Dermatitis - Atlas of swine pathology

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Possible causes: ErysipelaExudative EpidermitisMangePorcine circovirosisSunburnPityriasis roseaOther

This is a skin condition called Staphylococcal Skin Disease. This disease is ubiquitous worldwide and is present at various degrees in all livestock herds. The causative agent is a Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus spp.). There was only one animal affected in that batch of sows. Staphylococcal species isolated from skin lesions are usually commensal organisms that have proliferated because of predisposing factors. These may include stress, such as that associated with parturition, as is most likely the case in this sow. They may reflect some form of immune incompetence in the individual animal. Lesions often remain for life and prove intractable to treatment and litters of affected sows may well show classic greasy pig disease early in life. These lesions are non-pruritic. Rarely sows may present with acute ulcerative lesions similar to those seen in baby piglets but usually non-fatal.