Veterinary Services

Alimentary tract disorders

Proliferative haemorrhagic enteropathy was noted as the cause of death of a 105kg pig on a finishing unit of a newly repopulated herd. The diagnosis was confirmed following histopathological examination of affected ileum and the detection of Lawsonia intracellularis-specific DNA on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of faeces. A number of similar deaths had been reported and some scour had been noticed in the group. The occurrence of such "acute" cases (often seen in new "high health" herds) is thought to be due to naïve pigs, hitherto unexposed to a significant challenge, later encountering large numbers of Lawsonia due to the build up of the organism in the continuous throughput finishing accommodation.

Poor growth in growing pigs on an indoor unit prompted submission of four three to four-month-old scouring pigs. Five percent of the pigs were reported to be affected and there had been a recent increase in the mortality rate among finishing pigs (10-22% per week). PCR testing of faeces revealed the presence of both L. intracellularis-specific and Brachyspira pilosicoli-specific DNA and all pigs had evidence of proliferative enteropathy on histopathological examination of tissues. A number of other potential production-limiting problems were also noted in the submitted pigs including sarcoptic mange on one of the pigs and extensive lesions of enzootic pneumonia with Pasteurella multocida secondary infection in another pig. Although post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) had been previously recorded on the unit, none of these pigs had any current histopathological evidence consistent with PMWS.

An outbreak of colibacillosis among two-day-old pigs, mainly from gilt litters, on an outdoor unit was confirmed following examination of two affected pigs.

Reproductive tract conditions

An eight-month-old Landrace gilt in good body condition was submitted for postmortem examination. This gilt, the second to die in a group of eight, had been ill for a few days and had not improved following parenteral treatment with penicillin. Gross findings were consistent with a diagnosis of cystitis and pyelonephritis and Actinobaculum suis was isolated on anaerobic culture. Three other gilts were reported with anorexia and pyrexia but bacteriological culture of vaginal swabs from these did not yield any significant isolations. None of the sows in this 115-sow herd, which used a mixture of artificial insemination and natural service, was reported to be clinically affected.