Erysipelas - Pig

Description

An infectious disease caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. The disease is characterised by sudden death, septicaemia, arthritis, endocarditis, diamond shaped skin lesions, laminitis and abortion in pregnant sows. Infection occurs via ingestion of contaminated food and water, or through skin abrasions.

Signalment

Affects pigs of all ages but is most common in pigs kept in poor conditions and also in batches of newly bought gilts. Often occurs during hot humid weather or in particular buildings or fields.

Diagnosis

Development of the typical diamond shaped lesion on the skin is pathognomic for this disease. Erysipelas should be considered in any cases where fever and lameness occur together, or in pregnant sows struggling to farrow in combination with a fever.

Clinical signs

Clinical outcome depends on susceptibility of pigs and virulence of the strain. Pigs are susceptible after maternal antibody has waned (after 3 months) and before protective immunity acquired (3 years). Changes in diet, extremes of temperature and fatigue are thought to predispose to infection. 3 forms of disease occur:

• Hyperacute
• Acute
• Chronic

Hyperacute: Sudden death, more common in younger pigs. May be found dull, collapsed or pyrexic with a scarlet tinge to the skin.

Acute: Anorexia and pyrexia are the two most common clinical signs of the acute form in young pigs. Affected animals still die but normally after a day during which time they become dyspnoic. Older pigs tend to be pyrexic, anorexic and polydypsic. Pigs show, pink/purple raised areas or extensive diamond-shaped plaques over the skin within 24-48 hours of developing clinical signs. If pregnant sows are infected at this time they may abort.

Chronic: Affected animals can completely recover, lesions may resolve within a week, or become necrotic and slough. Ear tips may also be lost. The bacteria localises in joints causing destruction of the synovial membrane lining, hyperaemia, villus formation and lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration resulting in chronic serofibrinous polyarthritis. Initially joints are hot and swollen leading to stiffness, lameness, non-weight bearing on affected limbs and eventual ankylosis. Discospondylitis can also occur. Additionally valvular lesions may develop in the heart causing chronic valvular endocarditis, vegetative thrombosis of mitral valves and asymptomatic or congestive heart failure sometimes resulting in sudden death following stress.

Slender Gram-positive rods can be seen on microscopy of acute lesions and filamentous forms in chronic lesions and on smears. High levels of antibiody may be found in joint fluid and so may aid diagnosis.

ELISA and Polymerase Chain Reaction tests are also avilable which can be used directly on tissue or following culture.

Pathology

Post mortem diagnosis may be needed for definitive diagnosis, in particular the, liver, spleen, heart valves, kidney, a long bone and synovial tissues should be submitted for bacterial examination.

Gross

Hyperacute: No specific lesions but congestion of the carcass and change in skin colour.

Acute form: Congestion of the carcass, in particular the spleen, lungs are oedematous and petechiae may be found below the kidney, peritoneum and on the heart. Lymph nodes will also be swollen and haemorrhagic. Skin discolouration.

Chronic form: Growths on heart valves may be evident as well as changes in joint architecture. Joint capsules will be thickened in the presence of granulation tissue and in some cases erosion of articular surfaces may have progressed to ankylosis. Necrotic skin lesions may be present.

Histologically

Vegetative lesions on the heart valves consist of connective and granulation tissue. Synovial lesions consist of macrophages and lymphocytes. Short gram positive rods may be seen in smears made from blood in the heart.

Treatment

A 3 day course of Penicillin or a tetracycline is the treatment of choice and the response is normally rapid. Hyperimmune serum is also available however this is an expensive treatment option.

Control

Hygience is very important to control erysipelas including good sanitation and regular disinfection of pens. It is advisable to cull chronic cases which will be acting as carrier pigs infecting other animals. Additionally any pigs being treated should be isolated to reduce the spread of disease. Live attenuated or inactivated vaccines are also available. Immunity lasts for six months and the vaccine is normally given to recently weaned pigs and gilts or sows prior to service.

Prognosis

Varies from sudden death to recovery depending on the virulence of the strain and age and immune status of the affected pig.

References

Taylor D.J. (2006) Pig Diseases. 8th edition published by the author.