Swine dysentery is caused by a spirochete called Brachyspira that causes severe inflammation in the large intestine producing bloody and mucous
diarrhea.
Swine dysentery is caused by a group of strongly beta hemolytic spirochete called Brachyspira (previously
called Serpuline or Treponema) hyodysenteriae. These organisms causes severe inflammation in the large intestine producing bloody and mucous
diarrhea.
The disease is frequent between 20 and 100 kg, but severe cases occur occasionally in sows and their piglets.
Brachyspira can survive outside the pig up to 120 days, but it doesn´t survive in 2
days in dry and hot environments. It can be transmitted by birds, flies, fomites and mice.
Dissemination inside the farm is slow. The number of pigs affected increases as the microorganism accumulates in the environment. Recovered pigs
often suffer from the disease again, however antibodies (IgG and IgA) do not last long. Therefore, the relationship between antibodies level and protection is not good. Some sows might not show
any symptom during several months and transmit the disease to their piglets.
The high cost of the disease is associated with mortality (low), morbidity (high), decrease in growth, increase in feed conversion ratio, and
increase of the cost in feed medication.
The incubation period is 7 to 14 days, but it can be up to 60 days. Pigs can initially develop a subclinical carrier state, and afterwards show
symptoms if they are under stressing situations or when the diet is changed.
Symptoms
Sows
First symptoms are:
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Sloppy diarrhea that stains perinneal skin.
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Initially the diarrhea has a light brown color with gel consistency mucus and flakes of blood.
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Sunken flanks.
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Partial loss of appetite.
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In some cases sudden death.
As the disease progresses:
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May appear blood in gradually higher amounts which makes feces have a dark and tar like color.
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Pigs rapidly loose appetite and body condition.
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Dehydration.
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Thin animals with sunken eyes.
Causes / Contributing Factors
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Pigs get infected from the ingestion of contaminated feces.
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The disease is transmitted from carrier pigs (including farrowing sows) who excrete the organism in the feces for a long time.
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Mechanical transmission through infected feces in equipment, feed distribution contaminated trucks, boots and birds.
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May be transmitted through flies, mice, birds and dogs.
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The stress produced when the diet is changed may trigger the disease.
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Poor hygiene and high humidity.
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Crowded conditons.
Diagnosis
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Clinical signs of diarrhea with blood and mucous.
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Necropsy – disease restricted to large intestine.
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Special bacterial culture and identification of a strongly beta hemolytic spirochete.
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PCR of feces.
Control/Prevention
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The following products may be used as treatment: salinomicine, tiamulin, lincomicyn, tylosine, monensine.
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Some B. hyodysenteriae strains have developed resistance to these antibiotics.
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When the first signs of the disease are present, water must be medicated with lincomycin, tiamulin or tylosine during at least 7 days.
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The most affected pigs must be injected with lincomycin, tiamulin or tylosine.
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Medicating the diet only helps preventing the development of clinical disease.
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Hygiene and mice control is of vital importance to control the transmission, especially when it is planned to eradicate the organism.
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There are two general options to eradicate the disease: depopulate and repopulate with disease free sows, or eradicate the disease without
depopulating. Both methods are expensive, and the success percentage is not 100%, mainly with the second option.
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All the replacement animals must originate from a swine dysentery negative farm
Treatment
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Rodent and wildlife control.
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All-in-all-out pig flow.
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Complete cleaning and disinfection of rooms.
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No comingling of pigs.
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Antibiotics can be used to control disease but require long term use and can be quite expensive.
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Depopulate and repopulate infected farms.
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All the replacement animals must originate from a swine dysentery negative farm.
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Vaccines are available in some areas and may be beneficial (serotype specific).