Enzootic pneumonia

Enzootic pneumonia (EP) is an infectious disease caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. The disease primarily attacks respiratory tract leading to bronchitis and pneumonia. . The disease occurs dramatically in decreased . of pigs. The morbidity rate is high but the motarrlity rate is low (10%). The disease causes economic loss to animal producers due to retarded growwth rate in pigs.

1. Introduction
Enzootic pneumonia (EP) is an infectious disease caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. The disease primarily attacks respiratory tract leading to bronchitis and pneumonia. The disease occurs dramatically in decreased of pigs.
The morbidity rate is high but the mortality rate is low (10%). The disease causes economic loss to animal producers due to retarded growth rate in pigs.

2. Etiology
- The disease is caused by a microoganism species that is intermediate between bacteria and viruses known as mycoplassma - The main causative agent is Mycoplasma hyoneumonia,but the disease can be complicated by secondary infection of other bacteria and viruses, parasites (Haemophilus suis, Pasteurella, Streptococcus, E. coli, Salmonella, roundworm larvae , lung worm larvae) leading to persistence of the disease.
- The disease commonly is spread through direct contact between infected pigs and naive pigs. It can also be transmitted through the air and via respiratory route.

3. Clinical signs
- It is difficult to dectect the disease, the affected pigs often separate from the herd, lying in the corner of the pigsty. They may express anorexia, retarded growth rate, pale skin, and mild fever (40,5⁰C).
+ Initially the affected pigs exhibit sneezing, nasal discharge, coughing shortly or for a long time, in the early morning or evening, consecutive cough for 1-3 weeks then stop, or even lasts until slaughter. When the lungs are severely damaged, the affected pig opens the mouth with difficulty breathing, sitting like a dog sitting. The disease often turn to chronic form.
Chronic disease:The chronic disease is characterized by
+ Chronic cough usually occurs in early morning, evening, or after eating.
+ The disease lasts for a few months to half a year, sometimes death occurs, if the herd is well managed and cared for, pigs may recover. The mortality rate is about 10%, but retarded growth rate, stunted pigs (if there are secondary infections, purulent nasal discharge when coughing) may be seen, the
mortality rate is 20-80%.

Affected pigs are inactive huddling together

4. Lesions
- At Post-mortem,hemorrhage of respiratory system is found.
The lesions mainly occur in the lungs with pneumonia.
The affected lung areas appear light red. Cutting lung tissues, inside the lung is full of foam. There is heparinization of the lungs in symmetric lobes in both sides in the apical lobe and cardiac lobe.

Heparinization of the lungs in symmetric lobes and pneumonia with thickening, solidity and colourless of the lungs

(a) symmetric pneumonia; (b)pneumonia with thickening, solidity and colourless of the lung

- Severe pleuritis. Tracheitis, bronchitis with foamy and mucus exudate, pus discharge when squeezed
- There are symmetrical significantly lesions in the two sides of the lungs. There is a marked border between the inflamed area of the lungs and the normal area
- The lymph nodes along the trachea are 3-4 times as large as the normal

Enlarged lymph nodes

Chronic inflammation in and around the respiratory tract, a typical pneumonia

- If there are secondary infections, the lesions will be more complicated, if the secondary ìnfection associated with staphylococci and streptococci, yellow pus appears. If it is associated with pasterella multocida, the clinical manifestations are similar to that of pasterellosis . If it is associated with bacterial infection causing pus, purulent pneumonia appears.
5. Prevention:
+ Prevention by vaccination is the highest effective way. MYCO-APPS vaccine is S.C given to piglets at 21 days of age at dosage of 2ml/pig. The vaccine is safe tovaccinate sows at any stages but the best time of vaccination is administration of 4ml/pigs 2-3 weeks before mating or 3-5 weeks before farrowing.
MARFLOMIX, DOXY 2% PREMIX,TYLVAMIX or MAR-DOXY PREMIX is periodically administered orally via feed or drinking water for prevention of the disease .
- Supplementation of electrolyte to enhance resistance of pigs by frequently using one of the following preparations in feed or drinking water: ELECTROLYTE GLUCO-K-C, LACTOMAR, HERBAL MARPHASOL
+ Complying with biosecurity procedures
+ Keeping pigsties clean; periodical disinfection
6. Treatment
Enzootic pneumonia in pigs is caused by 10 strains of bacteria leading to cough, asthma, difficulty breathing, pleurisy, lung is stuck to ribs ...
one of the following treatment regimens can be used:
- Regimen 1: MARFLO 45% in combination with MARFLOMIX is administered via ịnjection
- Regimen 2: Tiêm MARTYLAN @ along with MARTOSALis administered via ịnjection in combination with HERBAL MARPHASOL via oral administration
- Regimen 3: TUSIN-LA is singgle dose adminisstered in combination with B12-BUTA CA.MG administered via injection
- Regimen 4: Combination of MARTYLAN and GLUCO-K-C-NAMIN or SORBITOL-MAR is administered
- Regimen 5: Combination of FLO-DOXY MAR and FLU-VIEM and ELECTROLYTE GLUCO-K-C is administered
- Regimen 6: In case of rapid breathing and acute pneumonia in pigs Combination of KANA-CEFA and GLUCO-K-C-NAMIN or PARAMAR-20% is administered
- Regimen 7: In case of pleurisy in pigs, combination of CEFANEW-LA, B12-BUTA CA.MG and HERBALMARPHASOL is administered
- Regimen 8: In case of acute pleuropneumonia with lung is stuck to ribs (APP). Combination of BACTAM, MARTOSAL and B-COMPLEX is administered

(Translated by Dr. Pham Duc Chuong, R & D Dept, Marphavet Corp)

Author: Tran Tuyen
Source: Marphavet