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High health status herds with lower immune challenges are more at risk then conventional herds. Piglets from high health status herds can suddenly die without any premonitory signs. Excessive temperature fluctuation, high humidity, mixing of pigs of different ages and overcrowding may also have an important role in the development of disease.
High health status herds with lower immune challenges are more at risk then conventional herds. Piglets from high health status herds can suddenly die without any premonitory signs. Excessive temperature fluctuation, high humidity, mixing of pigs of different ages and overcrowding may also have an important role in the development of disease.
==Clinical Signs==
Clinical signs vary from fever, lethargy, depression, erysipelas-like lesions, abscesses, haemorrhage, vomiting/regurgitation and lameness and multiple joint swelling. More serious cases progress to pneumonia (clinical signs similar to [[Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae#Clinical Signs| ''A. pleuropneumoniae'']]) and sudden death. Cardiorespiratory signs include tachycardia, heart murmurs, purulent or serous occulonasal discharges, sneezing, coughing, abnormal lung sounds, dyspnoea, changes in heart rate and open mouthed breathing. Aural purulent mucoid discharge and increased amounts of wax are present along with a foul odour. Pigs can become deaf and are often found rubbing and scratching their ears. Affected animals are in a lot of pain and discomfort and suffer from dysphagia, lymphadenopathy, anorexia, and unthriftiness. In sows it can cause agalactia, mastitis, abortions, still births or weak piglets.
Neurological signs include head tilt, circling, temors, nystagmus, strabismus, decreased or absent menace response, ptosis, miosis or meiosis, photophobia, headshaking, opisthotonus, facial paralysis, paraparesis and ataxia.
==Diagnosis==
[[File:Actinobacillus suis.jpg|thumb|200px|right| Actinobacillus suis. Gram stain]]
Diagnosis can be difficult as its clinical signs are similar to other pathogens, such as ''Streptococcus suis'' and ''Haemophilus parasuis'', both being able to induce a septicaemic infection with sudden death. Infection can be confirmed by the isolation of ''A. suis'', from culturing infected tissue. On post-mortem serous or fibrinous exudates can be found in the thorax and pericardium and ecchymotic haemorrhages can be seen in kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen and other organisms.
'''Differential diagnosis''': [[Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae| ''A. pleuropneumoniae'']], [[Erysipelas - Pig|''Erysipelas'']], [[Glasser's Disease| ''Glasser’s disease'']], [[Streptococcus suis| ''Streptococcus suis'']], and [[Mulberry Heart Disease| ''Mulberry heart disease'']].
==Treatment==
''A.suis'' has good sensitivity to ceftioufur, gentamicin and trimethoprim/sulfadiazine, and moderate sensitivity to ampicillin, neomycin, sulfadimethoxine and tiamulin. Culture and sensitivity is recommended.
==Control==
Routine biosecurity and disinfection should be followed and maintained. At present there is no commercial vaccine for ''A. suis'' <ref>Radostitis, O.M., Gay, C.C., Hinchcliff, K.W., and Constable, P.D. (2007). '''Veterinary Medicine: A textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats (10th Edition)'''. '''''Saunders''''', 1052-1053.</ref> but there is evidence that autogenous vaccines in a herd could help stabilize antibody levels in the whole population <ref>Lapointe, L., D'Allaire, S., Lacouture, S., Gottschalk, M. (2001). '''Serologic profile of a cohort of pigs and antibody response to an autogenous vaccine for Actinobacillus suis'''. '''''Veterinary Research''''', 32(2):175-183; 18 ref.</ref>.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:To Do - Jaimie Meagor]]
[[Category:To Do - Jaimie Meagor]]