Conjunctivitis

 

Causal agent

Unknown.  Probably a combination of Bordetella bronchiseptica and Chlamydia psittici.

Age group

Weaners and progresses into grow/finish and young adults

Clinical signs

Sneezing and runny eyes in the late farrowing house and nursery.

Conjunctiva of both eyes become injected and inflamed

Third eyelid prolapses.  Once prolapsed condition seems to become static.

Many only affect individuals, but on some farms all pigs in the pen are affected.

The pigs otherwise do not seem affected by the condition

Conjunctivitis 4a

Conjunctivitis fin2

Connjunctivitis still 2

Growing pigs with conjunctivitis

Both eyes are equally affected

Detail of conjunctivitis with prolapse of the third eyelid

Infectivity

Unknown

Transmission

Probable nose to nose contact.  Organisms isolated are very common on all farms with or without the problem

Post-mortem lesions

Severe conjunctivitis with prolapse of the third eyelid.

Sclera and cornea unaffected

Tear staining on face.

Young pigs moderate to severe purulent rhinitis

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

Chlamydia suspected as a secondary invader following swollen exposed conjunctiva

Treatment

Individual/group

Review Progressive atrophic rhinitis vaccine programme.

Test and eliminate toxigenic Pasteurella multocida as a problem

Antimicrobials appear to have little effect.  Overuse of antimicrobials may encourage Chamydia as a problem

Control

Review management of the farm buildings

Avoid chilling and draughts

Reduce ammonia concentrations in the air

Reduce dust levels in the grower and finishing house – cover feeders, consider wet feeding

Minimise the clinical effects of PRRSv

Common differentials

Progressive Atrophic Rhinitis.  Swine Influenza

Zoonotic Implications

Some of the potential pathogens are zoonotic agents – Chlamydia for example.