Veterinary Services

Pasteurella multocida septicaemia was diagnosed in a 17-week-old boar, the tenth death in a batch of 100. There was evidence of septic arthritis, fibrinous pericarditis and septicaemia. The condition was diagnosed in pigs on the unit the previous month.

A five-month-old gilt was submitted from a unit following the death of 20 pigs. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 meningitis was diagnosed and there was also evidence of septic arthritis though no organisms were isolated in joint cultures.

Alimentary tract disorders

Intestinal torsions were diagnosed in two 12-week-old boars where the deaths had occurred within a week of arriving on the unit. On a different unit, eight to ten sudden deaths occurred over a two to three week period in a building housing around 100, ten to 17 week old pigs.  Two carcases were submitted for postmortem examination.  In one case the cause of death was a 180 degree clockwise torsion of the mesentery.  No significant findings were seen on postmortem examination of the second pig.  Histopathology showed acute degeneration of skeletal muscle fibres and either porcine stress syndrome or electrocution was suggested as the cause of death.