22. Diseases of locomotor system in respective pig categories.

(Diseases of hooves, joints, tendons, Osteochondrosis, Epihysiolysis, disorders of radius & ulna growth, Spondylosis in breeding pigs, Myopathies –splay leg, stress syndrome, NMD; parasites – Sarcocystosis, Cysticercosis, Trichinellosis; Tumours & other diseases associated w/ motion disorders – Myeloma, hypovitaminosis of vit. A, biotin, pantothenic acid....)

What are the two main types of diseases of the locomotor system in swine?

Acquired (metabolic, inflammatory, degenerative) and congenital diseases

Where can pathology be located in swine's locomotor system?

Skin, claw (lamina, corium, capsule), muscle, or bone

What is the second most important reason for culling in swine?

Lameness

What is the purpose of the Swine Locomotion Scoring System?

To assess lameness, detect foot disorders, monitor lameness prevalence, compare incidence between herds, and identify individual sows for functional claw trimming

What should the conditions be like when observing swine for locomotion scoring?

Observations should be made on a flat surface and under non-stressful conditions

What does a score of 0 indicate in the Swine Locomotion Scoring System?

The pig moves easily with little inducement and is comfortable on all feet

What does a score of 1 indicate in the Swine Locomotion Scoring System?

The pig moves relatively easily but shows visible signs of lameness in at least one leg

What does a score of 2 indicate in the Swine Locomotion Scoring System?

Lameness is present in one or more limbs, and the pig exhibits compensatory behaviours like dipping her head or arching her back

What does a score of 3 indicate in the Swine Locomotion Scoring System?

The pig shows real reluctance to walk and bear weight on one or more legs, making it difficult to move

What are non-infectious causes of diseases in swine?

Fractures (traumatic, metabolic), laminitis, leg weakness (osteochondrosis), muscle tearing, trauma, nutritional deficiencies, porcine stress syndrome, and toxins (ergot)

What are examples of tissue changes that can occur in non-infectious diseases of the swine locomotor system?

Apophyseolysis, arthritis, damage to the nervous system, epiphyseolysis, fractures, haematomas, myositis, periositis, osteitis, osteochondrosis, osteomalacia, osteomyelitis, osteoporosis

What are some infectious causes of diseases in swine?

Mycoplasma, brucella spp, clostridium septicum/perfringens, chronic erysipelas, salmonella choleraesuis, streptococcus suis, swine vesicular disease, foot and mouth disease, sarcocystis

What is the normal growth rate of a claw in swine?

1 cm per month

What nutrients play a role in normal claw growth in swine?

Protein, amino acids (cysteine and methionine), zinc, vitamin D, biotin, and selenium

What can interruptions or surges in nutrient supply cause in swine's claws?

Erratic horn deposition

What is claw horn overgrowth and its impact on swine?

It leads to altered gait and increased strain on joints

What are potential consequences of claw overgrowth in swine?

Cracks and defects, which can result in sepsis from secondary infections like bush rot

What is the treatment and prevention for claw horn overgrowth in swine?

Claw trimming

What is laminitis in swine?

Inflammation of the sensitive tissue connecting the bone to the hoof (digital laminae)

What is a common clinical sign of laminitis in swine?

Knee-walking, reluctance to stand, lameness, pain over hooves, and warm hooves

What is the treatment for laminitis in swine?

Ice, heat, NSAIDs, and euthanasia

What is septic laminitis and its two forms in swine?

Bush root (infection through sole or claw penetration) and foot root (infection progressing to soft tissue between claws)

What bacteria are commonly involved in septic laminitis in swine?

Fusiform bacteria, including E. coli and others found in manure and the environment. Fusobacterium necrophorum, Bacteroides nodosus

What are common management practices to prevent foot infections in swine?

Good walking surfaces, rubber mats, straw bedding, biotin diets, and proper cleaning and disinfection

What is the common outcome for sows with severe cases of septic laminitis?

They often remain lame, do not eat properly, and are usually culled

What are the clinical signs of joint and bone fractures in swine?

Sudden lameness, swollen and painful leg, crepitus, and dog sitting position

What is the typical treatment for fractures in swine?

The affected pig should be slaughtered on the farm

What is osteochondrosis in swine?

A non-infectious condition involving general degeneration of cartilage

What are the factors contributing to osteochondrosis in swine?

Genetics, fast growth, environmental factors (design of slats), inactivity, high vitamin A, high stocking density, trauma, and rapid weight gain

What are the acute and chronic stages of osteochondrosis?

Acute stage: separation of femoral head, crepitus, fracture, pain; Chronic stage (epiphysiolysis): abnormal leg conformation, bending and deformity of long bones

What are the clinical signs of osteochondrosis in swine?

Lameness, walking on knees with flexed carpi, over-extended fetlocks, turned-in toes, wide hind leg stance, ataxia, swaying gait, difficulty rising, knock-kneed, and possible spondylosis in breeding pigs

What is the treatment for osteochondrosis in swine?

There is no treatment, only prevention

What is porcine stress syndrome (PSS)?

A condition that includes various forms of exercise-related myopathies induced by stressors in pigs

How is susceptibility to PSS inherited in pigs?

As a single recessive gene along with other genes affecting muscle characteristics and halothane sensitivity

What causes the production of catecholamines in pigs exposed to stress?

Stressors such as transport, mixing, and environmental changes

What are the consequences of increased catecholamine production in pigs?

Increased blood pressure, tachycardia, tachypnoea, hyperthermia, hyperglycemia, and muscle cell injury

What is malignant hyperthermia in pigs?

A drug-induced stress syndrome occurring within three minutes after inhalation of halothane and oxygen, causing muscle tremors, rapid respiration, and hyperthermia

What are the clinical signs of malignant hyperthermia in pigs?

Sudden onset of muscle tremors, twitching of the face, rapid respiration, red and blotched skin, death within 15-20 minutes, rigor mortis within 5 minutes of death, hyperthermia over 41°C

What is acute back necrosis in pigs?

A condition where pigs, particularly the German landrace, produce excessive catecholamines leading to hyperthermia, lactic acid production, muscle pain, swelling, and atrophy

What are the clinical signs of acute back necrosis in pigs?

Severe lumbar muscle pain, muscle swelling, incoordination, necrosis, haemorrhages, lameness, reluctance to stand, dog-sitting position, skin discoloration, and death within 1-2 days

What are the post-mortem findings of acute back necrosis in pigs?

Early rigor mortis, incomplete bleeding, and petechial dystrophic changes in the affected muscle

What causes pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) pork syndrome in pigs?

Increased catecholamine production during stress before slaughter, leading to hyperthermia and increased glycogenolysis

What are the characteristics of PSE pork?

Pale colour, soft consistency, dropsy, low water-binding capacity

How is PSE diagnosed in pigs?

By measuring the final meat pH (5.4-5.8) one hour post-slaughter and observing the colour and consistency of the meat

What is dark, firm, and dry (DFD) pork syndrome in pigs?

A condition resulting from prolonged transport and starvation before slaughter, leading to high pH and dark red, sticky meat

What are the clinical signs of DFD syndrome in pigs?

Anxiety, muscle or tail tremor, skin blushing, open-mouthed breathing, collapse, and death

What are the post-mortem findings of DFD syndrome in pigs?

Dark red, dry, firm meat and visceral congestion

What is acute stress-induced heart failure in pigs?

A condition where catecholamines cause rapid collapse and death within 4-6 minutes, along with dyspnoea, cyanosis, tachycardia, arrhythmia, and increased muscle metabolism

What is splayleg in pigs?

A condition where newborn piglets cannot hold their front and/or hind legs together, impairing mobility and teat access

What causes splayleg in piglets?

Immaturity of muscle fibres in the hind legs and over the pelvis, as well as choline deficiency in the sow

What are the clinical signs of splayleg in piglets?

Unable to stand with hind legs deflected laterally, often adopting a dog-sitting position

What is the treatment for splayleg in piglets?

Taping the hind legs together with a 25mm wide elastoplast, ensuring a 50-80mm gap, and using massage and assisted feeding

What is white muscle disease (WMD) in pigs?

A condition caused by vitamin E and/or selenium deficiency, more common in lambs, calves, and chickens than in swine

What are the clinical signs of white muscle disease in pigs?

Muscle degeneration, acute heart arrest, inability to stand, stiffness, trembling, weakness, and infertility

What are the post-mortem findings of white muscle disease in pigs?

Pallor or streaks of white, gritty mineralisation in skeletal muscles, especially in the longissimus dorsi, and characteristic necrosis or mineralisation of individual muscle fibres

What is cysticercosis in pigs?

An infection caused by Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), which is a zoonotic parasite of humans

What is the life cycle of Taenia solium in pigs?

A diheteroxenous life cycle with humans as the definitive host and pigs as intermediate hosts, where larvae penetrate the intestinal wall and develop in muscles as cysts

What are the clinical signs of cysticercosis in pigs?

Generally not observed but can include respiratory disorders, stiff gait, difficulties with food intake, and nervous disorders

What is trichinellosis in pigs?

A disease caused by Trichinella spp., which can be capsule-forming (e.g., T. spiralis) or non-capsule forming (e.g., T. pseudospiralis)

What is the life cycle of Trichinella spp. in pigs?

Pigs act as both the final and intermediate host, with larvae infecting striated muscle cells and forming cysts

What are the clinical signs of trichinellosis in pigs?

Asymptomatic infections are common but severe cases may include catarrhal enteritis, diarrhoea, vomiting, myositis, stiffness, pain, restlessness, convulsions, oedema, heart dysfunction, and difficulty swallowing//