Summary
The Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry's (DACF) Animal Health Program (AH) is issuing this health advisory to notify pig owners/farms, pork producers, agricultural fairs, veterinarians, and others of increased pig illness and death in western Maine. Between mid-July and mid-August, DACF AH has received several reports of juvenile pigs with diarrhea (sometimes bloody) that become sick and, in some cases, die. The affected pigs have originated from multiple farms, are between two and four months old, and weigh less than 50 pounds. At least one of the affected pigs was confirmed to have Lawsonia. This advisory includes potential causes of sick/dead pigs, including information on specific pathogens, signs of illness to watch for, how to report sick pigs, quarantine, and farm biosecurity considerations. We will provide updates and additional information as they become available.
Background
The pig situation described above could be consistent with several conditions. Here, we include brief information on three common causes of pig diarrhea in the affected age group. Other causes of pig illness/death should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Lawsonia is a bacteria that causes porcine proliferative enteropathy. It is a common diarrheal disease of growing-finishing pigs and young breeding pigs. In pigs affected by Lawsonia, the feces are loose to watery and often reddish brown or faintly blood-tinged. Most affected pigs recover, but the hemorrhagic form is more likely to cause death. Antimicrobials can be used to treat Lawsonia, and vaccination can help prevent it. See the included handout on Lawsonia.
Swine dysentery (SD) is also a bacterial disease that affects pigs and is characterized by diarrhea that contains blood and/or mucus. Other symptoms include dehydration, weakness, weight loss, and in some cases death. SD is spread by infected pigs, their feces, and anything contaminated with feces.
Intestinal spirochetosis (IS) is a bacterial disease limited to the large intestine that commonly manifests as mucoid diarrhea in grower-finisher pigs. IS is less severe than SD and is transmitted by feces from affected pigs. Feces can appear similar to wet cement, and mild diarrhea lasts for 3–6 weeks.
Recommendations
For Pig Owners/Farms and Pork Producers
- Quarantine new animals that arrive to your farm/facility (see included quarantine checklist).
- Ensure biosecurity on your farm/facility (see included biosecurity checklist).
- Identify and work with a veterinarian who works with swine.
For Agricultural Fairs
- Ensure proper animal check-in procedures (see included handout).
- Ready a quarantine area to place animals that become ill on site.
- Identify and contract with a veterinarian who works with livestock.
For Veterinarians
- Please contact our office, DACF AH, if you see or hear about sick pigs that fit the description above. We may be able to provide financial support for diagnostics in certain cases.
- Talk with your client about the importance of diagnostics and necropsy to identify the cause of illness and death.
For All
Please complete our sick pig form!
For More Information
References
- Intestinal Diseases in Pigs - Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com)
- Diarrheal Diseases | Iowa State University (iastate.edu)
- Infectious Diarrheas of Young Pigs - PMC (nih.gov)
