Erysipelas

1
Erysipelas

• Caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
• One of the oldest and best known swine diseases
  in North America- first identified in 1885
• Annual losses due to the disease can be as high
  as 7 million
• Erysipelas bacteria are capable of living for
  long periods in water, soil, pasture, and
  decaying organic matter such as manure or
  carcasses.

2
Erysipelas

• The organism can persist for extended periods in
  the tonsils of apparently normal swine and can be
  transferred by direct contact.
• Outbreaks are usually more severe in herds on
  dirt and during periods of wet weather
• Swine between the ages of 3 months and 3 years
  are most susceptible to erysipelas

3
Erysipelas

• Once the bacteria enter the animal, the bacteria
  can take one of several forms or a combination of
  these forms acute erysipelas, skin erysipelas
  (diamond skin disease), arthritic erysipelas, or
  heart erysipelas

4
Acute Erysipelas

• Occurs suddenly- 3-5 days after exposure. Signs
  of the disease are difficult to distinguish from
  those of hog cholera, salmonellosis, and other
  bacterial infections
• Pigs show elevated temperatures and continue to
  drink, but eat little or no food. Their joints
  are sore and they walk stiffly on their toes or
  shift weight from foot to foot while standing

5
Acute Erysipelas

• When handled, the pigs squeal readily.
• Skin discoloration of the ears, snout and abdomen
  may appear
• Often, sudden death occurs in some animals, and
  abortion may occur in sows that contracted the
  bacteria during pregnancy.
• In a litter or herd with no erysipelas immunity,
  death losses from acute erysipelas sometimes
  range up to 100.

6
Skin Erysipelas

• Easy to identify- usually on the third day of
  sickness, purple, raised, diamond-shaped patches
  of skin appear on the pigs body especially on the
  belly and thighs. These patches eventually turn
  to dry, hard scabs
• Occasionally, the tips of the ears and tail
  become infected, die, and drop off

7
Arthritic Erysipelas

• Chronic problem that occurs in pigs that have
  survived acute erysipelas
• Pigs have firm, enlarged joints which cause
  varying degrees of stiffness and difficulty of
  movement
• Carcasses of arthritic animals are likely to be
  rejected at packing house inspections

8
Heart Erysipelas

• Usually occurs in older pigs raised on farms with
  the chronic form of the disease
• It produces cauliflower shaped growths on the
  heart valves, which can restrict the flow of
  blood
• Animals tire easily, breathe heavily and may die
  suddenly

9
Erysipelas

• Vaccines are available to help control the spread
  of erysipelas. The vaccine raises the level of
  immunity, but does not provide complete
  protection
• Penicillin, ceftiofur, or tetracyclines can be
  used to treat the infection, although the
  treatment of chronic infections is ineffective,
  and such animals should be culled.