Mastitis, which can affect sows and gilts’ udders, is a prevalent and costly disease in the pig farming industry. It is an inflammatory disorder brought on by a bacterial infection, and its consequences can vary from minor aches and pains to severe disease and even death. Mastitis is a common occurrence that causes a great deal of worry for swine farmers worldwide. Teat injuries from piglets biting or rubbing against rough floors frequently result in illness.
The bacteria that cause the illness can also spread due to poor hygiene habits. Swelling, heat, and pain are the first symptoms of mastitis, which can rapidly progress to a hot, hard, and swollen udder. The udder may form lumps in chronic instances, which can be uncomfortable for the sow and even lead to piglet death.
Managing mastitis disease is crucial for pig producers to avoid financial losses and keep their herds healthy and productive. Mastitis must be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to prevent the bacteria from infecting other animals in the flock. The use of vaccines and antibiotics, frequent udder inspection, and good hygiene practices can all help reduce the incidence and severity of the disease.
The management of Mastitis disease in pigs, including its symptoms, treatment, prevention, and general disease management, will be covered in detail in this article. Pig farmers can successfully manage and prevent Mastitis disease by adhering to these recommendations, ensuring the health and welfare of their animals as well as the success of their enterprise.
Mastitis Management in Pig/Swine
Causes of Mastitis Disease in Pig/Swine
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the bacterium most often linked to sows with mastitis infections. Other bacteria like Arcanobacterium pyogenes, streptococci, and staphylococci can also bring on single-gland infections. Unclipped piglet canines, subpar flooring, or rough sawdust bedding can traumatize the teats and cause injury, putting sows at risk for infection. Following teat contamination, the infection enters through the teat canal, and germs grow in the gland.
Due to the endotoxin produced by E. coli, the infection may be temporary or result in severe mastitis with systemic symptoms and agalactia. Following trauma to the teat, Klebsiella spp.-caused mastitis can also manifest as outbreaks of fatal illness. Mastitis can isolate a broad range of E. coli serotypes, and these serotypes all have fimbriae, adhesive fibers that enable them to adhere to epithelial surfaces.
Disease Cycle of Mastitis Disease
Individual glands can become infected with mastitis in piglets, brought on by exposure to bacteria in the sow’s environment. Direct transfer between sows is unlikely to happen. Although particular organisms may cause outbreaks when introduced to farrowing facilities, teat damage is typically needed as a predisposing factor.
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The infection may reach the mammary gland through the teat canal after teat contamination. Infection is predisposed by trauma caused by unclipped piglet teeth, sawdust bedding, or subpar carpeting. After farrowing, mastitis may return in subsequent animal batches if the environmental variables are not addressed. To stop mastitis from recurring, it is imperative to improve the environment and hygiene of the sow’s environment.
What are the Symptoms of Mastitis Disease?
- Depression
- Lack of appetite
- Fever (temperatures of 40.5-42°C, 105-107°F)
- Swollen and oedematous udder
- Congestion
- Pus in secretion obtained after oxytocin injection.
- Restlessness and pain in the udder when piglets attempt to suck
- Poor litter condition and weight loss
- Acute mastitis usually occurs within 1-3 days of parturition.
- Respiratory distress may develop, leading to death.
- Sub-acute infection or infection in one or more glands may cause increased hardness of the gland and a square area of reddening or skin over the affected gland.
- Mastitis in a single gland may be noted when an affected gland fails to return to normal after weaning.
- Teat injury may be present.
Diagnosis of Mastitis Disease in Pig
It is hard to tell if a sow has mastitis because not all problems with the udder are caused by mastitis. Milk production can sometimes stop. This is called agalactia, and a disease does not cause it. Things like toxins or damage to the body can also cause inflammation in the breast.
But mastitis can be caused by an infection, and it’s important to catch it early to get the right treatment. Acute mastitis usually happens around the time a cow gives birth. It is marked by a painful, hot, and swollen breast. The sick sow might also have a high temperature and act anxious.
Treatment and Control of Mastitis Disease
- Pigs with mastitis are treated for two to four days with antibiotics such as neomycin, tetracyclines, ampicillin, amoxicillin, streptomycin, fluoroquinolone, ceftiofur, or trimethoprim-sulfamide, along with oxytocin to stimulate milk production.
- Severely afflicted sows have a poor prognosis and may require rehydration with intravenous hypertonic saline administered via a flutter valve. The offspring must be fostered or artificially raised.
- Rehydration is not required in subacute cases, and antimicrobial injection may ease the condition if only a few glands are affected. Controlling mastitis in pigs requires excellent hygiene, soft bedding, early treatment, and clipping piglets’ teeth.
- Vaccination against E. coli may aid in the prevention of the disease. The administration of trimethoprim: sulphonamide in the feed from day 112 of gestation to day one postpartum has the potential to eradicate early lesions and prevent the onset of clinical disease.
- Sows with severe or recurrent mastitis should be culled, and affected sows should only be kept if they have adequate teat function.
Preventive and Management Measures to Control Mastitis Disease
- Prevention of mastitis in sows involves maintaining excellent hygiene, providing soft bedding, clipping piglets’ teeth, and early detection and treatment of cases.
- Additionally, management practices such as proper nutrition, avoiding overcrowding, and stress reduction can aid in disease prevention. In addition, the use of commercial E. coli vaccines may be effective in preventing the disease.
- Monitoring and testing the livestock for mastitis regularly is also essential. Mastitis control measures include prompt antibiotic treatment, rehydration therapy, and culling of severely afflicted animals.
- Retaining sows with sufficient teat function can also aid in disease management.
Impact of Mastitis Disease
Mastitis can have a substantial effect on milk production. The disease can reduce milk yield and quality, as well as the lipid and protein content of milk. Depending on the severity of the infection, production losses can vary, with acute infections causing the greatest production losses. Mastitis can also increase treatment costs, culling rates, and diminished reproductive performance. In addition to its direct effects on production and profitability, mastitis can negatively affect animal welfare due to the pain and distress caused by the disease.
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Conclusion
Mastitis in pigs can cause significant economic losses in pig farming. Early detection and prompt treatment with appropriate antibiotics can reduce the severity of the disease. Proper hygiene, management practices, and vaccination can help prevent mastitis in pig herds.
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