1,573
edits
Changes
no edit summary
==Signalment==
==Signalment==
Affects pigs of all ages, most common in pigs kept in poor conditions and in batches of newly bought gilts. May occur in certain conditions often during hot humid weather or in particular buildings or fields.
Affects pigs of all ages, most common in pigs kept in poor conditions and in batches of newly bought gilts. May occur in certain conditions often during hot humid weather or in particular buildings or fields.
==Diagnosis==
==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 farrowing sows who are struggling in combination with a fever.
Post-mortem diagnosis may be needed for definitive diagnosis, in particular spleen, kidney, liver, [[Spleen - Anatomy & Physiology|spleen]], heart valves,a long bone and synovial tissues should be submitted for bacterial examination. Slender Gram-positive rods can be seen on microscopy of acute lesions; filamentous forms in chronic lesions and on smears.
High levels of antibiody may be found in joint fluid and so may aid diagnosis.
ELISAs and PCR tests are also avilable which can be used directly on tissue or following culture.
==History and Clinical signs==
==History and Clinical signs==
Clinical outcome depends on susceptibility of pigs and virulence of strain. Pigs are susceptible after maternal antibody 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
*Septicaemic form:
*Septicaemic form:
**Acute; incubation period 2-3 days
**Acute; incubation period 2-3 days
*Diagnosis:
*Diagnosis:
**Diamond-shaped skin lesions
**Diamond-shaped skin lesions
**Haematology and post mortem, especially liver, [[Spleen - Anatomy & Physiology|spleen]], heart valves, synovial tissues
**
**No growth on MacConkey agar
**No growth on MacConkey agar
**Colonial characteristics and biochemical tests
**Colonial characteristics and biochemical tests
==Treatment==
==Treatment==
**Penicillin and tetracyclines for acute infections
**Penicillin and tetracyclines for acute infections
**Well known in piglets in their first two months of life
**Well known in piglets in their first two months of life
**Expresses as acute '''fibrinopurulent''' arthritis
**Expresses as acute '''fibrinopurulent''' arthritis
==Prognosis==
==Prognosis==
==References==
==References==