Veterinary Services

Sudden deaths of two six-month-old gilts were attributed to different causes. One gilt had gross and hisopathological changes consistent with porcine stress syndrome. The other had changes suggestive of acute septicaemia. These included marked pulmonary congestion with interstitial oedema, fibrinous peritonitis, neutrophilic interstitial pneumonia and glomerular thrombi in the kidney. Escherichia fergusonii was isolated in pure culture from the liver. Although not usually considered to be a pathogen of pigs, the isolate may have had some involvement in this case.

Sudden deaths were reported in 14-week-old pigs, about two weeks after moving to finishing accommodation. One case submitted for postmortem examination had bilateral vegetative endocarditis, pericarditis, fibrinous pleurisy and polyarthritis. This was associated with an untypeable Streptococcus suis. Consolidated lung tissue showed chronic non-suppurative interstitial pneumonia. These findings suggested concurrent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus infection.

A one-year-old boar, euthanased following persistent anorexia, pyrexia and abdominal swelling, was found to have multi-centric lymphoma. At necropsy the carcase was in poor body condition. Large masses were present over the heart base and within the mesentery, causing widespread intestinal adhesions. Extensive lesions were also present in other abdominal organs (Figure 3 - see top right-hand side) notably the liver and kidneys, on serosal surfaces of most organs and adherent to the pampiniform plexus of the testicles.

Iron deficiency anaemia was diagnosed in six-week-old Gloucester old spot piglets. These were on a small unit where iron was not administered  to neonates. The piglets were pale and lethargic, severely anaemic with ascites and hydropericardium.  The bone marrow contained normal numbers of precursor cells but the red cells were immature.

Alimentary tract conditions

Faecal samples submitted from an outbreak of post-weaning diarrhoea yielded multiple serotypes of pathogenic E. coli including Abbotstown, G1253 and G205.  Spirochaetal colitis due to Brachyspira pilosicoli was identified as the cause of diarrhoea in a large batch of eight-week-old weaners.  Lawsonia intracellularis was confirmed as the cause of ill thrift and diarrhoea in ten to 12 week old growers.

Respiratory conditions

An outbreak of acute pleuropneumonia was diagnosed in finishing pigs between 13 and 15-weeks-old. They were on a unit previously free from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.  The group had performed well until coughing and sudden deaths started. The morbidity increased to approximately 40 per cent and the mortality was 5 per cent. Four pigs submitted for postmortem examination showed acute fibrinous pleuropneumonia, with pulmonary consolidation, necrosis and purulent material in bronchi and bronchioles. In addition to A. pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida was isolated from the affected lung tissues and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae from the pleural reaction.