Veterinary Services

A problem of ill-thrift, nasal discharge, sneezing and deaths was investigated in a batch of ten-week-old piglets. Bodyweights of three pigs submitted for postmortem examination ranged between 21 and 36 kg. 

Polyserositis and rhinitis associated with Haemophilus parasuis were diagnosed in all three pigs. The nasal turbinates were particularly congested and inflamed with purulent debris. No other potential causes of rhinitis were detected. The severity of the rhinitis lesions was unusual for Haemophilus parasuis infection. The unit is free from porcine reproductive and respiratory virus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. None of the pigs showed any evidence of lymphoid depletion that might suggest concurrent post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. Poor ventilation of the building was thought to be a contributing factor.

Three litters of piglets in a ‘high health’ unit developed severe skin lesions during the first week of life, leading to depression, anorexia and the deaths of several animals. Piglets submitted for examination were moribund, in poor bodily condition and significantly dehydrated. In all cases there were severe crusting skin lesions which were most marked around the face including the mouth and eyes (See Figure 5 at top right-hand side), ears, neck, knees and stifle joints, and to a lesser extent over the ventral abdomen and chest. When the hard surface crusts were removed there was evidence of an underlying moist and purulent dermatitis. Bacteriology yielded a heavy growth of Staphylococcus hyicus from all piglets, with no evidence of any other skin pathogens. The sows were not affected. It is unusual to get fulminating lesions of exudative epidermitis (greasy pig disease) in piglets so young but there were no apparent circumstantial factors to explain it.

Diet-associated non-specific colitis was thought to be responsible for diarrhoea and poorer growth rates in weaners on one farm. Approximately ten percent of pigs were affected with diarrhoea and thorough investigation failed to demonstrate any recognised infectious causes.