Medical and Health Documents

Swine Influenza is an acute, febrile respiratory disease of swine with high morbidity and low mortality. It is commonly known in the industry as Swine Flu, Hog Flu, and Pig Flu. The etiology of Hog Flu is a Type A Influenza virus which belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family. It is an enveloped, RNA virus with a lipid envelope and a helical nucleocapsid.

This ebook will tell you transmission, clinical sign, treatment, preventing, and another important information about Swine Influenza.

Sample

Pathogenesis and Pathology

It is speculated that pigs maintain the virus by passing the virus to young susceptible animals. The virus is probably in constant circulation but there is not any evidence to confirm the existence of a long term true carrier state. The incubation period for swine influenza virus ranges from 1 to 3 days. The virus is inhaled and deposited on the surface of the lower respiratory tract. Research has shown that a widespread interstitial pneumonia will exist up to 21 days after infection and hemorrhagic lymph nodes will be seen. A major concern with Swine Influenza is the economic loss seen with uneven growth and prolonged finishing time. It has been documented that these pigs will lose from 5 to 12 pounds of body weight over a 3 to 4 week period.

Typically, uncomplicated infections have changes seen in the cranial ventral lung lobes. There is generally a sharp line of demarcation between normal and affected lung tissue. The involved areas are often purple and firm. Some interlobular edema may also be evident. The airways are likely to be filled with blood-tinged fibrinous exudate. Often the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes are enlarged. Severe cases may result in a fibrinous pleuritis. Microscopic lesions usually consist of airways filled with exudate, widespread alveolar atelectasis, interstitial pneumonia and emphysema. Peribronchial and perivascular cellular infiltration is also seen.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Swine Influenza can be based on clinical signs, virus isolation, histopathological confirmation of lesions, paired serology, and antigen detection.

Treatment

The treatment for Swine Influenza is pretty basic. The primary treatment is supportive therapy. These infected pigs require a dry, clean, dust free environment. We need to decrease any drafts which may be in the barns so that the pigs will be as comfortable as possible. Be sure to avoid any stress to the animals. Do not move any animals or mix animals from different pens. Antibiotics are also essential to treat and control any secondary bacterial infections that usually develop. Water medication does not seem to work as efficiently as parenteral injections to clinically infected animals. Expectorants are commonly used as a herd treatment and are administered in the drinking water.

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