So there I was, plodding along in life... No major happenings. Our family was getting ready for our county fair that will take place in less than 2 weeks. Life is good. Until this...
3 days ago while doing our normal routine of letting the two pigs out into our paddock so that they can stretch their legs and enjoy the fresh air, I noticed a bruise the size of a golf ball on Good Charlotte's back. I felt so bad for her. I figured for SURE the other more dominant pig had been too rough on our meek little Good Charlotte (Good Charlotte is the pig I am "riding" in the other post). I thought for sure it was a pig bite. I thought that it had happened during feeding time. After we put them away, we decided to keep our eye on her.
A couple hours later when I went to check on her in the stall. I had noticed another bruise on her back. This one was smaller in size, roughly the size of a nickel. I couldn't believe that the other pig was "attacking" her! I immediately took Good Charlotte out and isolated her into her own pen.
Life went on, I figured that will just be how it has to be. One pig in the big stall, the other in the small pen.
The next day came, and early in the morning we decided to let the pigs out separately for their time outdoors. While Good Charlotte was outside we noticed that she was not her bright upbeat self. I told my husband she looks "depressed". As we were checking her over we noticed that she had more bruises. At that time I counted around 5. We were dumb-founded! Where were they coming from?? Are they from flys? Is it from internal parasites? Given that swine are pretty new to us. I know that they oink, are big, grow fast and eat just about anything- Other than that, I don't know a great deal about illness / diseases.
Even though I have a few books on raising pigs, none of them seem to have any information on what we are experiencing. Her symptoms are listlessness and raised large lumps on the skin that have purple centers with a red ring around the purple center. And she gone off her feed. She won't eat or drink. To test that theory, I tried giving her a piece of bread and a pancake- neither of which she would eat.
I was frantic for a resolution. What on earth could be wrong with her? Whatever this is- it came on like a fire storm, healthy happy pig to next to dead the next. If I don't find an answer to this, she surely will die.
I spent the entire day surfing the information highway (aka: internet!) looking for my answer. I finally found it, and this is what it is....
Erysipelas in pigsDR Webster, Animal & Plant Health Service, DPI&F Queenslandand M J Moore, Pig & Poultry Production Institute, South Australia
Erysipelas is a common pig disease sometimes called diamond skin disease. Affected pigs often have a fever, sudden deaths may occur and sows may abort, skin may redden and suffering from arthritis or heart disease may develop. Although the bacteria responsible are widespread, outbreaks of generalised illness are relatively rare. It is more likely to surface as chronic lameness or joint condemnations at slaughter, and protective vaccination is strongly recommended.
The disease
The disease is caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (formerly E insidiosa) a bacteria which is commonly present in an estimated 30-50% of tonsils in healthy pigs. Rodents and birds can introduce and maintain the organism within a piggery, and it can survive temporarily in soil, bedding and water. The bacterium is spread through faeces, saliva and nasal secretions.
Erysipelas can be an acute (rapidly developing), subacute (with mild and sometimes unnoticed symptoms) or chronic (slowly developing and long lasting) disease, and usually causes illness in pigs between 3 months and 3 years of age. Infected pigs may suffer from one or more of the five forms of the disease below.
Acute-FeverAn acute form which may affect pigs of all ages. In older pigs sporadic cases can occur but with younger animals whole litters may be affected. Pigs may be fevered and ill for several days with temperatures exceeding 40°C. They may be reluctant to stand or walk, and if forced to do so, may squeal and move with a stiff, stilted gait, and will soon lie down again. They are often depressed but remain alert, and may partly or completely lose interest in their feed.
Death can occur at any stage of the illness and will often occur in untreated pigs within 24-48 hours of onset. Young pigs generally die earlier than others. Prompt treatment with an appropriate antibiotic will speed recovery and reduce the likelihood of later complications.
Pregnant sows may abort when affected by the fever rather than from a specific action of the bacteria on the uterus, placenta or unborn piglets (by comparison Leptospirosis does attack the pregnant uterus).
Acute-Skin formAn acute form of the disease which may occur in fevered pigs, or as a mild form of the disease which only damages skin. Some affected pigs have red, diamond-shaped swellings appearing on the skin within 24-48 hours. The diamonds may be 100 mm or more across and can be felt by touch. Many photographs of these swellings have been published, but only a very small proportion of cases show such dramatic lesions, with most affected pigs more likely to develop welt-like red skin blotches, especially on the ears. On casual inspection, cases could be missed as the swellings are not always distinct.
If the skin lesions are light-pink to light purplish-red, they will usually slough off and disappear within 4-7 days unless they become infected. However, dark purplish-red lesions usually precede death.
SubacuteSubacute disease does not produce as much illness as acute disease, but may still lead to chronic disease. The pigs are less likely to suffer fever or skin lesions, and appetite may be unaffected. Signs may be so mild that they are unnoticed.
Chronic -Arthritis
A chronic form of the disease caused by infection localising in the joint. The signs of arthritis in affected pigs range from nil to very severe. Stiffness, swelling or heating of joints may become noticeable as early as three weeks after infection.
Severely affected pigs are reluctant or unable to move, and may not feed. Such pigs should be moved from concrete or slatted floors onto dirt or straw, and should be kept in a small group or alone where they are more likely to feed. Injections of an antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory agent may help recovery, but for pigs that are not especially valuable breeders, there is no practical treatment for chronic arthritis. As carcasses or parts of apparently recovered animals are frequently condemned it is better to send affected animals to slaughter early. This also avoids further injury or wasting. Severely affected pigs may have to be killed on the property. Erysipelas is not the only cause of arthritis in pigs; similar advice applies to all lamenesses. Some pigs with arthritis die of pneumonia because they are unable to stand and bacteria attack their lungs.
Arthritis is an important reason for condemnation of pigs in Australia. While the overall level of arthritis condemnation is low, individual properties may have large numbers of condemnations. In 1998, of over 71,000 pigs observed by state pig health monitoring services, 1.9% were totally or partially (one or more legs) condemned because of arthritis.
Chronic-Heart disease
This is another chronic form of the disease caused by infection on the valves of the heart. Affected pigs lose weight, become distressed after exercise or moving, and may die suddenly from heart failure. This may follow weeks or months after the fever form of the disease, but it is not always preceded by noticeable fever. This form of the disease is quite rare.
DiagnosisDiagnosis is based on the symptoms observed, post-mortem findings and laboratory isolation of the causative organisms from blood or organs of dead pigs. Many other diseases can be confused with the various forms of erysipelas and diagnosis is not always easy. Tests on blood samples taken from a pig at the time of illness and again a few weeks later may help diagnosis.
Typical clinical symptoms may include:
A history of a few sudden deaths without evidence of illness.
Sick pigs with joint stiffness and temperatures above 40°C.
Diamond shaped skin lesions or red blotching of skin.
Pigs are alert but reluctant to stand or move.
Death or recovery within a few days of onset.
Constipation and dry, firm feces.
Abortion of pregnancies
Rapid response to penicillin.
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As soon as I figured out what was wrong with her I immediately put her on Penicillin. I am hoping that by my ignorance (immediately isolating her from the other pig- thinking it was a pig bite) that this will not spread to the other gilt. We are currently practicing a high level of bio-security. We watch where we walk, as to not track anything on our shoes. We also limit who is allowed to touch Good Charlotte. And of course never feed /h20 Charlotte before the other pig- to not contaminate.
So far the other pig is healthy and happy- Let's keep our fingers crossed. The financial loss we would incur would be devastating. Not only would we lose both pigs, and all the money we have invested in them would be lost. But the market pig would not be sold at the sale- which would we would lose hundreds of dollars.
Now don't think I'm all about the almighty dollar... If the other hog shows any signs of this condition- It will not be going to the fair. I have learned that almost 50% of pigs carry this condition and just aren't symptomatic.
Overnight, Good Charlotte seems to be responding well to her high dose of Pen. She was looking brighter, drinking water, grunting, and she ate a little bit. Only time will tell I guess...
I have enclosed 2 pictures- The first picture is the typical "sitting dog" stance pigs take with this illness. The second picture is of one of her spots. You can see the typical "diamond" pattern. A tell tale sign of this illness.
