Conjunctivitis
Causal agent |
Unknown. Probably a
combination of Bordetella
bronchiseptica and Chlamydia
psittici. |
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Age group |
Weaners and progresses into grow/finish and young adults |
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Clinical
signs
|
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Sneezing and runny eyes in the late farrowing house and
nursery. |
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Conjunctiva of both eyes become injected and inflamed |
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Third eyelid prolapses. Once prolapsed condition seems to become
static. |
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Many only affect individuals, but on some farms all pigs
in the pen are affected. |
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The pigs otherwise do not seem affected by the condition |
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Growing
pigs with conjunctivitis |
Both eyes are equally affected |
Detail of conjunctivitis with prolapse of the third
eyelid |
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Infectivity |
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Unknown |
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Transmission
|
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Probable nose to nose contact. Organisms isolated are very common on all
farms with or without the problem |
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Post-mortem lesions |
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Severe conjunctivitis with prolapse of the third eyelid. |
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Sclera and cornea unaffected |
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Tear staining on face. |
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Young pigs moderate to severe purulent rhinitis |
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Diagnosis |
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Clinical signs |
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Chlamydia suspected as a secondary invader following
swollen exposed conjunctiva |
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Treatment |
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Individual/group |
Review Progressive atrophic rhinitis vaccine programme. |
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Test and eliminate toxigenic Pasteurella multocida as a problem |
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Antimicrobials appear to have little effect. Overuse of antimicrobials may encourage
Chamydia as a problem |
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Control |
Review management of the farm buildings |
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Avoid chilling and draughts |
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Reduce ammonia concentrations in the air |
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Reduce dust levels in the grower and finishing house –
cover feeders, consider wet feeding |
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Minimise the clinical effects of PRRSv |
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Common differentials |
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Progressive Atrophic Rhinitis. Swine Influenza |
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Zoonotic
Implications |
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Some of the potential pathogens are
zoonotic agents – Chlamydia for example. |
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