Diseases of the gilt and young boar

Abscess Common –associated with streptococci or Arcanobacter pyogenes.	Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia Can cause severe pleuropneumonia and death. Classic ‘strawberry’ lesions in the caudal (diaphragmatic) lobe of the lung. In most pigs APP causes no problems. When problems occur review environment and stress factors
Arthritis Arthritis in growing pigs associated with infection of the joint multiple causes	Atresia ani Uncommon, but may be seen in adult gilts. Gilts survive by urinating and defecation out of the vulva	Aujeszky’s Disease – Pseudorabies In naive herds can result in severe pneumonia with neurological signs
Brucellosis Uncommon, to consider in orchitis cases	Bursitis Common – contact with hard surfaces results in a fluid filled lump blemish on the leg can lead to rejection of gilt	Bush foot/ foot rot Infection of the toe with streptococci results in severe lameness and swelling of the lower foot
Classical Swine Fever African Swine Fever Can result in severe disease and mortality with haemorrhage throughout the carcase.	Colitis Common – chronic diarrhoea check housing, stress, and feed/water contamination. The right photograph shows the classic loose stool.
Conjunctivitis Can be very severe on farms – review atrophic rhinitis control and environmental factors	Enzootic (Mycoplasma) pneumonia Very common – classically results in pneumonia at 60-90 kg. Generally complicated with secondary infections. Most are associated with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (left) but SIV and Pasteurella (right) can produce very similar clinical and pathological signs.
Endocarditis May result in sudden death – streptococci and erysipelas common causes.	Eperythrozoonosis Clinically uncommon may result in anaemia. Associated with Mycoplasma haemosuis.	Erysipelas Can be explosive in the finishing herd, characteristic diamond shaped skin markings shown.
Foot and mouth disease Vesicle and ulcers suddenly on the feet and snout – any suspicion must contact your vet immediately	Epiphyseolysis Part of the OCD complex, combined with trauma, results in separation at the epiphyseal plate	Fractures When recognized – euthanasia the only option.
Gastric ulcers Common – result of not eating for 24 hours and maintained by fine feed and stress. Note pale dead pig left and large ulcer in stomach right		Glasser’s disease Sudden death within days of arrival – acute meningitis and pleurisy
Lameness in general – Very common with many causes as shown	- configuration Poor conformation results in excess strain on muscles and bones	- infections Review flooring management
- OCD Very common only painful when bone surface exposed	- sores Review flooring management	Insect bites Common leads to damage in skin condition PRRSV risk
Leukaemia In gilts and young sows a common differential cause of unresponsive thin sows	Leptospirosis L. icterohaemorrhagica can cause hepatitis and death. Pigs may present with jaundice.	Lice Uncommon now – Haematopinus suis – large biting louse – easily seen.
Mycoplasma arthritis M. hyosynoviae – clinically more common in introduced gilts or boars – synovitis and shifting lameness.	Mange mites (Sarcopties scabiei) Common – causes scratching and increased stress in the finishing stage	Parasites Check feacal worm egg numbers. Photograph shows a strongyle egg
PE Ileitis PIA Common – numerous forms of Porcine enteropathy (ileitis or porcine intestinal adenomatosis). Result in uneven growth in the finishing phase.	- necrotic ileitis Severe form with damage to the lining of the intestinal tract which dies and is shed.	- haemorrhagic ileitis More often seen in older finishing pigs, sudden death with small intestines full of blood.
PRRSV Very common. Contributes to severe respiratory disease in the nursery and growing pigs. Also may have severe reproductive effects. Difficult to control.		PSS Genetic condition of pigs – results in sudden death, classically in transport
Prolapse of the rectum Common – may be difficult to treat successfully, many progresses to rectal strictures.	Ringworm Uncommon. Infected skin show increasing circular areas	Salmonellosis – cholerasuis Specific salmonella of pigs – resulting in diarrhoea and pneumonia in the same group of pigs
- typhimurium Together with other types of salmonellae cause mild to severe diarrhoea and enteritis	Spinal abscess Sudden presentation with hind limb paralysis, but the front end is fine. Common with tail bitten pigs.	Spirochaetal diarrhea Brachyspira pilosicoli resulting in a colitis and chronic diarrhoea
Sunburn Can occur in indoor pigs if insufficient protection offered against the sun	Swine dysentery Associated with Brachyspira hyodysenteriae can result in a severe, often fatal haemorrhagic colitis and typhlitis.
Swine influenza Rapid spreading cough and pyrexia in the finishing herd characterizes flu.	Torsion of the intestines Sudden death in grow/finish pigs may commonly be associated with an intestinal torsion, shown is the gross pig, torsion of the stomach/spleen and on the right torsion of the liver.
Tuberculosis Generally diagnosed at slaughter with enlarge caseous lymph nodes as shown	. Yersinia infections Generally no clinical signs, reacts with Brucella tests.	Water deprivation Can result in excoriation of the vulva. Severe will lead to death.