Preventing Piglets’ Exposure to Diseases
To shield piglets from disease agents, primary prevention encompasses the following five fundamental domains:
- source and handling of primary and replacement breeding stock;
- rules governing the movement of people, vehicles, materials, and pigs;
- layout of the farm;
- location of a new farm; and
- cleaning the farrowing quarters and the sow.
Additionally, it is suggested that producers allocate additional resources towards primary and secondary prevention methods. In treating piglets that are ill, less emphasis should be placed on the less effective and more expensive use of pharmaceuticals and biologics. The anticipated response and the amount to divert will be contingent upon the herd’s present condition. A recorded programme that facilitates data retrieval in a comprehensible format and is capable of storing essential information serves as the foundation for an efficient health programme.
Infectious Diseases and Treatment Protocols
Ensuring infants have access to an adequate quantity of colostrum and a warm, draft-free environment are paramount in concerns regarding their health maintenance. Irrespective of this, piglets will perish from diseases, the causes of which can be essentially categorised as either recurrent (endemic) or infrequent (epidemic). While factors may differ among farms, the common endemic disease consistently induces complications and contributes to a low-level, “normal” neonatal mortality rate ranging from 5% to 15%. Coccidiosis and colibacillosis are frequently endemic diseases. On the contrary, a disease like Transmissible Gastroenteritis has the potential to induce a neonatal mortality epidemic of up to 100%, persisting for several weeks.
A. Diagnosis
It is difficult to ascertain the cause of neonatal pig losses due to the scarcity of diseases that manifest distinctive symptoms specific to the causative agent. For instance, the scours of a newborn pig may be caused by a virus, bacterium, or parasite, and the nature of the scours does not differentiate between them. You can receive assistance in obtaining a diagnosis and treatment recommendation from your veterinarian. It is costly and ineffective to commence treatment without a diagnosis; therefore, it is critical to obtain a diagnosis and proceed with treatment accordingly. Certain maladies that manifest frequently on farms can be identified by farm managers and treated promptly upon the detection of symptoms by an astute observer. If the piglets fail to exhibit a response to the prescribed treatment, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a veterinarian for a re-evaluation of the condition and verification of the diagnosis.
B. Treatment
Treatment recommendations are contingent upon the aetiology of the ailment. Antibiotics typically provide relief from bacterial infections, assuming the organisms involved are susceptible to them. Nevertheless, they are ineffective against viruses and parasites. Antibiotics are occasionally prescribed to prevent secondary infection when a virus or parasite is the underlying pathogen. Antibiotics in these instances do not affect the pathogenic organism; rather, they prevent bacteria from exploiting the debilitated piglet. Specific disease treatments are detailed below. Unless otherwise instructed by your veterinarian, never administer medications in a manner contrary to the instructions on the label.
Diseases in Unweaned Piglets
A. Clostridial Infections
The aetiology of the disease involves the establishment of Clostridium perfringens, a common microorganism found in the large intestine, within the small intestine. This typically transpires when the piglet has consumed an inadequate quantity of colostrum. Regardless of the type (A, B, or C, which is the most severe), piglets typically contract a foul-smelling diarrhoea, with a significant number succumbing to the illness. It is observed more frequently in infants that are no older than seven days. Antitoxins may be administered via injection to sows and infants, while ampicillin is frequently prescribed orally.
B. Congenital Tremor
The majority of pig farmers have observed piglets born with convulsions and writhing muscles. It exhibits a sporadic occurrence but appears to be more prevalent in gilt herds, where as many as 80% of litters may contain infants afflicted by the disease. Infections with Pseudorabies virus, Japanese Encephalomyelitis virus, Classical Pig Fever (Hog Cholera), and Circovirus are associated with the disease. Additionally, it has been linked to hereditary diseases in Saddleback and Landrace strains, as well as organophosphate toxicity. Piglets afflicted with the disease necessitate assistance with suctioning and care until they recover within a few weeks.
C. Greasy Pig Disease
Greasy pig disease frequently manifests as an issue in gilt herds that have recently been established. Staphylococcus hyicus, the causative bacterium, attacks the epidermis of a piglet and generates a toxin that induces renal and hepatic injury. Infection of a piglet typically occurs at or shortly after birth. As piglets vie for the finest teat on the sows’ udders, lacerations appear on the side of the face, formed by unclipped needle teeth. This location is hypothesised to be the primary site of bacterial infection for the piglets. Four to thirty-five days into the condition, small dark patches appear on the side of the face as the initial clinical indications. Subsequently, brown scales appear on the underside of the piglet and, in severe instances, may extend to encompass the entire piglet. Ill-fated calves typically perish, and those that survive fare inadequately. Affected herds may experience a twelve-month decline in growth performance.
The disease can be easily identified by its characteristic presentation, and initiating treatment promptly upon the onset of symptoms yields the greatest efficacy. Live piglets that have been afflicted should be submitted to a laboratory for antibiotic sensitivity testing of Staphylococcus hyicus before antibiotic treatment initiation. Greasy pig disease is challenging to manage in the absence of mange elimination. Mange mites cause cutaneous injury and provide an entryway for Staphylococcus hyicus. Electrolytes should be administered orally to affected piglets due to their accelerated dehydration. Certain farms that have encountered significant outbreaks have achieved favourable results by employing an autogenous vaccine. Prevention measures include eliminating any sharp edges from the farrowing crate that could injure the piglets, including those used to cut needle teeth and removing sharp edges, disinfecting the udder of the sow with an iodine-based solution, implementing an all-in/all-out policy for the farrowing house, and ensuring that the room is dry and disinfected before the sows enter.
D. Eperythrozoonosis (Epe)
Eperythrozoon suis, the causative rickettsial organism, has been detected in the blood of sows from both healthy and diseased herds. It binds to and destroys red blood cells in certain piglets, resulting in anaemia. Feasible, pallid, and jaundiced, with scours and pneumonia, infected piglets have a high mortality rate. Before beginning treatment for Epe, it must be confirmed by a veterinarian. As of the time of writing, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved a drug for the treatment of Epe, which has a poor response to pharmaceutical interventions. Because Eperythrozoon suis is transmitted through contaminated blood, it is critical to sanitise and disinfect processing instruments between piglets when attempting to contain an epidemic. Everything that can lead to blood transfer between piglets, including parasites, fighting, labelling, and injections, must be managed.
E. Glasser’s Disease
The herd-dwelling organism Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent of Glasser’s disease. The significance of this issue has grown in recent years, as piglet mortality in herds with a high health status can occasionally surpass 50%. Although weaned pigs are the typical victims, suckling piglets are also susceptible. Frequently, the heaviest and most attractive infants perish. Pigs exhibit signs of illness such as fever, depression, lethargy, appetite loss, and joint swelling. Ancestral symptoms include tremors. The epidermis frequently turns blue, and the eyes become inflamed before death. As the organism is difficult to cultivate, postmortem examination and clinical symptoms are typically sufficient for diagnosis. Penicillin, tetracycline, and ceftiofur are among the antibiotics that Hemophilus parasuis exhibit sensitivity to. Treatment should ideally commence promptly, and a combination of water and injectable medications is frequently recommended. When applied to problematic livestock, autogenous vaccines can be beneficial.
F. PRRS
PRRS stands for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. It is typically observed in unweaned piglets when a young herd is initially infected with the disease. Piglets may experience diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, difficulty inhaling, coughing, and sneezing. The manifestation of symptoms may differ among herds due to the diverse impacts of secondary infections. Antibiotics and rehydration are necessary for individual piglets to prevent the development of secondary infections. It is imperative to develop a livestock control programme in collaboration with the accompanying veterinarian.
G. Tetanus
Although tetanus in piglets is uncommon, the causative bacterium, Clostridium tetani, can occasionally infect castrated piglets. Due to the prolonged incubation period spanning from one to ten weeks, symptoms manifest infrequently until the piglets have reached a minimum age of two weeks. Piglets that are afflicted exhibit rigidity, a protruding tail, and facial muscle contractions. Vaccines that are effective against problematic livestock are available. Managers must oversee castration and other processing procedures to guarantee that hygienic techniques are utilised.
H. Diseases Rarely Seen in Unweaned Piglets
The aforementioned illnesses are the most prevalent in suckling piglets. Instances of rare diseases may transpire, and when they do, they are typically accompanied by a widespread infection within an uninformed herd. Mange, Mycoplasma pneumonia, Actinobacillosis suis, Brucellosis, Erysipelas, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, and Influenza are among these illnesses.
Euthanasia of Piglets
Euthanising animals is an unpleasant but necessary part of livestock farming. Producers often must euthanise piglets because they are sick and suffering with no chance of recovery. Some piglets should be euthanised because if left to live they become a source of infection for their pen or littermates. This situation is particularly important in the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) era when removing the poor-doing, PRRS- virus-carrying piglets is an important part of controlling the disease. In these and other similar situations, euthanasia is the humane and responsible solution. Piglets should be euthanised by exposure to carbon dioxide or blunt mechanical trauma to the head. Electrocution is acceptable but it can be a human health safety hazard, and piglets must be processed one at a time making it very time-consuming. Controlled drugs (such as barbiturates) are very effective but present major human health risks and should be used only by veterinarians.
A. Carbon Dioxide
Collect the following items: a carbon dioxide cylinder, a regulator, a 50-gallon waste can, and plastic trash sacks to suit the can. Utilising carbon dioxide, inflate a waste bag to the pressure of a balloon. Consequently, the container is filled with carbon dioxide. After adding a maximum of six piglets to the waste can seal the bag. The piglets will undergo a brief period of muscle spasms that are physiologically induced, followed by their rapid demise due to respiratory arrest. After leaving the piglets for a minimum of 15 minutes, proceed to inspect each piglet within the bag to verify its demise before handling it customarily. Consult your veterinarian for instructions on how to examine the corneal reflex and heartbeat.
B. Blunt Mechanical Trauma
Apply a swift, firm strike to the piglet’s skull using a blunt instrument, such as a hammer, while the animal is lying on the ground. Aim for the intersection of two fictitious lines that are drawn from the base of each ear to the opposite eye.
Farm administrators must demonstrate sensitivity towards the widespread aversion towards animal euthanasia and delegate this responsibility to individuals who are at ease with the procedure. Numerous individuals who enter the pig industry today lack prior experience in agriculture and are unfamiliar with routine agricultural procedures. Absenteeism, hostility, negligent and callous treatment of animals, and high staff attrition may result from individuals’ emotions when confronted with an unpleasant or unrelieving task.