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.