Enteric Diseases
Swine Disease

Disease description

Colibacillosis (scours or diarrhea in baby piglets caused by E. coli bacteria) is the leading killer of piglets, accounting for 42 percent of all death losses nationwide. Approximately 22.5 percent of all young pigs are infected with E. coli.

Enteric diseases occur in piglets as young as 2 to 3 hours. E. coli bacteria attach to the lining of the intestine, producing toxins and making it impossible for the body to absorb fluids or nutrients. The result is severe fluid loss resulting in death from rapid dehydration. In some cases, death occurs before clinical signs are even seen.

Ileitis (proliferative enteropathy), associated with Lawsonia intracellularis, is a common diarrheal disease of grow-finish pigs. It causes a sudden onset of diarrhea with inflammation of the ileum in the small intestine and the colon. Cases are often mild, but ileitis can cause persistent diarrhea with high mortality.

Swine dysentery, or bloody scours, is caused by Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae. It also is a common diarrheal disease that affects the large intestine. The beneficial mucosa in the large intestine is inflamed by the attacking bacteria and causes bloody diarrhea.

Clostridium perfringens Type C also causes a severe and sudden enteric disease called enterotoxemia. Death results from the release of potent toxins produced when the bacteria rapidly multiply in the intestine. C. difficile is an emerging cause of enteritis in swine operations.

Clostridium perfringens Type A naturally resides in the swine intestine, but it remains one of the leading causes of diarrhea in neonatal pigs. Pathogenic C. perfringens Type A bacteria produce destructive exotoxins, which cause yellow-to-white pasty diarrhea – usually within the first week of life.

Salmonellosis is a systemic disease with both enteric and respiratory implications. It is the fourth most costly disease of swine and its economic importance is often underestimated.

Clinical signs

Signs of disease include depression, diarrhea (sometimes bloody) and weight loss or weakness in baby pigs. Piglets can die as soon as 8 hours after birth, and in some cases, death occurs before clinical signs are even seen. Clinical signs of ileitis include watery to pasty, brownish or faintly bloodstained feces. Even though pigs may recover, many develop chronic ileitis with progressive weight loss. Pigs with swine dysentery will often pass soft feces and have a fever. Often, pigs will have diarrhea flecked with blood and mucus. Pigs are dehydrated, weak and gaunt.

Disease treatment

Denagard® 10 Medicated Premix is a proven, broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective in controlling ileitis. It also is effective in controlling and treating swine dysentery associated with Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae. Denagard 10 and chlortetracycline (CTC) is approved for concurrent use to provide enteric and respiratory disease coverage, respectively.

Denagard® Liquid Concentrate is a proven, broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective in treating swine pneumonia caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP). The water-soluble medication can quickly and conveniently be administered with response evident usually within 24 to 48 hours. It is readily absorbed from the gut and can be found in the blood within 30 minutes after dosing.

Disease prevention

Swine veterinarians and producers now have a vaccine to help to battle diarrhea caused by C. perfringens Type A, which can cause lower weaning weights and directly affect survival in the nursery and grow/finish phase. Clostridium Perfringens Type A Toxoid, the first vaccine of its kind, is available under a conditional license by the USDA for use only in swine.

The best way to prevent colibacillosis in piglets is to vaccinate the sow or gilt prior to farrowing, and by maintaining a warm and clean environment for baby pigs. Timely vaccination of the sow with Porcine Pili Shield allows the sow to build maternal antibodies that are passed on in the colostrum and milk. These antibodies block the attachment of the E. coli bacteria. Porcine Pili Shield™ + C also protects against enterotoxemia caused by C. perfringens Type C.

To help prevent salmonellosis, a single dose of Salmo Shield Live should be given to pigs 3 weeks of age or older.

Caution: Do not feed Denagard 10 undiluted. Do not use in feeds for animals other than swine. Contraindications: Swine being treated with Denagard (tiamulin) should not have access to feeds containing polyether ionophores (e.g., lasalocid, monensin, narasin, salinomycin and semduramicin) as adverse reactions may occur. See product label for directions for use and additional information.

Caution: Do not use Denagard Liquid Concentrate undiluted. Contraindications: Swine being treated with Denagard (tiamulin) should not have access to feeds containing polyether ionophores (e.g., lasalocid, monensin, narasin, salinomycin and semduramicin) as adverse reactions may occur. See product label for directions for use and additional information