This is a disease associated with spirochetes distinct from the one that cause swine dysentery. It occurs mainly in growing pigs appearing very similar to non-specific colitis and PIA caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. Spirochetes are common inhabitants of the large intestine and caecum.
Symptoms
Weaners & Growers
- A mild to moderate sloppy diarrhoea develops two to six weeks post-weaning that persists for a few days.
- Dehydration.
- Loss in growth.
- Most cases resolve in 7 to 10 days but in some pigs it becomes chronic.
- The disease can be difficult to differentiate from other bacterial infections, particularly non-specific colitis.
Piglets & Sows
- N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
- A sudden change in diet.
- Removal of copper from the diet.
- Withdrawal of growth promoters.
- Poor hygiene i.e. dirty floor surfaces, water contamination.
Diagnosis
This is difficult because specific organisms cannot usually be identified. If there is an on-going problem on the farm, live diseased pigs showing typical signs, should be submitted for post-mortem and bacteriological examinations to eliminate swine dysentery.