Term
What processing procedures do nursing piglets undergo? Why? |
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Definition
Iron administrated via injection/orally -prevent anema, piglets have very low Fe reserves and low Fe in sow's milk
Clip Needle Teeth -prevents injury/disease e.g. Greasy Pig disease
Castration -prevent boar taint
Dock Tails -prevents tail biting |
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Term
What are the nursing piglet production targets for birth weight, pre-weaning mortality, weaning age and weaning weight? |
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Definition
Birth weight 1.5kg Pre-weaning mortality <10% Weaning age 17-28 days (avg 21) Weaning weight >5kg |
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Term
What are the major causes of pre-weaning mortality? (4) |
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Definition
Management -crushing -chilling -starvation
Disease -diarrhea |
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Term
What can be done to prevent crushing? (4) |
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Definition
-use farrowing crates -non slip flooring under sow -wean after colostrum is received and then use artificial teat -attend farrowing room/supervise at all times |
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Term
What can be done to prevent chilling? (3) Why is this important? |
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Definition
-provide supplemental heat/creep area -matted crates -dry cold piglets & put in warming box
Piglets have little to no fat stores at birth, if they are cold they are weak and won't suckle. |
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Term
What can be done to prevent starvation? (3) |
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Definition
-make sure small/weak piglets are nursing -remove larger piglets for short periods so smaller ones can nurse -provide milk replacers -cross fostering to ensure there are enough teats for the number of piglets |
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Term
What is the disadvantage of cross-fostering? |
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Definition
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Term
What are the primary causes of diarrhea in piglets? At what age do they affect piglets? (4) |
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Definition
Colibacillosis (<12hrs) Transmissible Gastroenteritis (2 days) Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (2 days) Coccidiosis (5d up to 3 weeks) |
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Term
Why is the timing of clinical signs important when a piglet has diarrhea? |
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Definition
Different agents affect piglets at different stages of life; useful in determining the causal agent |
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Term
What agent is associated with colibacillosis? |
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Definition
Escherichia coli
-commensal bacteria of GIT, the pathogenic Enterotoxigenic E. coli must be present to cause diarrhea |
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Term
Describe the pathogenesis of colibacillosis |
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Definition
-fecal oral route -attach to & colonize villi of SI -bacteria produce enterotoxins -causes excess fluid secretion into lumen |
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Term
What are the clinical signs of colibacillosis? |
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Definition
-watery/creamy diarrhea at less than 12h of age -dehydrated, weak piglets -more common in gilt litters -morbidity and mortality rates >20% |
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Term
Why is colibacillosis more common in gilt litters? |
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Definition
poor quality antibodies in milk |
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Term
What can you do to maximize lactogenic immunity in order to control colibacillosis? |
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Definition
-vaccinated sows 3wks before farrowing -vaccinate gilts twice -use a killed vaccine or autogenous vaccine -reduce sow culling rates |
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Term
Why is reducing sow culling rates a means of improving lactogenic immunity to prevent colibaccilosis? |
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Definition
-reduces the frequency of young replacement gilts coming in, a younger herd has lower lactogenic immunity |
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Term
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Definition
Sows not milking, so piglets are not being fed |
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Term
Other than improving lactogenic immunity, what else can be done to control colibacillosis? |
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Definition
Minimize challenge -all in/all out farrowing rooms -C & D between groups -perforated floors to keep manure away from piglets
Keep piglets warm -maintains gut motility & desire to suckle
Minimize transmission -wash hands, handle litters with diarrhea last |
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Term
What environmental factors contribute to colibacillosis? |
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Definition
-dirty farrowing crates -cold/drafts -careless workers -sow age/health |
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Term
What host factors contribute to colibacillosis? |
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Definition
-piglet age -genetics -immune status -nursing ability |
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Term
What agent factors contribute to colibacillosis? |
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Definition
-pili allow bacteria to attach to villi of piglet -enterotoxin produced by bacteria causes excess secretion of fluid into gut lumen |
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Term
Describe the characteristics of the virus that causes Transmissible Gastroenteritis (4) |
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Definition
-coronavirus -heat sensitive -very stable when frozen -seasonal disease (higher incidence in winter) |
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Term
Describe the pathogenesis of TGE |
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Definition
-fecal/oral or nasal route -causes severe villous atrophy in neonates |
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Term
Why is villous atrophy caused by TGE severe in neonates? |
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Definition
enterocytes grow from the base of the villi to the tip, and regeneration of these enterocytes is slow in neonates (up to 3 weeks) |
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Term
What are the clinical signs of TGE? (4) |
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Definition
-vomiting & watery diarrhea beginning at 2d old -all piglets born over next 6 wks die -high mortality in young piglets -spreads rapidly through the herd -piglets are still nursing |
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Term
True or False
TGE only affects piglets who are 2 days old |
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Definition
False
Affects all ages of pigs, young pigs are more severely affected and diarrhea will begin at around 2 days of age |
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Term
What can you do to control TGE? (4) |
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Definition
-expose all animals & employ a feedback program
-strict biosecurity protocols
-keep a closed herd (buy 6 months of replacement gilts & sows, then no more new arrivals)
-clean & disinfect barn thorouhly |
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Term
What environmental factors are associated with TGE and PED? |
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Definition
-season (winter) -poor biosecurity |
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Term
What host factors are associated with TGE and PED? |
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Definition
-age (neonates more severe) -does affect all ages -lactogenic immunity to protect neonates |
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Term
What agent factors are associated with TGE and PED? |
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Definition
-TGE virus -survives in cold environment -highly contagious |
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Term
Describe the characteristics of the virus associated with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (4) |
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Definition
-coronavirus -heat sensitive -very stable when frozen -seasonal disease (higher incidence in winter) |
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Term
Describe the etiology of the agent causing coccidial diarrhea |
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Definition
-protozoal parasite Isospora suis -transmitted via fecal-oral route |
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Term
Describe the pathogenesis of coccidial diarrhea |
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Definition
-coccidia grow in enterocytes of SI -cause mild/moderate villous atrophy -oocysts are resistant to disinfection -cement floors & late summmer = predisposition to this disease |
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Term
Describe the clinical signs of coccidial diarrhea (4) |
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Definition
-mild creamy diarrhea -affects older piglets (5d to 3wks) -slow growth -high morbidity, low mortality |
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Term
What can you do to control coccidial diarrhea? |
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Definition
-antibiotics are ineffective, no vaccine available -anti parasite medication can be used -seal concrete floors (paint) -all in/all out systems -change flooring to perforated raised floors |
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Term
What environmental factors contribute to coccidial diarrhea? |
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Definition
-dirty farrowing crates -cement floors |
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Term
What agent factors contribute to coccidial diarrhea? |
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Definition
-due to parasite Isospora suis -'sticky' oocysts resistant to disinfection |
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Term
What host factors contribute to coccidial diarrhea? |
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Definition
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Term
What are the non-pathogenic causes of piglet mortality? |
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Definition
chilling crushing starvation |
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