Pockets of pus that contain large numbers of bacteria which usually enter the body through damage to the skin. Near the skin surface they may become painful.
Symptoms
All Pigs
- Possibly emaciation and death.
- Small to large swellings.
- Pigs show pain / discomfort.
- Evidence of fluid – pus or blood in the swellings.
- Red skin may be ulcerated.
- Often damage evident to the skin.
- Lameness from spinal abscesses.
Causes / Contributing factors
- Fighting.
- Secondary infection arising from other conditions such as PRRS, pneumonia or tail biting.
- Small widespread abscesses in the skin (pustular dermatitis) may be seen following general illness, septicaemia and or greasy pig disease.
- Damage to the skin by sharp objects in the environment.
- Trauma to feet, knees, tail.
- Teeth removal.
- Poor injections.
- Chronic abscesses may from around joints following fractures.
Diagnosis
Feel and press the swelling to ascertain if the contents are fluid or solid. Sample the contents by inserting an 18mm 16 gauge needle attached to a 10ml syringe at the lowest soft point of the swelling.
Haemorrhage into the tissues is the only condition likely to be confused with an abscess. In such cases either pure blood or a very thin blood stained liquid will be withdrawn. Such pockets of blood are called haematomas.
Actinobacillosis
This is caused by the bacteria, Actinobacillus suis and Actinobacillus equuli. The first of these is present in most herds and lives in the tonsils of older pigs, particularly sows. It usually only affects piglets.
Symptoms
Sows
- Rarely applicable.
Piglets
- Sudden death.
- Discoloration of skin (blue).
- High fever.
- Coughing.
- Pneumonia.
- Skin lesions (not to be confused with Erysipelas).
- Arthritis.
- Lameness.
- Septicaemia.
Weaners & Growers
- Rarely seen.
- Symptoms as for piglets
Causes / Contributing factors
- It can be precipitated by PRRS.
- Teeth clipping .
- De-tailing.
- Scrubbed knees.
- It may enter the piglet via the respiratory system or via cuts and abrasions.
- It occasionally multiplies in the blood stream and settles out in various parts of the body, particularly the lungs and the joints. Here it produces multiple small abscesses.
Diagnosis
Post-mortem and laboratory examinations to demonstrate characteristic lesions and the presence of the organism. It has to be differentiated from meningitis, acute E. coli infection, erysipelas, clostridial diseases and piglets that have been laid on.