Important Diseases of Pigs: Symptoms and Control

1. Brucellosis

• Symptoms:
• Abortion in pregnant sows
• Infertility in sows and gilts
• In males (boars), inflammation of testes (orchitis)
• Prevention and Control:
• No effective treatment or reliable vaccine is available
• Infected animals should be culled, and in severe cases, entire herd depopulation is recommended to eliminate the disease

2. Leptospirosis

• Symptoms:
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Diarrhea lasting 1–3 days
• Abortions, especially in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy
• Prevention and Control:
• Regular vaccination is advised
• Infected animals should be isolated to prevent spread

3. Swine Erysipelas

• Symptoms:
• High fever (40–42°C)
• Sudden deaths in severe cases
• Characteristic diamond-shaped skin lesions
• Mild cases show light pink or purple lesions (non-fatal)
• Severe cases show dark purple or red lesions (often fatal)
• Prevention and Control:
• Vaccination twice a year is recommended

4. Atrophic Rhinitis

• Symptoms:
• Sneezing and nasal discharge in young piglets (as early as 1 week old)
• Signs may disappear initially but persist in chronic cases
• Long-term cases lead to atrophy of nasal structures
• Causes deviation or twisting of the snout
• Prevention and Control:
• Animals may recover naturally without treatment
• However, recovered pigs can act as carriers, spreading infection

5. Salmonellosis

• Symptoms:
• High fever (40.6–41.7°C)
• Restlessness
• Diarrhea starting on the 3rd or 4th day
• Watery yellow feces
• High mortality rate
• Prevention and Control:
• Maintain strict hygiene and sanitation
• Provide clean feed and water
• Isolate affected animals

6. Pasteurellosis

• Symptoms:
• Sudden onset of illness
• Weakness and uncoordinated movement
• High fever (105–106°F)
• Coughing and difficulty in breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Characteristic laboured abdominal (thumping) breathing
• Prevention and Control:
• Vaccination is recommended
• Maintain proper hygiene and reduce stress

7. Clostridial Enteritis

• Symptoms:
• Severe diarrhea, often hemorrhagic
• Reddish-brown or non-bloody feces
• Rapid progression leading to death within a few days
• Prevention and Control:
• Immunization of animals
• Maintain good sanitation and hygiene practices