Veterinary Services

Septicaemia and meningitis due to Streptococcus suis serotype 2 was diagnosed in a nine-week-old gilt from a unit where pigs presented with stiffness and mild lameness. Eight of 400 pigs died within three days. Aerococcus viridians was isolated in pure culture from the brain and joints of three pigs in separate incidents from two unrelated farms. The pigs were in the eight to ten week-old age group. All had shown clinical signs of meningitis and died following a short illness. In view of the isolations in pure culture from multiple body sites, these findings were considered to be of significance. Other pigs in both respective groups had died in similar circumstances but material was not available for examination.

Alimentary tract disorders

Salmonella Typhimurium phage type 120 was isolated from seven-week-old pigs with a two week history of diarrhoea and ill thrift. The morbidity was 10 percent and all pens on the unit contained affected pigs. Twenty had died from a total of 1200 pigs. One pig submitted for necropsy had mucoid yellow colonic contents and another pig had dilated small and large intestines with pale serosae, pale watery contents and green liquid faeces.

Musculo skeletal conditions

Osteochondrosis was diagnosed in a sow submitted for necropsy. The left hip was fractured and the joint capsule of the right knee was filled with a large excess of translucent, light yellow effusion. The cartilage on the medial condyle was damaged and dislocated.