Staphylococcus spp.

Staphylococcus hyicus

Pigs - greasy pig disease
Exudative epidermitis due to Staphylococcus hyicus is a worldwide problem in piglets.
The organism can often be isolated from the mucosa and skin of healthy adult pigs, and can persist in the environment for long periods.
Disease occurs only in young piglets up to about 35 days of age.
Passive transfer of antibodies from immune sows and development of immunity with age appear to adequately protect against disease.
Piglets from non-immune sows are predisposed.
Skin trauma, such as due to fighting, allowing entry of infective organisms is also considered a risk factor in this disease.

Staphylococcus hyicus produces an exfoliative toxin of approximately 30 kDa that causes separation of cells in the upper stratum spinosum resulting in rapid intraepidermal spread of organisms.
Death of affected piglets is common and is attributed to dehydration, septicemia, or both.
This porcine disorder has been likened to “scalded skin syndrome” in human neonates, due to skin infection by exfoliative toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus.

mange (Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis)
swine parakeratosis (zinc and essential fatty acid deficiency)
porcine juvenile pustular psoriasiform dermatitis (collarettes or rings typically on the ventrum of young pigs)
dermatosis vegetans (associated with a giant cell pneumonia)
dermatophytosis (most commonly Microsporum nanum)