34 Swine Diseases of the Nervous System, Polyserositis, and Euthanasia Techniques

Streptococcus suis or Glaesserella parasuis

What are the most common causes of bacterial meningitis?

Bacterial meningitis (either caused by Streptococcus suis or Glaesserella parasuis)

What is the most common cause of CNS signs in pigs?

Streptococcus suis meningitis and Pseudorabies FIRST

SECOND congenital tremors and malformations

You should primarily rule out WHAT in suckling pigs with CNS signs? What are your secondary rule outs?

Bacterial meningitis caused by EITHER streptococcus suis OR Glaesserella parasuis, pseduorabies, edema disease, and middle ear infection FIRST

SECOND salt poisoning and brain/spinal cord injury

You should primarily rule out WHAT in weaning to older pigs with CNS signs? What are your secondary rule outs?

Salt poisoning, toxicities like organophosphates and ionophores, nutritional deficiencies like Vitamin E and Selenium

What are non-infectious diseases of pigs that cause CNS disorders?

Congenital tremors

Myoclonia congenita and Shaker pig are different terms that all mean WHAT

The piglets will probably grow out of it in a few weeks, the disease is often self limiting. Only consider euthanasia if piglets are unable to suckle or eat. The piglets will not pass it on to other piglets because it is likely a problem caused in the sow while the piglets are in utero

A gilt litter of piglets all come out with sporadic congenital tremors. The producer is really worried all of the piglets getting the "shakes" and asks if you are going to euthanize. What should you tell the producer?

Pseudorabies, Mad Itch, Aujeszky's disease

What is the highly contagious economically significant disease that was eradicated from the US domestic herd in the early 2000s, though it does still exist in feral pigs?

Valvular endocarditis

Besides classic CNS signs like paddling, incoordination, tremors, convulsions, and stiff gait, what else might bacterial meningitis cause in pigs?

Sows

What is the most common source of bacterial meningitis?

Bacterial meningitis: white exudate in meninges

Milky colored lesions like this in the brain expressed in pigs that had CNS signs like paddling before death are evident of what?

F18 with STX (Shinga toxin) = Edema disease

What form of E. coli can cause CNS signs in post weaning pigs?

E. coli = edema disease

A post weaning pig presents with these lesions. There have recently been stressors like poor quality diet and feed changes, and you notice the floor is cold and drafty. Thoughts?

Short bacilli attached to the apical border of enterocytes

Edema disease (e. coli) on histopath shows what in pigs?

Intestines or meninges

Where do you isolate E. coli from to diagnose it in pigs?

Vomiting and wasting disease

What is another name for Hemagglutinating Encephalomyelitis virus in pigs?

Less than 4 weeks of age, 100% mortality

What age pigs are affected by hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus and what is mortality like?

Hemagglutinating Encephelomyelitis virus

A pig presents with sneezing, vomiting, constipation, walking backwards, and dog sitting posture. Thoughts?

NO

Is there a treatment for Hemagglutinating Encephalomyelitis virus in pigs?

Management error or faulty faculty maintenance (frozen water lines, blocked nipple)

What causes salt toxicity to occur in pigs?

SALT TOXICITY: get history on water and see if water is blocked

In the wintertime, a pen of pigs present with aimless wandering, dog sitting, head pressing, and they slowly raise their nose upward and backward. What are you thinking you should check first?

They will drink a LOT which leads to rapid influx of fluid and CNS swelling

What is the problem with giving pigs free access to water after experiencing salt toxicity?

Gradually restore water = 10 mins on/10 mins off

How can you avoid the CNS swelling that comes with free access to water after animals experience salt toxicity?

Meningeal swab, brain, spinal cord, ileum, serum

What parts of the pig are recommended to submit to VDL to diagnose CNS disease?

Polyserositis (Mycoplasma rhinis identified as the causative agent in many cases, sometimes Glaesserella parasuis)

A nursery pig presents with this diffuse, severe and yellow fibrinous exudate that covers the organs. It is seen throughout the whole pig. What is it?

Mycoplasma hyorhinis

What has been implicated as the main cause of polyserositis in pigs?

Pleuritis and pericarditis

What are the most common locations to find polyserositis in pigs?

Nursery or early finishing

Polyserositis (from Mycoplasma hyorhinis or Glaesserela parasuis) is most commonly found in what age of pig?

Peracute, acute, and chronic

What are the 3 forms of polyserositis in pigs?

Peracute

This form of polyserositis in pigs manifests as sudden death in seemingly healthy pigs

Acute

This form of polyserositis in pigs manifests as fever, neurologic signs, paddling, lameness, inability to rise, and dog sitting

Chronic

This form of polyserositis in pigs manifests as slow growth and arthritis that condemns the animal at slaughter

Glasser's disease

What is the common name for Glaesserella parasuis infection?

1. fibrinous polyserositis

2. valvular vegetative endocarditis

Name the gross lesions observable with Glaesserella parasuis

Fibrinous polyserositis: This is Glaesserella parasuis, but Mycoplasma hyorhinis would be a differential

What do you think this is?

Yes

Is there a vaccine for Glaesserella parasuis?

Antibiotics work, but they can ONLY BE GIVEN BY INJECTION

Is there a treatment for Glaesserella parasuis?

Streptococcus suis (most common diagnosis after PRRS)

What is this?

It is ubiquitous (everywhere) = just try and reduce stressors

What is the issue with trying to prevent Streptococcus suis?

DIFFERENT: Later finishing

Mycoplsma hyorhinis affects nursery age pigs. Does hyosynoviae affect the same or different age?

Asymptomatic

Majority of pigs infected with Mycoplasma hyorhinis are highly symptomatic or asymptomatic

Deficiency of vitamin E and selenium

What causes mulberry disease in pigs?

Nursery

Pigs affected by mulberry heart disease are normally nursery or older aged pigs

This is mulberry heart disease = inject vitamin E and selenium to prevent in others

Nursery age pigs present with areas of necrosis (pale streaks) across the heart and pulmonary edema. What is this and what can you do to prevent it in other pigs?

Mulberry heart disease

A nursery age pig presents with sudden mortality associated with arrhythmia and myocardial lesions. Thru the history, you learn there is a new person mixing the feed. Thoughts?