1. Common diseases 2
SAPPO Training Course

2. Contents Skin problems Diarrhoea/gastro-intestinal problems
Respiratory problems
Fever
Lameness and paralysis
Pale pigs – anaemia
Reproductive problems

3. Skin problems - Mange Mange
Caused by tiny mites (smaller than a full stop) that live in the skin
Pigs scratch all the time and have crusted sores all over the body
Use dips, sprays or injections recommended for mange control

4. Skin problems - Other
Other skin parasites (pig lice, fleas, ticks, flies) feed on blood and do not always cause disease but if present in large numbers can cause the pig discomfort and excessive blood loss – use dips/sprays
Wounds – use wound spray, protect from flies
Sunburn – provide sufficient shade
Infectious diseases (greasy pig disease, diamond skin disease = erysipelas) – prevent by good hygiene, vaccinate against erysipelas, treat with antibiotics

5. Other skin problems A B C D A – treated wound B – Sunburned piglet
C – Erysipelas (diamond skin disease)
D – Greasy pig disease A B C D

6. Diarrhoea (scours) Unweaned piglets: infectious causes
Weaners: change from milk to solid food, infectious causes especially colibacillosis
Growers: infectious causes (swine dysentery, ileitis)
Prevent by good hygiene and diet, keep piglets warm, avoid sudden change in feed, vaccination and treatment as recommended

7. Other abdominal problems
Worms – cause poor growth
Vomiting
Infectious diseases: prevent by good biosecurity
Stomach ulcers: prevent by balanced diet, feed not too fine
Poisoning: keep poisons safe, make sure feed is not too salty, unlimited access to water
Constipation
Sows in late pregnancy: feed bran and/or green feed

8. Other abdominal problems
Rectal prolapse
Causes are abdominal pressure, mouldy feed
Isolate pig, feed wet feed, leave to heal
Abdominal pain – arched back, groaning
Causes are stomach ulcers, organ displacement, constipation, disease
Organ displacement
Usually spleen or stomach in sows after farrowing, invariably fatal
Prevent by calm conditions, feeding 3 x per day

9. Abdominal problems A B D C A – scours B – constipation
C – large roundworm
D – rectal prolapse A B D C

10. Airway problems
Clinical signs are coughing, sneezing, discharge from eyes or nose, noisy breathing
Atrophic rhinitis (leads to a deformed snout)
Prevent with good ventilation, reduce dust
Where the problem exists, can vaccinate sows and use in-feed medication

11. Pneumonia
Causes include viruses, bacteria, worms, inhalation of foreign material, bad ventilation and dust or ammonia build-up
Cold and draughts predispose pigs to pneumonia
Signs include fever, slow or uneven growth, coughing, difficult breathing
Prevent by good hygiene, clean dry environment, de-worming; monitor lungs of slaughtered pigs for signs of chronic pneumonia
Treat infectious causes with antibiotics

12. Fever Fever is a sign that the body temperature is abnormally high
Signs are skin flushing, not eating, panting, tremors, lying down, not wanting to move, pigs huddling together
Always a sign of a serious disease or problem

13. Infectious causes of fever
May be other signs e.g. vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, difficult breathing
Bacterial diseases (septicaemia, pneumonia)
Often one age group affected, usually younger pigs
May respond to antibiotic treatment
Viral diseases (African or classical swine fever, PRRS)
May affect all age groups
No treatment possible
These diseases must be reported (see notifiable diseases)

14. Heat stroke Usually affects adult pigs
Occurs on very hot days if the pigs have no shade, housing becomes very hot, or they are transported when it is hot
Pigs become recumbent, pant, do not want to move, no other signs of disease
Throw as much cool water as possible over them, arrange shade or move them to a cooler area
Transport pigs in the cool part of the day or at night, cover the vehicle but ensure ventilation, do not stop on the way

15. Lameness and Paralysis
Lameness – pigs limping, holding a foot of the ground, unable to get up, swollen joints
Sore feet or legs due to arthritis, injury, bone problems, cracked or split claws
Paralysis – pigs unable to move part or whole of body
Usually due to spinal injury or to poisoning
Cull pig unless the problem can be treated

16. Lame pig

17. Pale pigs - Anaemia Iron deficiency Blood loss
Young piglets on cement: give iron injection in first 7 days of life, or dump red soil in pen – it contains iron and anaemic pigs will eat it
Blood loss
Through stomach ulcers, bloody diarrhoea, parasites
Treat intestinal infections, ulcers, parasites

18. Reproductive problems
Infertility – no piglets:
Sow infertile: not cycling, or diseased
Make sure gilt/sow is coming on heat – test by firm pressure on the back when standing
Check for genital discharges and urinary problems
Boar infertility
Make sure that mating is taking place
If not the boar may have back or leg pain or poor libido
Pre-natal death
Hot weather, too few foetuses (less than 4), or a disease can cause piglets to be resorbed in early pregnancy

19. Reproductive problems
Abortions and stillbirths – piglets are aborted during pregnancy or born dead at term (aborted piglets not always seen)
Abortions: various infectious diseases, hormonal failure, metritis, mouldy feed, constipation, sunburn or excessive heat, old age
Stillbirths: various infectious diseases, delayed or difficult birth process (more often in older sows)
Unless fertility problems can be resolved easily, it is better to cull infertile sows and boars; do not let sows or boars get too old

20. Any Questions?