How to treat gastroenteritis in a pig
Pig gastroenteritis is a complex disease caused by a virus. It is characterized by a severe putrefactive (septic) process, during which the lungs and gastrointestinal tract are affected. These manifestations are complemented by hemorrhagic diathesis caused by complications of microflora (pasteurella, salmonella and other harmful microorganisms). Based on these characteristics, it was concluded that transmissible gastroenteritis of pigs is a highly contagious disease of an infectious direction.
Pig gastroenteritis
Historical data
TSE was first described in the mid-1940s in the United States of America by two researchers, Hutchings and Doyle.
Then, 10 years later, an outbreak of the disease was in Japan, Britain and several countries of the European continent, after which the viral gastroenteritis of pigs reached Russia.
At the moment, the disease manifests itself in those countries where pigs are actively bred, so manufacturers are trying to protect animals as much as possible from the virus. Since it causes quite serious economic damage, which is characterized by the death of livestock, a decrease in weight indicators, financial costs allocated for treatment and preventive measures.
Main characteristic
The causative agent of transmissible gastroenteritis in pigs is a virus prone to the formation of spherical cells, they are surrounded by a membrane with small protrusions, which visually resembles a crown. Therefore, it belongs to the genus Coronavirus.
Typical manifestations of the disease:
- severe diarrhea;
- severe vomiting;
- high mortality rate among young animals under 2 weeks of age.
The pathogen withstands low temperatures well. At minus 17-18 ° C, it can be stored for 1.5 years, if the temperature is below 20 ° C, then a year. Transmissible gastroenteritis of pigs is able to withstand a temperature of 56 ° C, and the pathogen must be kept in this state for half an hour.
The source of the causative agent of the disease is infected individuals, which can secrete the virus for another 2 or more months, after having been ill, through urine, feces and nasal secretions.
The highest concentration is found in feces, therefore TSE is transmitted rather quickly and affects the intestines of healthy animals. Another viral disease can be transmitted with the slaughter products of infected individuals, through the clothes and shoes of workers, water, food, care items and transportation of pigs.
If viral transmissible gastroenteritis of pigs affects for the first time, then after 2-5 days it spreads to all individuals that have at least a minimal predisposition to such a viral disease. The uniqueness is that the disease most often occurs during the cold season, although cases are recorded at other times of the year. This is how the time when the virus arose during the hottest periods is known. Also, the risk of catching the disease in animals increases during the period of heavy rains.By mutating transmissible gastroenteritis in pigs, it is gaining ground and is becoming an increasingly potent threat even to large farms.
Symptoms of the disease
The incubation period for swine gastroenteritis is calculated in several hours. It happens that it continues for several days. Initially, the animals become ill, they begin to vomit, the next stage is diarrhea. The faeces are yellowish-green in color and have an extremely unpleasant odor. Sluggish behavior is observed in young animals, piglets begin to crowd together, sweat covers their skin. As the virus changes and develops, diarrhea becomes profuse. With all this, the temperature remains normal. The death of sick pigs from viral (transmissible) gastroenteritis occurs 2-3 days after the onset of the main symptoms.
In sows that feed piglets during the illness, there are no external manifestations of the development of TSE. Infected individuals experience diarrhea, a decrease in the amount or complete cessation of milk production, depression and exhaustion. They recover quickly, but milk secretion loses its parameters, and this negatively affects the overall health of the piglets. So young animals react much more strongly to the virus, and if not taken action, the mortality rate can reach more than 85%.
Pathological changes
Corpses affected by transmissible gastroenteritis have a deep gray skin tone, extreme exhaustion, and cyanotonicity. The gastric mucosa is hyperemic, filled with unprocessed milk and slightly distended. The intestines have emaciation of the walls, swelling of the thin section, it is filled with watery feces.
Additionally, if gastroenteritis is manifested in a farm pig, there is a desquamative-necrotic or catarrhal inflammation. Swelling of the lymph nodes, small punctate hemorrhages in the kidneys, a smoothed border between the medulla and cortical layers. The heart becomes gray and flabby. Congestion, which looks like a heart attack, is formed in the spleen.
How is the diagnosis made?
The definition of the disease is made on the basis of the provided symptomatic characteristics and the results of the diagnostic laboratory tests (which include the isolation of the pathogen on the cell lines with the subsequent identification of the pathogen). For this, the intestine (small and ileum) of the sick animal, along with the contents, is sent to the laboratory.
It should be taken as soon as symptoms appear. It is good if the material is taken from several animals: in this case, the result will be accurate. Disease in one pig is the most real threat to the entire herd and even the entire farm.
Therapy
There are no specific medications for treatment. Basically, to improve the condition, Mixoferon, a certain serum and other drugs are used that reduce detoxification in the body, fight the characteristic manifestations of dehydration, help restore the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and especially the intestines. To suppress harmful microflora, veterinarians prescribe antibiotics. Lactating sows are injected with specialized preparations to prevent the development of agalactia.
All rooms must be disinfected. To do this, use a solution of formaldehyde, caustic soda or bleach. The corpses of dead animals under the supervision of a specialist are either disposed of or burned. Gastroenteritis in one pig can quickly spread to the entire herd, and then an epidemic cannot be avoided. If gastroenteritis is detected in a farm pig, doctors advise to carry out prophylaxis in all young animals, since piglets are most at risk of contracting the virus.
Preventive measures
Viral gastroenteritis of pigs is dangerous for immature young animals.Treatment for this category does not guarantee that the piglet will recover. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures, the purpose of which is to prevent the appearance of the pathogen of the disease, to provide the livestock with quality food.
- For newborn young animals, special conditions are created to avoid infection.
- As soon as the animal is diagnosed with VHES, the farm announces quarantine.
- Subunit and attenuated vaccines are used as a specific prophylactic agent for sows.
For adults, the administration of drugs is possible both intramuscularly and orally. It is best to vaccinate small animals orally: this will stimulate local immunity and give more intense, reliable protection through the effect on the body.