Pig Health at Elanco

Post Weaning Diarrhoea (PWD) is an important enteric disease that usually occurs shortly after weaning and is characterised by watery diarrhoea, dehydration, loss of body weight, and death of infected pigs.¹

Despite the high focus on controlling PWD, the incidence of post-weaning diarrhoea remains high in European countries (overall ETEC, Enterotoxigenic E. coli, prevalence in European swine farms is at 60% according to swine producers and veterinarians).²

PWD can result in significant economic losses. This could be due to mortality, decreased growth rate and cost of medication.³

What approaches exist to control PWD?

There is now a vaccine to control ETEC F4/F18 that is proven to reduce antibiotic use. Other factors known to reduce the prevalence are good herd management, hygiene practices, and targeted antibiotic use.

Respiratory disorders are considered a serious disease problem⁴ in modern pig production; affecting the health status of herds and causing significant economic losses⁵.

Prevention, treatment and control of Enzootic Pneumonia (EP) caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae may involve management approaches, vaccination and antibiotic usage. Management practices should include efforts to prevent introduction of the disease and to prevent transmission of disease between pigs on the unit.

Ileitis is a major intestinal disease associated with fattening pigs, caused by the bacteria Lawsonia intracellularis^6,7,8,9 Ileitis refers to the inflammation of the ileum, which is a part of the small intestine of the pig. High quality cleansing and disinfection protocols can reduce the prevalence of infection on farm. However, antibiotic treatment may be required in conjunction with this management approaches. Alternatively, vaccines can also be used to manage L. intracellularis.

Husbandry tips include¹⁰:

• Avoid over stocking
• Reduce environmental stress
• Reduce the mixing of pigs
• Develop all in, all out procedures
• Keep pens as dry as possible

Large roundworms (Ascaris suum) are the most common and economically important parasite found in pigs¹¹. With over 70% of farms in the UK positive for A. suum¹², all types of pig farms are at significant risk.

Prevention and control of worms

• Contaminated pens are the most common source of infection so adopting an ‘all-in all-out’ strategy is important for infection control.
• Using a licensed broad spectrum anthelmintic effective against mature and immature stages of large roundworms, threadworms, red stomach worms, lung worms, whip worms and nodular worms will help reduce productivity losses.
• For lungworm control, prevent access to earthworms.