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− | ===Clinical infections=== | + | ===Swine erysipelas=== |
| + | |
| + | *Carrier pigs act as reservoir of infection |
| + | *Organisms excreted in faeces of acutely-affected pigs |
| + | *Ingestion of contaminated food and water, or via skin abrasions |
| + | *Clinical outcome depends on susceptibility of pigs and virulence of strain |
| + | *Pigs susceptible after maternal antibody waned (after 3 months) and before protective immunity acquired (3 years) |
| + | *Change in diet, extremes of temperature and fatigue thought to predispose to infection |
| + | *Septicaemic form: |
| + | **Acute; incubation period 2-3 days |
| + | **Pigs found dead, febrile, depressed, recumbent or with stilted gait |
| + | **Mortality high |
| + | **Pregant sows abort |
| + | *Cutaneous form: |
| + | **Diamond skin lesions |
| + | **Fewer systemic signs, mortality rates lower |
| + | **Pigs febrile with small, pink/purple raised areas or extensive diamond-shaped plaques over skin |
| + | **Lesions may resolve within a week, or become necrotic and slough |
| + | *Arthritis: |
| + | **Older pigs, chronic |
| + | **Stiffness, lameness, non-weight bearing on affected limbs |
| + | **Joint lesions with erosion of articular cartilage, fibrosis and ankylosis |
| + | **Strong impact on productivity |
| + | *Vegetative endocarditis: |
| + | **Thrombus on mitral valves |
| + | **Asymptomatic or congestive heart failure and sudden death with stress |
| + | *Diagnosis: |