{"id":6682,"date":"2025-04-04T07:39:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T07:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automobilenyc.com\/uttaran-krishi\/?post_type=pig_diseases&p=6682"},"modified":"2025-04-05T10:22:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T10:22:06","slug":"glassers-disease","status":"publish","type":"pig_diseases","link":"https:\/\/automobilenyc.com\/uttaran-krishi\/pig_diseases\/glassers-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"<\/i> Gl\u00e4ssers Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Author:<\/strong>\u00a0Mark White BVSc LLB DPM MRCVS<\/div>\n
Reviewed:<\/strong>\u00a0Mark White BVSc LLB DPM MRCVS 2016<\/div>\n
Published:<\/strong>\u00a02012<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Acute septicaemia (“blood poisoning”) associated with infection with\u00a0Haemophilus parasuis<\/em>\u00a0causing Gl\u00e4ssers Disease is typically seen in weaners of 8-10 weeks old, although in a completely na\u00efve herd, it can affect animals of any age including adults.\u00a0 The causative bacterial organism – of which there are many identified strains – is very widespread in the pig population and in most herds infection is enzootic.\u00a0 Disease can result from:-<\/p>\n

1) Infection of weaners with high levels of challenge after maternal immunity has been lost.<\/p>\n

2) Infection of introduced animals that are na\u00efve.<\/p>\n

3) Introduction of a strain variant to which immunity is inadequate.<\/p>\n

4) An association with viral infections e.g. PRRS, Porcine Circovirus and Swine Influenza.<\/p>\n

In addition to the acute form of the disease,\u00a0Haemophilus parasuis<\/em>\u00a0is an important component of Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC) that can be seen at any age from weaning to slaughter, working in combination with a wide range of viruses, bacteria and Mycoplasmas. This condition can have major health, welfare and economic impact.<\/p>\n

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Fig 1: Acute septicaemia is typical of Gl\u00e4ssers Disease<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Fig 2: The typical post mortem picture of Gl\u00e4ssers Disease with pleurisy and pericarditis<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Fig 3: Chronic pleurisy can lead to a financial penalty in the abattoir<\/span><\/h6>\n

Acute Presentation<\/h4>\n
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In the most acute form, pigs will be found dead.\u00a0 Typically, there will be red to purple discoloration of the ears, abdomen and occasionally legs.\u00a0 Where pigs are found alive, there will be a range of symptoms (Fig 1):<\/p>\n

1) Collapse and laboured breathing associated with high temperatures (41\u00b0C\/106\u00b0F or more).\u00a0 Skin discoloration is common.<\/p>\n

2) “Meningitis” although there is more twitching of the body rather the than paddling and convulsion associated with\u00a0Strep suis<\/em>\u00a0infection.<\/p>\n

3) Joint Ill – arthritis in several joints – affecting one or more legs with obvious joint swelling.<\/p>\n

4) Coughing – particularly evident in herds which are free of enzootic pneumonia.<\/p>\n

The post mortem picture (Fig 2) is of a typical septicaemia with congestion of internal organs and excessive fluid and fibrin (protein) “tags” within both the abdomen and chest.\u00a0 The organism can be cultured from lung tissue or body fluids but cultures are best done as samples from a freshly killed pig – the pH changes that occur after death will kill the organism.\u00a0 Cultures must be set up rapidly if success is to be achieved.\u00a0 If the pig survives the acute infection, the excessive fluid will organise and lead to adhesion that may then subsequently be associated with “sudden” death, or may simply be picked up at slaughter as fibrous pleurisy and pericarditis – the typical signs of chronic Gl\u00e4ssers Disease.(Fig 3)<\/p>\n

Complex Presentation<\/h4>\n
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The acute form of the disease as a single infection and its consequences should be differentiated from the effects of secondary infection with\u00a0Haemophilus parasuis<\/em>\u00a0in major viral disease outbreaks.\u00a0 The organism will commonly take advantage of an animal damaged with PRRS or Porcine Circovirus and be the ultimate cause of death.\u00a0 It may, however, be just one of a number of secondary infections in such situations.<\/p>\n

In this situation a widespread respiratory disease that does not respond well to treatment will be seen in which slowed growth, loss of condition, coughing, laboured breathing and general malaise will be seen. Many pigs so affected will ultimately require euthanasia.<\/p>\n

Occasionally,\u00a0Haemophilus parasuis<\/em>\u00a0infection and Glassers Disease can be seen as a less severe but widespread disease in suckling pigs from 2 weeks old onwards associated with loss of condition, coughing and malaise. It is rare to also see the acute disease at 8-10 weeks in these herds.\u00a0 Chronic cases with severe pleurisy and pericarditis (scarring around the heart) will still occur.<\/p>\n

Treatment<\/h4>\n
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If spotted early enough and action is taken rapidly, affected pigs can be successfully treated and lead to a full recovery.\u00a0 The choice of antibiotic to treat pigs will lie with the unit veterinarian but, as a general rule, penicillin based treatments give good responses but only when given early in the disease process.<\/p>\n

Where outbreaks are ongoing, feed or water medication may be appropriate and the choice of antibiotics will again be made by the veterinarian, based on clinical experience and responses to injectable treatments.<\/p>\n

Removed to hospital pens and provision of TLC are essential parts of any treatment regime for sick pigs, especially those affected by the more chronic forms of the disease.<\/p>\n

Prevention<\/h4>\n
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Where a herd is known or believed to be free of\u00a0Haemophilus parasuis<\/em>, on no account should new stock enter the farm – carrier pigs being the most likely route of introduction.<\/p>\n

From a clinical point of view, it seems that most pigs in an endemically infected herd pick up a “trickle” of infection in early life that overlaps with colostral protection.\u00a0 In this way, natural immunity can develop without disease.\u00a0 Separation of pigs early i.e. early weaning and rearing of weaners on a separate distant site may break this cycle of infection and lead to na\u00efve pigs that then become infected at 8-10 weeks of age.\u00a0 This picture seems more common in high health (Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae<\/em>\u00a0free) herds and suggests a possible association (or inverse one) between\u00a0Haemophilus parasuis<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Whilst more than 15 strains of\u00a0Haemophilus parasuis<\/em>\u00a0are known, tests are not available in the UK to differentiate them. Serotyping of isolates can, however, be done in a number of laboratories in Europe. There appears to be limited cross over of immunity between strains.\u00a0 A commercial vaccine containing serotype 5 o fHaemophilus parasuis<\/em>\u00a0is available.\u00a0 This would normally be administered to young pigs in two doses with a two-week interval.\u00a0 It is sometimes used off licence, only under veterinary direction, in sows to protect very young pigs against disease.\u00a0 However, if this serotype is not involved in the disease results may be disappointing.\u00a0 (Historically, a\u00a0Haemophilus parasuis<\/em>\u00a0vaccine containing serotypes 4 and 5 was available in combination with a\u00a0Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae<\/em>\u00a0vaccine.\u00a0 In practice, some farms have experienced disappointing control of\u00a0Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae<\/em>\u00a0using this compound vaccine suggesting that the combination may in some way lead to interference. Furthermore, in SEP free herds, it may not be appropriate to use a\u00a0Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae<\/em>\u00a0vaccine).<\/p>\n

Where PRDC is involved, full diagnostic analysis of the disease picture will identify the different components and clinical appraisal will assess the relative importance of each component as primary, secondary or incidental.\u00a0 With a wide range of respiratory active agent vaccines now available (including PRRS, PCV2,\u00a0Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae<\/em>, Gl\u00e4ssers Disease, Atrophic Rhinitis,\u00a0Actinobacillus<\/em>\u00a0pleuropneumonia<\/em>\u00a0and by importation under special import certificate (SIC),\u00a0Strep suis<\/em>) a full programme of vaccinations can be drawn up.\u00a0 Effective combinations of these various components are eagerly awaited.<\/p>\n

The general principles of disease control must also be applied to any pig keeping enterprise and, in the presence of active respiratory disease, attention to hygiene, all in all out management, aerial and thermal environmental control, correct stocking rates and group sizes and strategic medication all have a part to play.<\/p>\n

Costs<\/h4>\n
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Acute outbreaks of primary uncomplicated Gl\u00e4ssers disease in na\u00efve herds can cause high mortality and high cost in production and control.<\/p>\n

A typical outbreak lasting six weeks in a 300-sow breeder\/feeder farm, involved increased mortality in pigs of\u00a0 around 40kg of 6% i.e. 51 pigs dead @ \u00a380\/head (plus disposal costs) and a three month medication programme for the herd costing \u00a32\/pig.\u00a0 Subsequent vaccination over the long term added a similar cost to each pig produced.\u00a0 Total costs for the outbreak were \u00a38000 with an ongoing vaccine cost of \u00a36000 per year.<\/p>\n

The effects of PRDC on a herd are well documented with loss of growth of 50gm\/day commonly experienced.\u00a0 With mortality and medication costs, \u00a37 per pig can be added to production.<\/p>\n

Furthermore,\u00a0Haemophilus parasuis<\/em>\u00a0is an important cause of pleurisy found in slaughter pigs requiring additional trimming of the carcass and loss of carcass weight (as well as adding processing costs)\u00a0 Potentially, this adds another 70p per pig to the cost of disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n