Anthrax

Anthrax in pigs is relatively rare and it may occur as sudden death. It can also take other forms of presentation, depending on the location of the infection: pharynx anthrax, intestinal anthrax or systemic anthrax. It is very critical to carry out a necropsy in the field because the environment can get contaminated with the spores. Anthrax is a zoonotic disease.

Alternative names: Bacillus anthracis

It is a rare disease in most parts of the world; pigs are highly resistant to the infection. Special care must be taken when handling sick animals or carcasses of pigs infected to minimize environmental contamination and because it is a zoonotic disease. There are effective vaccines in some countries for both pigs and humans. There are three forms of clinical manifestation depending on the area of the infection: pharyngeal anthrax, intestinal anthrax, or systemic anthrax. Systemic anthrax is very deadly.

Lactation, nursery and fattening

• Sudden death without symptoms (or with a discolored and swollen neck).
• Fever.
• Feces with blood.
• Nasal hemorrhage.
• Incoordination.

Sows

• Acute disease.
• Fever.
• Respiratory Anxiety.
• Sudden death.
• Sore throat, lymph nodes in the neck and in abdomen increased in size and hemorrhagic.
• Feces with blood.
• Nasal hemorrhage.
• Incoordination.

• The source of infection in sows is usually feed contaminated with spores of Bacillus anthracis.

• Anthrax should be suspected if a pig is found dead and at post-mortem examination hemorrhagic tissues are found and lymph nodes in neck and abdomen are red and swollen.
• In know areas where anthrax is common, necropsy is strongly discouraged to minimize contamination of the environment with highly resistant Anthrax spores.

• Prevent access to soil or feed contaminated with spores.
• Penicillin is effective.
• It is possible to vaccinate although it is rare in pigs because of their natural resistance to the disease.