where should you aim when using a captive bolt gun for euthanasia?
Between the eyes, central, aim for back of throat
Give some possible poisons of pet pigs
Antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
Phenols and cresols
Lead, other heavy metals
Gases (eg NH3)
Monensin (growth promoter)
What is the difference between a notifiable and reportable disease?
-Notifiable: must report SUSPISCION to APHA
-Reportable: must be reported once it's been confirmed
Give some consequences of notifiable disease suspiscion
-Restrictions on movements from farm
-Restrictions on deliveries to farm
-Restrictions on you
-Possibly export restrictions
What are the consequences of confirmed PED (porcine epidemic diarrhoea)?
No restrictions; don't need to slaughter pigs (cf FMD)
How are pig notifiable diseases classified?
Name the haemorrhagic pig notifiable diseases
-Classical Swine Fever
-African Swine Fever
Name the vesicular pig notifiable diseases
-SVD (swine vesicular disease)
-Seneca Valley A Virus
Name the other pig notifiable diseases
-PED High Path
What causes foot and mouth disease?
A Picorna virus
How many serotypes of foot and mouth disease are there?
Which kinds of animals does foot and mouth disease affect?
-Cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs)
-Various wildlife species (eg buffalo)
Which factors make FMD highly contagious?
-Rapid replication and short intubation
-Massive virus release
-High susceptibility of hosts
-Several routes of transmission
What is the incubation period of FMD?
2-14 days, depends on:
-The dose of virus to which the animal has been exposed
-The strain of the virus
-Route of infection
How is FMD spread?
-Virus is present in the fluid inside blisters, saliva, urine, dung, milk and exhaled air, and later in blood
-Infection occurs through direct or indirect contact (fomites, feed, aerosols, AI)
How long can humans harbour FMD virus for?
24-48 hrs, in their resp tract
Give the clinical signs of FMD
-Vesicle formation mainly on the feet (coronary bands), snout or tongue
-Abortion/sudden death in piglets
What causes swine vesicular disease?
What causes vesicular exanthema?
What causes vesicular stomatitis?
What causes African Swine Fever?
An Asfarviridae virus (double-stranded DNA virus)
How is African Swine Fever spread?
-Indirect transmission: feed, fomites, Ornithodoros ticks (soft ticks)
What is the incubation period of African Swine Fever?
What are the 3 categories of African Swine Fever infection?
Give the clinical signs of per-acute acute African Swine Fever
Sudden death with few signs
Give the clinical signs of acute African Swine Fever
-Death within a few days (can have 100% mortality)
-Anorexia, apathy, incoordination
-Vomiting and diarrhoea (may be bloody)
-Resp signs, conjunctivitis
-Cyanosis of extremities
Give the clinical signs of sub-acute/chronic African Swine Fever
What causes Classical Swine Fever?
How does transmission of Classical Swine Fever occur?
What is the incubation period of Classical Swine Fever?
2-15 days (but can be up to 4 weeks in the field)
Give the clinical signs of highly virulent strains of Classical Swine Fever
-Constipation -> watery diarrhoea
-Skin haemorrhages/cyanotic discolouration
-Death within 1-3 weeks
Give some differential diagnoses for runting of pigs
-PMWS (porcine multi-systemic wasting syndrome)
Give some differential diagnoses for abortion in pigs
Give some differential diagnoses for septicaemia in pigs
What is Teschen Disease?
What are the clinical signs?
-Enterovirus causing polioencephalomyelitis
-Clinical signs: high fever, incoordination, tremors, inappetence, convusions, death
What is Aujeszky's disease?
-Also known as Pseudorabies/Mad Itch
-Now eradicated from most of NW Europe
What are the clinical signs of Aujeszky's disease in different ages of pigs?
-Adults: abortion storms, mummification, mild pyrexia, anorexia, vomiting
-Piglets from 3 days up to weaning: V and D -> nervous signs with pyrexia (dog-sitting, incoordination, muscle tremor, opisthotonus, convulsions)
-Weaners and growers: pyrexia, incoordination -> dog-sitting, convulsions, death. Pneumonia
How are pigs infected with Brucella suis?
-Oral or venereal infection
Give the clinical signs of Brucells suis
-Abortion, SMEDI (stillbirth, mummification, embryonic death, infertility)
-Polyarthritis and osteomyelitis
What are the symptoms of Seneca Valley A virus?
-Same as FMD
-Can cause fevers, acute lameness, reduced feed intake for older pigs and breeding herd
What does POM-V stand for?
Prescription-only medicine- veterinarian
What does POM-VPS stand for?
Prescription-only medicine- veterinarian, pharmacist, suitably qualified person
What does NFA-VPS stand for?
Non-food animal- veterinarian, pharmacist, suitably qualified person
What does AVM-GSL stand for?
Authorised veterinary medicine-general sales list
Which vaccines are available for breeding pigs?
Which vaccines are available to protect growing pigs directly?
-Haemophilus parasuis (Glassers)
Which vaccines are available to protect growing pigs via colostrum ie by vaccinating the dam?
-Haemophilus parasuis (Glassers)
-Progressive atrophic rhinitis
Compare live vs attenuated vaccines
-More rapid onset
-But risk of reversion to virulence
-Slower to effect
-Often double dosing
-But safer and cheaper
Where is the best place to inject a pig when aiming behind the ear?
-Most muscular part
-Avoid going too high in sows -> fat layer
-Too low behind ears -> salivary glands
When should you vaccinate a sow against Parvovirus?
2 weeks before service
What should you vaccinate a gilt against post-service/pre-farrowing?
-Clostridium perfringens (with E.coli)
-PAR (progressive atrophic rhinitis)
What should you vaccinate a sow with at each parity?
What should you vaccinate a sow with before service?
Which vaccinations would you give to a growing pig?
-Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (from 3 days)
-E.coli (4 days old)
-PRRS (from 3 weeks old)
-Lawsonia (from 3 weeks old)
-Glassers (Haemophilus parasuis, 2 doses from 5 weeks old)
-Actino pleuropneumoniae (2 doses from 6 weeks old)
What is an autogenous vaccine?
-Made from culture of microorganisms from an individual, then used to immunize that same individual against further spread and progression
-Must be inactivated
When are autogenous vaccines used?
-When no commerical vaccine is available
-When commerical vaccine fails
What are the Group 1 antibiotics?
First choice for use
What are the Group 2 antibiotics?
Second choice for use
-Betalactams (including 1st and 2nd generation cephalosporins)
What are the Group 3 antibiotics?
Last resort, use when nothing else works
-3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins
How much water does a pig drink?
How much food should a piglet eat post-weaning (2 weeks)?
How much food should a piglet eat when it is 6-20 weeks old?
How much food should a sow eat in lactation?
How much food should a dry sow eat?
What is toltrazuril?
Why might we give hormones to pigs?
-Stimulate oestrus (eg PMSG + hCG)
-Synchronise oestrus (eg Regumate)
-Induce farrowing (PGF2a)
-Stimulate uterine contractions (eg oxytocin)
When does oestrus occcur after giving Regumate?
5 days after last dose
How long must you give Regumate for before sows come into oestrus?
18 days, oestrus occurs 5 days after last dose
(Squirt into mouth)
How long must records be kept for regarding medicine use in food-producing animals?
Give a problem with in-feed medication
-Can't guarantee all pigs are getting correct dose (eg reduced appetite -> won't have full dose)
What must you include when recording medicine use?
-Product used (bottle no if relevant)
-Date treatment started
-Identification/location of animal
-Reason for treatment
-Duration and dose of treatment
-Earliest date for slaughter for human consumption
Which licensed GA are available in pigs?
What is the only licensed sedative in pigs?
Which drug would you use for an epidural in pigs?
What would you use for anaesthetising pigs?
Rompun (xylazine) and ketamine
How old is a 'grower pig'?
12-25 weeks (30-100+kg)
Give the major disease syndromes of growing pigs
-Porcine respiratory disease complex
-Enteric diseases (infectious and physical)
When does porcine respiratory disease complex occur?
-At or soon after weaning and continues into growing stages
-Or starts at finishing stages (after 12 weeks old)
Give the clinical signs of porcine respiratory disease complex
-Loss of condition
Give some diseases that contribute to porcine respiratory disease complex
-Damage done by earlier challenges
What is the incubation period for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae?
How does Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae affect the lungs?
-Damages bronchial cilia -> secondary bacterial challenge -> pleurisy
Cranial lung lesions implies which kind of pneumonia?
What causes swine enzootic pneumonia?
How do you diagnose swine enzootic pneumonia?
-Gross pathology -> lung lesions
How do you treat swine enzootic pneumonia?
-Individuals: TMZ, LA macrolides
-Group: via water: TMZ, florphenicol, tylosin, lincomycin
How can you prevent swine enzootic pneumonia?
-In-feed medication: prophylactic eg CTC, tilmicosin
-Vaccinate from 3 days old
What are the 3 possible presentations of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae?
-Part of porcine respiratory disease complex
-Chronic grumbling disease
Give the clinical signs of acute Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
-Mass lethargy and inappetence
-Bloody discharge from nares
-Can see remarkable recovery with Ceftiofur injection
Give some infectious and physical GI conditions of growers/finishers
What causes swine dysentry?
-Causes ulcerative colitis/typhlytis
Why is swine dysentry a costly disease?
-Poor feed conversion efficiency
What are the clinical signs of swine dysentry?
-Rapid loss of condition
-Death after a few days
How do you treat swine dysentry?
How do you control swine dysentry?
What causes Spirochaetal colitis?
-Brachyspira pilosicoli (common commensal)
-Often mixed infection with Lawsonia/Salmonella/Yersinia enterocolitica
Give the clinical signs of Spirochaetal colitis
-Cow pat dung -> frank scour
-Occasionally blood flecking, rarely mucous
What are 'grower scours'?
-Nutritionally-induced low grade hind gut enteritis, often complicated with Brachyspira pilosicoli/Lawsonia
-Caused by over-eating (esp pelleted feed)
How do you control grower scours?
-Reduced cereal inclusion
How do you treat grower scours?
-Same for swine dysentry: -Pleuromutilins-tiamulin/valnemulin, Lincomycin, Tylvalosin
What is PIA?
Porcine intestinal adenopathy (ileitis)
What is PHE?
Proliferative haemorrhagic enteropathy (ileitis)
What causes PIA and PHE?
Give the clinical signs of porcine intestinal adenopathy (PIA)
-Thickening of terminal SI and proximal colon
-Low grade scour
-Loss of condition
Give the clinical signs of proliferative haemorrhagic enteropathy (PHE)
-Acute haemorrhagic ileitis/colitis
-Usually older animals
-Blood 'rope' (of clotted blood)
How do you treat PIA and PHE (porcine intestinal adenopathy and proliferative haemorrhagic enteropathy)?
-Causative agent (Lawsonia) is intracellular so need an antibiotic that penetrates cell walls -> macrolides
-Vaccine (live oral vaccine)
Give the clinical signs of Ascaris suum infection
-Rarely causes gut disturbance
-Occasional gut blockage
-'Milk spot liver' (migration)
When is Ascaris suum usually detected?
How can you prevent Ascaris suum?
-Hygiene: lime washings, eggs are almost indestructible
Where does Trichuris suis reside?
Colon -> irritation
How do you control Trichuris suis?
-Hygiene (lime washing)
-Multiple high dose worming
What is volvulus?
Rotation of GI tract on base of mesentery
Give some clinical signs of volvulus
-Very rapid death or short period of intense pain
-Protrusion of anus
-Caecal positioning is diagnostic (twisted 360 degrees)
Give the clinical signs 0f a haemorrhagic gastric ulcer
-Malena -smell (digested blood)
-Clotted blood in stomach +/- intestine
Give some causes of gastric ulcers
-High wheat diets
-High protein diets
Give some causes of rectal prolapse
-Excess abdominal pressure (coughing, huddling, over-stocking)
How do you replace a rectal prolapse?
-Gentle pressure +/- purse string suture
-Or could amputate
Give a possible consequence of a rectal prolapse
Give some consequences of a rectal stricture
-Gut blockage, can't defecate, abdominal distension, lost condition, jaundice
-If blood supply is interrupted -> bacterial infection eg salmonella, strep suis, haemophilus parasuis
How do you treat a rectal prolapse?
-If found early -> gently ease open with fingers
-Otherwise -> euthanase
How shoud you respond to umbiical hernias?
-If small, leave alone
-If large/damaged -> euthanase
What is the most common bacteriaemic/septicaemic condition of pigs?
Erysipelas (diamond skin disease)
What are the clilnical signs of erysipelas?
-Peracute: found dead, septicaemia
-Acute: diamond skin lesions, severe pyrexia, depression, anorexia
-Chronic sequelae: crippling lameness, endocarditis, skin sloughing
What is the cause of erysipelas?
-Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae- many strains
-Organism is carried asymptomatically bymost wild birds and rodents
-Common in outdoor systems
-Breeding systems usually vaccinated but not growers
How do you treat erysipelas?
-Amoxycillin can be used in water metaphylactically
-Romove source (bird contamination of feed, rodent control)
Give some vices of growers/finishers
Biting of tails, ears, flanks, legs, anus, vulva
What causes vices?
-Discontentment (not boredom)
-Insifficient food/water access
Give some consequences of vices
Will a pig be accepted for consumption if it has a swollen joint?
Give some clinical signs of Mycoplasma hyosynoviae
-Often no visible swelling
-Acute polyarthritis -> lameness, stiff legs, collapse under weight
How is Mycoplasma hyosynoviae spread?
How do you treat Mycoplasma hyosynoviae infection?
What is the Farrowing Index?
What is the target value?
-Number of litters per sow per year
What is the target number of pigs born alive per sow per year?
What is the target number of pigs born alive per sow per litter?
Which factors affect the number of pigs born alive per litter?
-Embryonic survival rate
-Foetal survival rate
-Parturition survival rate
What is meant by an 'empty day'?
Days that the uterus is empty
What is meant by farrowing rate?
What is the target %?
The proportion of females served that farrow
What is meant by conception rate?
What is the target %?
Number of services required to establish a viable pregnancy
(3 week non-return rate)
What is meant by litter scatter?
Over 15% of litters having 8 piglets or less
What is the target value for piglets born dead per litter?
Give some causes of sow post-weaning anoestrus
-Body condition (very fat or very thin)
-Pre-weaning 'silent heat'
-Season (of year)
-Mycotoxicosis (in feed or bedding)
-Poor observation, short visible oestrus
Give some causes of failure of fertilisation
-Timing and quality of service
-Quality of service
-Boar contact for AI
-Fertility of semen (eg contaminated)
Give some causes of early embryonic loss
Give some causes of vaginal discharge in sows after service
-Service hygiene (carrier boars- Actinobaculum suis)
-Service- house hygiene
-Carry over from farrowing (debris, damage, infection)
How could you improve conception and fertilisation rates?
-Injectable GnRH analogues eg Buserelin, Perforelin
-Give after weaning to increase FSH/LH
When should you give Beserelin (GnRH analogue)?
-Sows: 83-89hrs after weaning, then AI 30-33hrs later
-Gilts: 115-120hrs after synchronisation, then AI 30-33hrs later
When should you give Perforelin (GnRH analogue)?
-Sows: 24hrs after weaning
-Gilts: 48hrs after synchronisation
How do you use Regumate?
What is the active ingredient?
-Give orally for 18 days, oestrus occurs 5-7 days later
What is the most important time during pregnancy to avoid stress?
Attachment of conceptus
Which virus can cause mummified piglets?
Give some non-infectious conditions that can cause abortion
-Sudden reduction in food intake
Which condition can cause sows to have blue ears?
At what age are gilts first served?
220-230 days old (130-140kg)
What condition score should a gilt be when she is first served?
3 out of 5
Why is pig semen always used fresh?
Can't be successfully frozen and defrosted
Give some causes of primary uterine inertia
-Over-distension of uterus (overfull/hydrops foetalis-abnormal accumulation of fluid in 2 or more foetal compartments)
-Lack of exercise
-Other illnesses eg flu, PRRS
-Endocrine malfunction (lack of luteolysis)
Give some causes of secondary uterine inertia
-Prolonged foetal dystocia
-Often leads to RFM -> failure to involute -> metritis
-Dead putrefying foetuses
How do you treat uterine inertia?
-Oxytocin (0.2-0.4ml during farrowing, 0.6-1ml after farrowing and next day)
-Antibiotics (LA penicillin)
-Anti-inflammatories, esp if bruising/swelling/damage eg corticosteroids
-Prostaglandins to induce labour/expel uterus 24-48 hrs post farrowing
When would you perform a C-sectionon a sow?
Which anaesthesia should you use when doing a C-section?
-Sedate with Azaperone
Where should you incise when doing a C-section?
10cm above and parallel to udder, approx 20cm long
When does vaginal prolapse tend to occur in relation to farrowing?
What is MMA complex?
-Agalactia (no milk)
Give some factors that affect MMA
-Farrowing house temperatures
-Pre-farrowing feeding (excess/type)
-Duration of farrowing
-Pathogens eg Klebsiella, Coliforms
How do you treat MMA?
-Antibiotics (borad spectrum eg Pen/Strep)
What is the most common skin parasite of pigs?
How do you treat it?
Sarcoptes scabiei var suis
How do you differentiate false ringworm from true ringworm?
What is false ringworm actually called?
False ringworm= Pityriasis rosea
False ringworm is non pruritic, true ringworm is
What should you use if doing an epidural on a pig?
Where is preferable for giving IM injections?
What is the legal minimum weaning age for piglets?
How much should they weigh?
28 days (7-8kg)
What is the target weight for piglets aged 10-12 weeks old?
What is the target weight for piglets aged 22-24 weeks old?
Which antibody is most prominent in pig colostrum?
What can you use to induce labour?
Prostaglandins (must know due date)