Swine erysipelas (Erysipelas) is one of the most common infectious diseases and causes severe economic losses to the livestock industry. The disease is often seen in pigs aged 3–12 months, especially during hot weather, sudden weather changes, or when the herd is under a lot of stress. Let’s explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the disease with Vemedim in the content below.
Characteristics and causes of swine erysipelas
Swine erysipelas is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a hardy Gram-positive bacterium with wide distribution. The bacterium can survive in animal carcasses for up to 9 months, in soil for hundreds of days, and is destroyed at 70°C or when exposed to disinfectant solutions.
The disease occurs year-round but flares up strongly during hot, sunny seasons or transitional weather, when animals’ resistance decreases. Pigs aged 3–12 months are most susceptible, especially fattening pigs. Sources of infection include sick pigs, carrier pigs shedding bacteria into the environment through feces, urine, nasal and oral secretions, carcasses, and contaminated farming equipment. The disease can spread to many other species such as cattle, goats, poultry, and even humans, but it rarely causes death in people.
After entering the body, the bacteria attach to the mucous membranes of the digestive or respiratory tract and quickly enter the bloodstream, causing septicemia. When destroyed, the bacteria release toxins that dilate blood vessels, causing skin redness and congestion, and making the spleen and lymph nodes enlarge. In pigs with poor resistance, the toxins can cause heart failure and rapid death.
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Symptoms of swine erysipelas
Clinical signs vary depending on the disease form and the animal’s resistance. In general, affected pigs often have a high fever, stop eating, skin discoloration, and difficulty moving. Below is a detailed description of each form of the disease:
Peracute form (white erysipelas)
This form progresses extremely rapidly, usually occurring in herds stressed by transport or weather. Pigs develop a high fever of 42–43°C, become pale, lethargic, and barely have time to show the characteristic red lesions before dying within a few hours.
Acute form (red erysipelas)
This is the most common form of the disease. After 1–2 days of high fever and loss of appetite, pigs develop red square, diamond, or round patches on the shoulders, back, abdomen, ears, and groin. When pressed, the red areas fade and quickly return - a characteristic sign that helps distinguish it from pasteurellosis. If untreated, 50–85% of affected pigs will die from severe septicemia.
Chronic form
This form usually appears after the acute stage has not been completely cured. Pigs develop dark necrotic skin lesions with brown crusts, sometimes merging into large patches. In addition, pigs may suffer from arthritis, myocarditis, lameness, difficulty breathing, and cyanosis of the ears and snout.
Diagnosis and treatment of swine erysipelas
For an accurate diagnosis, clinical observation, necropsy, and laboratory testing should be combined.
- Clinical diagnosis: based on high fever, characteristic red patches, and rapid progression.
- Necropsy: congestion of the spleen, liver, and heart, catarrhal enteritis, and arthritis.
- Testing: isolation of bacteria from the liver, kidneys, or heart valves.
When detected early, treatment is highly effective. Treatment should combine antiserum and broad-spectrum antibiotics:
- Specific antiserum: intramuscular or subcutaneous injection at 1–1.5 ml/kg body weight.
- Antibiotics: Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Ceftiofur, Gentamycin. Continue injections twice daily for 3–4 days.
- Supportive care with Vemedim Aminovit, Vemedim ADE B Complex, electrolytes Vemedim Vime-Electrolyte, and antipyretic-anti-inflammatory drug Vemedim Analgindex.
In addition, sick pigs should be isolated, and the barn kept clean, cool, and stress-free to support faster recovery.
Prevention of swine erysipelas
Prevention is the most sustainable and effective measure, including vaccination and biosecurity. Specifically:
Vaccination
- Vaccination helps create active immunity and reduces the risk of outbreaks.
- Weaned pigs: first dose at 35–45 days of age, booster after 2 weeks.
- Breeding pigs, sows, and boars: vaccinate 2–3 times per year, before farrowing or 15 days before breeding.
Some vaccines currently in use:
- Parvoruvac (France): protects against both Parvovirus and erysipelas.
- ERYPELAS BACTERIN (Canada): inactivated killed vaccine.
- Himmvac Sow-4 (Korea): protects against erysipelas, pasteurellosis, atrophic rhinitis, and E. coli.
Hygiene and biosecurity
- Clean and disinfect barns regularly with Vemedim Altacid.
- Control people entering and leaving the livestock area, and prevent stray animals, insects, and rats.
- Provide clean water and nutritionally adequate feed, and avoid stress caused by environmental changes.
Swine erysipelas is a dangerous infectious disease that can easily arise under intensive farming conditions. Farmers should actively prevent the disease, detect it early, and treat it promptly to minimize losses and effectively protect livestock productivity. For support with specialized solutions, please contact Vemedim for consultation and to accompany you in caring for and protecting your herd of pigs.
