Download Vaccination and parasite control in pigs

Vaccination and parasite control in pigs in
Western Australia
Current at 9 April 2015
Vaccines
Vaccination is insurance against disease. There are many commercially available
vaccines, which can often be bought over the counter. People who own small
numbers of pigs usually do not need to vaccinate for as many diseases as large
commercial pig farms.
Pet pigs and breeding boars should be vaccinated against erysipelas and
leptospirosis. Breeding gilts or sows should also be vaccinated against erysipelas
and leptospirosis, as well as parvovirus and Escherichia coli.
There are many combination vaccines that provide coverage against more than one
disease. Consult your veterinarian for specific advice for your pigs and situation.
Suckling piglets gain immunity from their mother’s colostrum (first milk).
Erysipelas
Erysipelas is caused by the bacteria Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and it is one of the
most common causes of illness in pigs. Affected pigs may develop fever and
diamond-shaped skin blotches, and can die quickly. Some pigs are not as severely
affected as others and recover. The bacteria can also cause heart damage and
painful inflammation of the joints (arthritis), plus abortion in pregnant sows. The
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bacteria can infect other species, such as chickens, sheep, and may occasionally
cause a skin disease in humans.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that causes late-term abortions and stillbirths in
gilts and sows. It is spread via urine and can cause severe disease in people. The
symptoms in people are similar to the flu, but serious complications such as kidney
failure can occur.
Parvovirus
Parvovirus infects unborn piglets, resulting in reduced litter sizes, and an increase in
the number of stillbirths and mummified piglets. It cannot affect humans and is a
different parvovirus to the one that infects dogs.
E. coli
E. coli bacteria are the most common cause of diarrhoea in piglets. Piglets can
become rapidly dehydrated and may die. The most common way of protecting
piglets is by vaccinating gilts around the time of mating and the sow before
farrowing, so that the sow passes antibodies (immunity) to her offspring when the
piglets begin to suckle. Antibody immunity is mainly provided in the colostrum (first
milk) and piglets must receive this within 24 hours of birth.
Parasite control
Prevention is always preferable to treatment because once parasite eggs and larvae
are in the environment they can be extremely difficult to get rid of and can keep reinfecting pigs. Roundworm and whipworms have particularly resistant eggs that can
survive for many years outside of pigs in the right environmental conditions.
Providing a good diet and a clean environment are important in controlling parasite
numbers and to prevent disease caused by parasites.
You can clean pens and housing with detergent and steam. Burning surfaces, such
as concrete, with a flame gun can be an effective way of getting rid of eggs and
larvae in the environment, however appropriate safety precautions must be taken.
Control can be difficult for outdoor pigs. To avoid build-up of parasites in the
environment you should rotate grazing so that the pigs are not continuously grazing
in one spot. For pet pigs kept indoors, remove faeces regularly, as you would with a
dog or cat.
Regular anti-parasite treatment is a way of preventing parasite build-up and treating
infestations. There are a number of different products available over the counter and
through veterinarians, but no single product is effective against all parasites. The
treatment may be an injection, oral solution or feed or water additive. Giving
treatments may require some practice and training, especially if giving injections. It is
a good idea to consult a veterinarian prior to choosing a product.
With any product it is important to follow the label directions and adhere to any
withholding period and slaughter interval for any animal destined for human
consumption.
Growing pigs kept outdoors are very susceptible to parasites
Internal parasites
Roundworms (Ascaris suum)
Roundworms are the most common intestinal worm in growing pigs. The adults live
in the intestine and the females can grow up to 40 centimetres long. They produce
hundreds of thousands of eggs that are able to survive for long periods in the outside
environment. The worms can be present in such large numbers that they can block
or rupture the intestine. Larvae (immature worms) can move through the liver and
lungs causing severe disease and even death. Signs of infection can include
reduced appetite, reduced growth rate, coughing, trouble breathing and death.
Ascaris suum can infect humans, but this is very rare. Thorough handwashing and
washing of vegetables that have been in contact with pig faeces is the best form of
prevention, as the eggs are found in the faeces.
Other worms
Nodular worms (Oesophagostomum dentatum) can cause damage to the
intestines, resulting in nodules, which can make the intestines unsuitable for
sausage casings after slaughter. The worms are more commonly found in sows and
they also infect their offspring and can cause loss of energy, weight loss and
diarrhoea.
Whipworms (Trichuris suis) cause ulceration and bleeding in the large intestine,
which can result in a loss of appetite, diarrhoea with mucous or blood in it,
dehydration and death. The eggs are very tough and can survive in the environment
for a long time.
The red stomach worm (Hyostrongylus rudidus) sucks blood from the stomach, but
usually doesn’t cause signs of disease. Occasionally they cause stomach ulcers or
enough blood loss so that pigs are pale, lose condition and even die. The worms
usually affect adult pigs that are on pasture.
Kidney worms (Staphanurus dentatus) are found in cysts in fat surrounding the
kidney. Affected pigs can have bloody urine and muscle wasting. The larvae can
move through the spinal cord, causing paralysis and also the liver. Adult pigs are the
most susceptible and pick up the larvae through their skin, mouth or from infected
earthworms.
Coccidia (Isospora suis)
Coccidia parasites are single celled microscopic creatures known as protozoa. They
commonly cause yellowish diarrhoea in piglets that can result in poor growth rate,
dehydration and death. Pigs are infected by ingesting oocysts of the parasite in a
contaminated environment.
External parasites
External parasites live outside the pig’s body and can cause significant damage to
skin, which can reduce appetite and growth rate. The important external parasite of
pigs is the mange (Sarcoptes scabei). It causes intense itchiness, red spots, crusty
ears and can irritate pigs so much that they may lose their appetite. Itchy pigs will
scratch themselves vigorously on anything including fences and housing, which can
be quite damaging to infrastructure as well as the pig itself! The pig variant of this
mite can also cause a temporary itch in humans.
Lice and fleas are bloodsucking insects that cause pigs to become itchy, but not as
severely as mange. Unlike mange mites, you can sometimes see these insects
crawling across the skin of a pig.
Mosquitoes and other biting insects can cause skin inflammation and itching, which
can be severe.
Contact
Ashley Jordan
+61 (0)8 9690 2168
Email Ashley Jordan
Important disclaimerThe Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and
Food and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of
negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.
Copyright © Western Australian Agriculture Authority, 2014