Retrospective analysis of the aetiology of respiratory disease in weaned piglets in Austria

摘要

Weaned piglets (n = 494), which were submitted to the Clinic for Swine at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna from January 2005 to December 2007 for diagnostic reasons, were analysed retrospectively. Inclusion criterion was a respiratory pathology. In 56% of these animals one or more pathogens could be identified directly or indirectly. In 63.9% of these cases a monoinfection, in 27.8% a dual infection, and in 8.3% an infection with three or more pathogens could be found. The most prevalent pathogens were the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, and a-haemolysing streptococci. When comparing these data with the ones derived from fattening and breeding pigs, PRRSV was identified as the major lung pathogen in all age groups. Because of the high incidence of interstitial pneumonias which remain without the isolation of a specific pathogen, future routine diagnostic procedures should increasingly include the search for viral pathogens, such as the porcine circovirus type 2.