Veterinary Services

Generalised and systemic conditions

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 meningitis was diagnosed in a nine-week-old boar where the history was of lameness due to stiff legs. There had been nine sudden deaths in five days. There was generalised opacity of the meninges and Streptococcus suis serotype 2 was isolated in culture from the brain. Histopathology confirmed the presence of acute bacterial-type meningitis.

Alimentary tract disorders

Proliferative haemorrhagic enteropathy due to Lawsonia intracellularis infection was diagnosed in a seven-month-old gilt from a high health unit. It died within 14-16 hours of being seen with bloody, melaenic faeces. On post-mortem examination, the terminal ileum was distended and the walls were thickened and ridged. The contents were very bloody and there were also blood clots present (figure 3 - see top right-hand side). The caecum and colon were distended with liquid, bloody contents and some blood clots. The mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged. On histopathology all crypts of the ileum showed marked epithelial hyperplasia, microabscesses and haemorrhagic material within crypts. Immuno-histochemistry showed numerous intracellular Lawsonia intracellularis organisms (figure 4 - see top right-hand side). Lesions of proliferative enteropathy were also present in the caecum and colon.

Gastric ulceration was diagnosed in three five-month-old finishing boars over the period of one week. In one case the stomach had ruptured resulting in a severe acute septic peritonitis.

Respiratory tract conditions

A boar from the same batch affected by gastric ulceration (see above) was diagnosed with swine influenza. There was dark purple consolidation of the cranial and middle lung lobes, haemorrhages throughout the lungs and a band of haemorrhages along the dorsal edge of the caudal lobes. There was also evidence of interstitial lung oedema. The renal cortices were pale. Histopathology revealed evidence of a subacute broncho-interstitial pneumonia with diffuse congestion and oedema. Some bronchioles had epithelial degeneration and other areas had epithelial attenuation. The alveolar infiltrate contained many neutrophils and also macrophages. There was evidence of quite widespread chronic interstitial nephritis. Influenza A RNA was detected by real time RT-PCR (including pandemic H1N1 2009), confirming the diagnosis.  Swine influenza was also diagnosed on three unrelated units in the North East of Scotland.

Skin diseases

Mange due to Sarcoptes scabiei was diagnosed in a 15-week-old boar with mild skin scabbing along the dorsum. The stockman reported that pigs in the batch were head shaking and he had initially suspected greasy pig disease (Staphylococcus hyicus infection) as the cause of the skin condition. Large numbers of mange mites were found on microscopic examination of material taken from the ear canals and small numbers were detected in skin scrapings from the dorsum.

Mange was also diagnosed on an unrelated premises in a one-year-old Kune-kune pig that was in poor bodily condition. Poor nutrition was probably a significant factor in this pig’s overall condition.

Locomotor diseases
Three four-month-old pigs were submitted for necropsy following euthanasia on account of lameness and recumbence in the group. Extensive peri-articular abscesses due to Arcanobacterium pyogenes were affecting either the hock or stifle joints in all three pigs. Concurrently, all three pigs had anteroventral consolidation of the lungs suggestive of enzootic pneumonia. Histopathology was also consistent with enzootic-type pneumonia.