Q22_Diseases of locomotor system in respective pig categories (AI)

What are the two main categories of diseases of the locomotor system?

• Acquired (metabolic, inflammatory, degenerative)

• congenital diseases

Where can pathology of the locomotor system be located?

• Skin,

• claw (lamina, corium, capsule- cracks),

• muscle, or

• bone

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

Lameness

What is the purpose of the Swine Locomotion Scoring System?

To assess lameness based on observation of sows standing and walking

What should observations for locomotion scoring be made on?

A flat surface and under conditions where the sow is not stressed

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

Pig moves easily with little inducement, comfortable on all feet

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

Pig moves relatively easily, but visible signs of lameness in at least one leg, reluctance to bear weight

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

Lameness in one or more limbs, compensatory behaviours like dipping head or arching back

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

Real reluctance to walk and bear weight on one or more legs, difficult to move

What are the non-infectious aetiological factors for locomotor diseases?

• Fractures (traumatic, metabolic),

• laminitis,

• leg weakness (osteochondrosis),

• muscle tearing,

• trauma,

• nutrition deficiencies (antioxidants),

• porcine stress syndrome,

• toxins (ergot)

What are some tissue changes associated with non-infectious locomotor diseases?

• Apophyseolysis (OCD) = separation of m. mass from growth plate on pelvis

• Epiphyseolysis (OCD) = separation of femur head

• arthritis

• damage to NS,

• fracture,

• hematoma,

• laminitis,

• myositis,

• perositis,

• osteitis,

• osteochondrosis,

• osteomalacia,

• osteomyelitis,

• osteoporosis

• Split horn

• torn ligament or muscle

What are the infectious aetiological factors for locomotor diseases?

• Mycoplasma,

• brucella spp,

• clostridium septicum/perfringes,

• chronic erysipelas,

• salmonella cholerasusis,

• streptococcus suis,

• swine vesicular disease,

• foot and mouth disease,

• sarcocystis

What is the normal claw growth rate in pigs?

1 cm/month

What are the nutritional factors affecting claw horn overgrowth?

• Protein levels (excess),

• balance of amino acids w cysteine and methionin,

• zinc, vitamin D, biotin, selenium → def or excess → erratic horn deposition

What are the outcomes of claw horn overgrowth?

• Overgrowth of claw,

• altered gait,

• ↗ strain on joints,

• cracks and defects,

• sepsis from secondary infection = Bush rot

What is the prevention and treatment for claw horn overgrowth?

• Trimming

• good protein diet

• Biotin and Zinc supplement

What is laminitis in pigs?

Inflammation of the soft highly vascular sensitive tissues that connect the bone to the hoof (digital laminae)

What are the clinical signs of laminitis in pigs?

Knee-walking, reluctant to stand, lameness, pain over hooves, warm

How is laminitis diagnosed in pigs?

Based on clinical signs

What is the treatment for laminitis in pigs?

Ice, heat, NSAIDs, euthanasia

What is septic laminitis (foot root/bush root)?

Infection of claw through penetration of sole or claw (Bush rot) → progression to soft tissue between claws (Foot rot)

What is the aetiology of septic laminitis?

• Penetration sole, craks of sole-hoof junction, splitting of hoof

• Secondary infection = Fusiform bacteria, E. coli, and other bacteria present in manure and environmental materials (Fusobacterium nectroforum, spirochetes)

What is the pathogenesis of septic laminitis?

Bacteria enter through cracks or openings in the hoof, grow inside, form abscesses, swell and burst, forming dry abscesses and bloody ulcers (just above hoof) → arthritis

What are the clinical signs of septic laminitis?

• Painful/swollen claw,

• lameness,

• abscess, burst pain

• ↘ production

• poor ejaculation,

• shorter mating time

• affected sows do not eat properly and are usually culled

How is septic laminitis diagnosed?

Clinical signs, examination when animal is recumbent

What is the treatment for septic laminitis?

• Antibiotics (linomycin, amoxicillin) → 5-7d

• anti-inflammatory (ketoprofen, cortisone, dexamethasone),

• herd treatment (foot bath = formalin 1%, 5% CuSO4),

• clean environment

• extreme = amputation

What is the management for septic laminitis?

• Good walking surfaces,

• rubber mat,

• straw bedding,

• biotin diet,

• wash/disinfect

What are the clinical signs of fractures in pigs?

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

How are fractures diagnosed in pigs?

Based on history, symptoms, and palpation to detect crepitus

What is the treatment for fractures in pigs?

Slaughter on the farm

What is osteochondrosis in pigs?

OCD or leg weakness = Non-infectious condition characterized by general degeneration of cartilage

What influences osteochondrosis in pigs?

• Genetics: fast growth, rapid weight gain, large muscle mass

• environment, floor slippery

• inactivity,

• rapid AI,

• high vitamin A (interfere w dvpt growing plate)

• high stock density

• trauma,

• infection w mycoplasma hyosynoviae

• full confinement pregnant gilt when still growing

What are the acute pathogenesis signs of osteochondrosis?

Separation of femoral head, crepitus, fracture of spine, acute pain, dog sitting, walk on knees or 3 legs

What are the chronic pathogenesis signs of osteochondrosis?

Abnormal leg conformation, bending and deformity of long bones, long step on toes

What are the clinical signs of osteochondrosis?

Lameness, walking on knees, flexed carpi, over-extended fetlocks, turned in toes on hindlimbs, wide hind leg stance, ataxic, swaying gait, difficulty rising, knock-kneed

How is osteochondrosis diagnosed?

Clinical signs, post mortem

What is the treatment for osteochondrosis?

There is no treatment, only prevention

What is Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS)?

Various forms of exercise-related myopathies induced by stressors in pigs

What is the pathogenesis of PSS?

Inherited as a single recessive gene causing a hereditary defect of cellular membranes

What do stressors cause in PSS-susceptible pigs?

stressors → Production of catecholamines → ↗ blood pressure, tachycardia, tachypnoea, ↗ metabolism in muscle,→ hyperthermia, ↗ glycogenosis (→ hyperglycemia), peripheral vasoconstriction (→ hypoxia → ↗ production of lactic acid → accumulation in muscles → metabolic acidosis, m rigidity, injury to cells`

stress → ↗ adrenaline + norepinephrine + glucocorticoid → ↗ blood glucose → ↗ consumption glycogen, ATP in muscle → anaerobic metabolic → ↗ lactate….

What are the consequences of lactic acid accumulation in PSS?

Metabolic acidosis, muscle rigidity, injury of the cells

What is malignant hyperthermia?

Drug-induced stress syndrome in susceptible pigs following inhalation of halothane and oxygen

What are the clinical signs of malignant hyperthermia?

• Piglets = rare or cf sow

• Weaner + grower (sudden) = muscle tremors, twitching of the face, rapid respiration, red and blotched skin → death in 15-20 minutes,

• Sow: same + rigor mortis within 5 minutes, hyperthermia (>41°C)

What is acute back necrosis?

Increased metabolism in muscles, especially m. longissimus dorsi, due to stressors

What are the clinical signs of acute back necrosis?

• Severe pain in lumbar muscle,

• muscle swellings,

• incoordination,

• necrosis w haemorrhages,

• lameness, reluctance to stand,

• dog-sitting position,

• skin discoloration,

• death in 1-2 days

What is Pale, Soft, and Exudative (PSE) pork syndrome?

Inferior quality meat in stress-susceptible pigs due to transport stress and handling

What are the post-mortem signs of PSE pork syndrome?

Pale colour meat, soft consistency, dropsy, low binding capacity

What is Dark, Firm, and Dry (DFD) pork syndrome?

Consequence of prolonged transport and starvation before slaughter

What are the clinical signs of DFD pork syndrome?

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

What are the post-mortem signs of DFD pork syndrome?

Dark red, dry, firm meat, visceral congestion

What is acute stress-induced heart failure in pigs?

Collapse and death in 4-6 minutes due to catecholamines, dyspnoea, cyanosis, tachycardia, arrhythmia, increased metabolism

What is splayleg in piglets?

Condition where newborn piglet is unable to hold front and/or hind legs together

What causes splayleg in piglets?

Immaturity of muscle fibers in hind legs, over the pelvis, and front legs

What are the clinical signs of splayleg?

Piglets unable to stand with hind legs deflected laterally, dog sitting position

What is the treatment for splayleg?

Elastoplast to tape hind legs together, massage, assisted feeding

What is White Muscle Disease (WMD)?

Presentation of vitamin E and/or selenium deficiency

What are the clinical signs of WMD?

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

What are the post-mortem lesions of WMD?

Skeletal muscle pallor, streaks of white, gritty mineralization, necrosis, mineralization of individual muscle fibers

What is cysticercosis?

Infection by Taenia solium, pork tapeworm, an intestinal zoonotic parasite

What is the life cycle of Taenia solium?

Diheteroxenous life cycle with humans as definitive host and suids as intermediate hosts

What is the pathogenesis of cysticercosis in pigs?

Metacestodes located in muscles of sacrum, shoulder blade, diaphragm, tongue

What are the clinical signs of cysticercosis in pigs?

Respiratory disorders, stiff gait, difficulties with food intake, nervous disorders

What is trichinellosis?

Infection by Trichinella spp

What are the types of Trichinella spp?

Capsule forming (T. spiralis, T. britovi, T. native) and non-capsule forming (T. pseudospiralis)

What is the life cycle of Trichinella spp?

Same individual organism as final and intermediate host

What are the clinical signs of trichinellosis in pigs?

• Severe catarrhal enteritis, diarrhoea, vomiting,

• myositis → m fibre degeneration and mineralisation

• stiffness, pain, restlessness, convulsions, oedemas, heart dysfunctions, difficulties in swallowing

Dec 2021:

• Which breeds are resistant and susceptible to Porcine Stress Syndrome?

• Which bacteria cause necrosis in septic laminitis? .

• What do you do if you have necrosis?

• Pietrain and German Landrace are susceptible / the breed at school are resistant.

• Necrophorum, The normal ones that enter are Staph. and Strep.

• Amputation, remove necrotic skin. Treatment for septic arthritis → tetracycline or topical ATB spray