Time to prepare for Erysipelas is now
Erysipelas, Ery, Diamond Skin Disease. One of the first diseases most of today's swine producers remember learning about is known by all these names. Caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a gram positive bacteria, it can produce sudden death, lameness, and skin lesions in growing and finishing pigs. Disease in sows may be more subtle, showing up as lameness and increased culling or mortality. Ery is present worldwide.
Always waiting
Erysipelas is present in nearly every farm. It can be found in the pig as well as the environment. Why the disease may lay dormant for a period, then suddenly erupt, is not well understood. Maternal immunity, passed from the sow to piglet, is highly protective, and explains why the disease is rarely seen in farrowing or nursery age animals. Most cases are in finishing pigs, replacement gilts, and to a lesser extent, sows. As will some other bacterial diseases, active PRRS respiratory outbreaks in pigs may increase the severity of Ery breaks.
Typical cases present with animals off feed, lame and reluctant to stand or walk. Diamond shaped, reddened lesions may be visible on the skin in some animals. These are nearly conclusive proof of the disease, but are not always detectable.
Peak risk
In growing pigs, Erysipelas has a strong seasonal trend, with major outbreaks occurring in pigs in late finishing during summer and early fall months (June - September). Heat stress and/or increased numbers of the organism in the environment may be part of this pattern. In any case, preparing pigs currently in the farrowing and nursery stages will provide maximum protection for these high risk pigs.
In addition to sudden death, longer term damage can result from Ery in pigs. Chronic lameness can lead to slow growth and trim losses in pigs, and early culling in sows. Up to 50% of all arthritis cases, where the cause has been identified, are due to chronic Erysipelas. Damage to the heart valves may lead to sudden death upon stress, such as movement to harvest, or farrowing in summer heat. At the packing plant, damage from Erysipelas septicemia (bacteria present in the blood stream) is a common cause of condemnation.
Protection and treatment
Several options exist to provide protection in advance of challenge, always preferred, or to treat outbreaks when they occur. Vaccination of pigs in mid to late nursery, after maternal immunity has waned, can provide protection through finishing. Be sure to look for products with a proven Duration of Immunity (DOI). This demonstrates that protection will last at least as long as the dating shown. Older products, or those without DOI dating, may not provide protection when it is needed the most, in heavy weight market animals.
Treatment of most Erysipelas outbreaks can be accomplished with simple injectable or water based therapies. Injection of penicillin or amoxicillin is highly effective when animals are caught early in the disease. Antiserums are also effective in reducing losses from the disease. Several water medications have sensitivity for Erysipelas, including tiamulin (Denagard
More information
Wood RF, et al. Diseases of Swine. 8th Edition. Iowa State Press, Ames, Iowa. www.iowastatepress.com
Amass SF. Erysipelas: New disease or old problem revisited. Comp Cont Ed Pract Vet. Vol 21 (2) Supplement. Pp. S60-S63. 1999.
Sakano T, et al. Effect of Attenuated Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Vaccine in Pigs Infected with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. J Vet Med Sci 59(11): 977-981. 1997.