Combat lurking respiratory diseases
The fall is often perceived as porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS) season, leading producers and veterinarians to increase diligence. However, this focus on PRRS management can potentially leave the door open for other respiratory pathogens. In a recent conversation with Dr. Amber Stricker, Suidae Health and Production veterinarian, and Dr. Pat Hoffmann, Elanco Technical Consultant, they noted that it is important to remain cognizant of all swine respiratory disease (SRD), as respiratory co-infections can cause exponential challenges for the pig and the producer alike.
PRRS breaks are known to cause significant impacts to herds across the U.S. and contending with PRRS alone is a challenge. However, PRRS often opens the opportunity for secondary pathogens to impact the herd as well. Dr. Stricker said in her experience, “We'll usually see some opportunistic bacteria like Glasserella parasuis, and we'll see other viruses, common viruses, like flu, sometimes Mycoplasma, or sometimes strep, as secondaries to these PRRS breaks.”
Imagine your PRRS break as a house on fire. Firefighters will focus on putting out that fire, but they will also spray down the houses next to it, preventing a secondary issue in the neighborhood. Taking precautions against opportunistic secondary respiratory challenges trying to enter your herd while a pig's immune system is fighting the PRRS virus is critical. Dr. Stricker added, “If you're seeing good pigs dying suddenly, if you're seeing looseness, a wet cough, if you're giving antibiotic injections or treatments and you aren’t seeing a response, that's a good indication that something else is going on besides PRRS, and it's something we can likely impact with some sort of intervention.” She continued, “Very rarely do you just see PRRS by itself. A lot of times you see it with a co-infection, and those co-infections are worthy of being identified and really looked at.”
Economic Implications of SRD
Diseases are costly on their own — but what about when you compound multiple challenges? The additive cost of pathogen combinations can grow rapidly. This economic impact is calculated based on a number of factors, including an increase in mortality, culls and tailenders (MCT) and reduction in average daily gain (ADG). The impact of multiple challenges is also exponential — combined challenges can double or triple the economic impact on your bottom line.1
Secondary infection management should be an important consideration in any herd health plan. So, how can you prevent the fire in the first place?
Managing SRD Challenges
Preventing or controlling PRRS is a priority on any swine farm due to its contagious nature and severity. Evaluating and ensuring a biosecurity plan includes both precautionary measures and control procedures is essential to manage this risk. Performing regular diagnostics can be another important SRD management tool. Early detection allows for potentially faster and more effective interventions.
Routine surveillance and staying vigilant with biosecurity practices can greatly impact your chances with PRRS according to Dr. Hoffmann. He said, “A lot of time we try to do a PRRS outbreak investigation after the fact, and if you're not doing some type of a routine surveillance before, it makes that process even harder to figure out where it entered the farm, how it got in to the barn, and how long it's been there. If we're uncovering this a month after it arrived, then we have a limited ability to confirm those things.”
Additionally, vaccination protocols designed for prevention, control and early treatment can help decrease the potential entrance and the severity of many SRD pathogens. “We need to stay vigilant with biosecurity and mitigation efforts to try to keep it out of our herds,” added Dr. Stricker. Vaccinating for other respiratory diseases such as Glasserella parasuis and Pasteurella multocida can also help maintain herd health independently and in the face of PRRS.
A well-developed herd health plan includes both proactive and preventative measures, including:
- Regular Diagnostics
- Monitored Biosecurity Strategies
- Intentional Vaccine Protocols
- Agile Treatment Plans
Managing respiratory disease is indeed a challenge, but with a plan you have a chance to mitigate potential herd health challenges and economic impacts of individual SRD challenges and possible co-infections.
With Elanco’s extensive SRD expertise and portfolio, we can assist in evaluating and determining the best SRD management strategy for your operation. Contact your Elanco sales representative or technical consultant.
PULMOTIL AC IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
Before using Pulmotil AC, it is important to read the product insert, including the boxed human warning.
WARNING: Exposure to tilmicosin in humans has been associated with chest pain, increased heart rate, dizziness, headache, and nausea. Death has been reported following ingestion or injection of tilmicosin. Avoid direct skin and eye contact. In case of human exposure, call 1-800-722-0987, and consult a physician immediately.
- Wear overall, impervious gloves and eye protection when mixing and handling the product. Wash hands after handling the product.
- Wash affected parts if skin contact occurs. If accidental eye contact occurs, immediately rinse thoroughly with water.
- Caution: Pulmotil AC is to be used by, or on the order of, a licensed veterinarian.
- For use only in swine. Not for injection. Injection of tilmicosin has been shown to be fatal in swine and non-human primates, and may be fatal in horses and goats.
- Swine intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 7 days of treatment.
- Always treat the fewest number of animals necessary to control a respiratory disease outbreak. Prescriptions shall not be refilled.
- Concurrent use of Pulmotil AC and another macrolide by any route, or use of another macrolide immediately following this use of Pulmotil AC is not advised.
- Ensure that pigs have continuous access to medicated water during the treatment period. Monitor pigs for signs of water refusal and dehydration while being treated.
INCREXXA IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
- Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children.
- Do not use in animals previously found to be hypersensitive to the drug. Increxxa has a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of 5 days.
BAYTRIL IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
- Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children.
- Avoid contact with eyes. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with copious amounts of water for 15 minutes.
- In case of dermal contact, wash skin with soap and water. Consult a physician if irritation persists following ocular or dermal exposures.
- Individuals with a history of hypersensitivity to quinolones should avoid this product. In humans, there is a risk of user photosensitization within a few hours after excessive exposure to quinolones. If excessive accidental exposure occurs, avoid direct sunlight.
1Haden CD, Painter T, Fangman T, Hotkamp D. Assessing production parameters and economic impact of swine influenza , PRRS and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae on finishing pigs in a large production system. American Association of Swine Veterinarians. 2012 April: 75-76.
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Always read, understand and follow the label and use directions.
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