Pasteurellosis (Pasteurella multocida typeA)
Pasteurella multocida is usually the cause of pneumonia as secondary infection to another respiratory pathogen (enzootic pneumonia, PRRS, flu)
Description
Pasteurella multocida type A strains are usually involved in respiratory diseases in swine. They cannot cause pneumonia on their own, but are usually opportunistic, associated to enzootic pneumonia infections, PRRS, or influenza.
Symptoms
The acute disease is characterized by:
- Severe acute pneumonia.
- High temperatures.
- Nasal discharge.
- High mortality.
- Accelerated breathing.
The sub-acute disease is characterized by:
- Less severe pneumonia which is usually complicated with pericarditis and pleuritis.
- Cough.
- Nasal discharge.
- Emaciation.
- Increase in mortality.
Causes / contributing factors
Concurrent diseases such as PRRS, influenza and enzootic pneumonia predispose the disease.
Diagnosis
Based in post-mortem study and isolation of the organism from lungs samples.
Control / prevention
- Due to the fact that the organism is commonly secondary to enzootic pneumonia, the antibiotics used should be the same ones used to treat enzootic pneumonia.
- Often times, viral pneumonia is treated with antibiotics to prevent a secondary Pasteurella infection
- Inject affected pigs with antibiotics. The bacteria has a wide antibiotic sensibility.
- In acute outbreaks medicate feed or water with antibiotics.
- Vaccines against Pasteurella are not very effective.
