Better Pork - June 2016

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Better Pork June 2016 43
Clinical signs. Hyperacute, acute
and chronic forms of erysipelas occur
in pigs. Sudden death may occur in
the hyperacute form, and grower pigs
may be dull, exhibit high temperatures
between 41.1 C (106 F) and 42.2 C (109
F) and have a diffuse reddened flush of
the skin.
In the acute form, younger pigs such
as gilts, grower pigs and young boars go
off feed, have a high fever between 41.1
C (106 F) and 42.2 C (109 F) and flush-
ing or blotching of the skin and ears.
Diamond skin lesions appear within
24-to-48 hours of the onset of clinical
signs. Abortion may occur at this stage
in pregnant sows. Affected pigs may
recover completely or progress to the
chronic form when the diamond skin
lesions may become necrotic, turn black
and slough. Affected joints become
swollen, hot and painful and stiffen in
two-to-three weeks.
Diagnosis. A high fever of 41.1 C
(106 F) in off-feed, grow-finish or adult
pigs which have no respiratory signs is
suggestive of erysipelas. The develop-
ment of characteristic diamond skin le-
sions is confirmatory for erysipelas. The
culture of E. rhusiopathiae from internal
organs at post-mortem is needed if the
characteristic diamond skin lesions are
absent.
Treatment and control. Penicillin
remains the drug of choice for the treat-
ment of erysipelas. Response to treat-
ment is rapid. Breeding stock should be
vaccinated to protect against erysipelas.
In areas where erysipelas is a recurrent
problem, growing pigs may also need to
be vaccinated.
Summary
The above identifies some of the major
bacterial causes of reproductive failure
in swine. Many of these bacteria are
also zoonotic in nature and producers
need always to be aware of the possibili-
ty of them and their families contracting
the disease if their animals are infected.
BP
S. Ernest Sanford, DVM, Dip Path, Diplomate
ACVP, is a swine veterinary consultant in
London, Ont.
HERD HEALTH