| Question |
Answer |
Article |
| What causes Blue eye disease in pigs?
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Blue-eye paramyxovirus (BEP) - a negative sense single stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus.
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Link to Article |
| What viruses are closely related to it?
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- Mumps virus
- Simian virus 5
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Link to Article |
| What are the properties of this virus?
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- mainly spherical but it is polymorphic
- enveloped - which is covered in surface projections
- 135-148nm by 257-360nm
- buoyant density in sucrose gradients of 1.21 g/ml
- six structural proteins and the envelope nucleocapsid expresses hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion and matrix proteins.
- resistant to actinomycin D and sensitive to chloroform, formalin and beta propiolactone.
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Link to Article |
| What systems are affected by Blue eye disease?
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- Nervous systems
- Reproductive systems
- Respiratory systems
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Link to Article |
| What are the wild and domestic hosts of this virus?
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Domestic hosts include:
Wild hosts include:
- Rabbits
- Rats
- Ferral cats and dogs
- Peccary's
Clinical signs are only seen in the pig, but antibodies can be detected in rabbits, rats, dogs and cats.
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Link to Article |
| What ages of pigs are affected by this disease?
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All:
- Piglets
- Weaners
- Growers
- Sows
- Boars
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Link to Article |
| What clinical signs are generally associated with Blue eye disease in all ages of pigs?
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- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Reluctance to move
- Dehydration
- Periorbital and conjunctival swelling (chemosis)
- Purulent/serous ocular discharge
- Corneal opacity.
- Neurological signs (tetraparesis, opisthotonus, dysmetria, proprioceptive disorders, tremors, nystagmus mydriasis, blindness, decreased or absent menace response)
- Respiratory signs (tachypnea, dyspnea, and open mouthed breathing)
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Link to Article |
| What clinical signs are associated with the virus in sows?
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In the first third of gestation:
- Infertility
- Reproductive failures
- Embryonic mortality
- Return to oestrus
In late gestation:
- Stillbirths
- Small litters
- Mummification
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Link to Article |
| What clinical signs are associated with the virus in piglets and weaners?
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Piglet and weaners:
- Prostration
- Hind limb stiffness
- Generalised weakness
- Muscle fasciculation’s
- Retarded growth
- Depression
- Excitation
- Head pressing
- Circling
- Hyperaesthesia
- Abnormal behaviour/aggression
- Coma
In piglets:
- Changes in hair coat (dull/rough)
- Ocular erosions
- Enlarged distended bladder
- Constipation/reduction in faces or diarrhoea
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Link to Article |
| What clinical signs are associated with boars?
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- Male infertility
- Lack of libido
- Haemospermia
- Orchitis with epidydimitis
- Swelling of the genitalia
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Link to Article |
| What is the epidemiology of Blue eye disease?
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- The virus is spread via direct contact, fomites and possibly birds
- Virus can be found in the axon of neurons
- Original site of replication is thought to be the nasal mucosa and tonsils
- It can be found in tissues (lung, liver, spleen, kidney, lymph node, heart and testis)
- Hematogenous spread is likely
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Link to Article |
| What is the distribution of Blue eye disease in pigs?
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The disease appears restricted to Central Mexico and its states.
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Link to Article |
| What is the treatment for Blue eye disease?
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- No treatment is available for Blue eye disease
- Supportive medication for respiratory and inflammatory disease should be administered
- Euthanasia may be necessary for ataxic pigs.
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Link to Article |
| How is Blue eye disease controlled?
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- The disease is self limiting
- Closed herds once infected will have sporadic outbreaks of the disease
- There is no approved vaccine for the control of blue eye disease
- Elimination can be achieved by:
- Closed herds
- All-in/all-out systems
- Good washing and disinfecting protocols
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Link to Article |
| Is Blue eye disease considered a zoonosis?
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Link to Article |