Managing management-induced Clostridium perfringens type a infection in suckling pigs: a case study

摘要

An epidemic of transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) in a 1650-sow herd prompted the initiation of a management protocol that included feeding back viscera from scouring piglets to the entire sow herd to hasten development of TGE antibodies. Several litters born the fourth week after the initiation of the protocol developed diarrhea at 3-5 days of age and, as was dictated by the protocol, were euthanized. When it became apparent, however, that the signs and effects on the pigs of this new outbreak of diarrhea differed from those seen with TGE, a diagnostic reevaluation was begun. The diagnostic workup implicated Clostridium perfringens A. The sow herd was treated with BMD~R and feedback procedures were revised.