Saturday, March 10, 2012

Hog farmers alerted about Erysipelas



 Several veterinarians in the mid-western United States have noticed a marked increase in cases of erysipelas in market hogs, triggering an alert to farmers to watch for symptoms.

The veterinarians met with the United States Department of Agriculture about the situation and about packing-plant carcass condemnations.

There was a dramatic increase of erysipelas in 1999-2000.

Vaccination of replacement gilts, adult animals and finish hogs can aid in the prevention of Erysipelas lesions and losses.

Symptoms include blisters, fever, shaking, and chills. The spots that arise are painful, very red, swollen, and skin underneath the sore is warm.

It can infect people; it is treated with penicillin, sometimes requiring intravenous treatment if it enters the bloodstream where it can attack organs, including the heart.

Swine erysipelas is caused by a bacterium, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae that is found in most if not all pig farms. Up to 50 per of animals may carry it in their tonsils.