40 Diseases and disorders in pigs can be caused by living agents (biotic causes) such as
bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, or by non-living factors (abiotic causes) such as
nutritional deficiencies, toxins, and environmental conditions.
Disease course by living organism Disease course by no-living organism
40 diseases, Causes, symptom , treatment and control
Part 1: Living (Infectious) Diseases & Parasites
🦠 Viral Diseases
1. African Swine Fever (ASF)
Cause: African Swine Fever Virus.
Symptoms: High fever, internal bleeding, blue ears, sudden death.
Treatment: None; no cure exists.
Control: Strict quarantine, culling infected herds, rigorous biosecurity.
2. Classical Swine Fever (Hog Cholera)
Cause: Pestivirus.
Symptoms: Fever, diarrhea, purple skin discoloration, convulsions.
Treatment: None.
Control: Proactive vaccination, rigorous herd quarantine.
3. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)
Cause: PRRS Virus (Arterivirus).
Symptoms: Late-term abortions, stillborns, severe respiratory distress in piglets.
Treatment: Supportive care using antibiotics for secondary infections.
Control: Herd vaccination, strict closed-herd management systems.
4. Swine Influenza (Pig Flu)
Cause: Influenza A virus.
Symptoms: Barking cough, high fever, nasal discharge, lethargy.
Treatment: Supportive care, anti-inflammatory medications.
Control: Adequate ventilation, herd vaccination, minimizing stress.
5. Porcine Parvovirus (PPV)
Cause: Porcine Parvovirus.
Symptoms: Mummified fetuses, small litters, infertility in gilts.
Treatment: None.
Control: Routine vaccination of gilts before breeding.
6. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
Cause: Aphthovirus.
Symptoms: Blisters on snout, tongue, and coronary band of hooves causing lameness.
Treatment: None.
Control: Strict movement controls, culling, targeted vaccination.
7. Pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s Disease)
Cause: Porcine Herpesvirus 1.
Symptoms: Shivering, incoordination, high mortality in piglets, abortions in sows.
Treatment: None.
Control: Eradication programs, strict isolation, specific vaccination.
8. Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease (PCVAD / PMWS)
Cause: Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2).
Symptoms: Progressive wasting, pale skin, jaundice, enlarged lymph nodes.
Treatment: Symptomatic treatment for secondary bacterial infections.
Control: Routine vaccination of piglets and sows.
9. Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE)
Cause: TGE Coronavirus.
Symptoms: Vomiting, severe watery diarrhea, near 100% mortality in piglets under 2
weeks.
Treatment: Electrolyte hydration, keeping piglets warm.
Control: Strict biosecurity, planned exposure of pregnant sows to build immunity.
10. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED)
Cause: PED Coronavirus.
Symptoms: Severe watery diarrhea, acute vomiting, rapid dehydration.
Treatment: Aggressive oral hydration therapy.
Control: Thorough sanitation, strict feedback protocols, farm biosecurity.
🧫 Bacterial Diseases
11. Swine Erysipelas
Cause: Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bacteria.
Symptoms: High fever, characteristic diamond-shaped skin lesions, painful joints.
Treatment: Injectable Penicillin antibiotics.
Control: Scheduled vaccination, prompt removal of infected carcasses.
12. Atrophic Rhinitis
Cause: Bordetella bronchiseptica and Pasteurella multocida.
Symptoms: Sneezing, nasal distortion, twisted snouts, nosebleeds.
Treatment: Early antibiotic therapy (Tetracyclines) in feed or water.
Control: Breeding herd vaccination, improving air quality.
13. Exudative Epidermitis (Greasy Pig Disease)
Cause: Staphylococcus hyicus entering through skin wounds.
Symptoms: Brown, greasy skin crusts, listlessness, rapid dehydration.
Treatment: Injectable Penicillin or Ceftiofur; topical antiseptic washes.
Control: Clipping needle teeth, smoothing sharp pen edges, sanitizing pens.
14. Salmonellosis
Cause: Salmonella enterica (Typhimurium or Choleraesuis).
Symptoms: Foul-smelling purple-tinted diarrhea, high fever, septicemia.
Treatment: Injectable or water-soluble antibiotics (e.g., Neomycin).
Control: Minimizing transport stress, clean water supplies, organic acids in feed.
15. Swine Dysentery
Cause: Brachyspira hyodysenteriae bacteria.
Symptoms: Mucoid diarrhea containing fresh blood and mucus, severe weight loss.
Treatment: Tiamulin or Lincomycin administered in water.
Control: Thorough pen sanitation, buying stock only from verified pathogen-free herds.
16. Glässer’s Disease
Cause: Haemophilus parasuis.
Symptoms: Swollen joints, lameness, coughing, high fever, fibrinous pleurisy.
Treatment: Early aggressive treatment with Penicillin or Ceftiofur.
Control: Strategic medication during stress events, piglet vaccination.
17. Streptococcal Meningitis
Cause: Streptococcus suis.
Symptoms: Incoordination, paddling legs, tremors, blindness, sudden death.
Treatment: Fast-acting penicillin injections, anti-inflammatories.
Control: Reducing weaning stress, optimal ventilation, tactical antibiotic timing.
18. Leptospirosis
Cause: Leptospira interrogans bacteria.
Symptoms: Late-term abortions, weak piglets, blood-tinged urine.
Treatment: Tetracycline antibiotics administered in feed or water.
Control: Rigorous rodent control, routine herd vaccination twice yearly.
19. Mycoplasmal Pneumonia (Enzootic Pneumonia)
Cause: Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.
Symptoms: Chronic dry cough, stunted growth rates, lung consolidation.
Treatment: Antibiotics like Lincomycin, Tylosin, or Tulathromycin.
Control: All-in/all-out management, vaccination, low stocking density.
20. Colibacillosis (E. coli Scours)
Cause: Pathogenic Escherichia coli.
Symptoms: Creamy or watery diarrhea in neonatal and post-weaning piglets.
Treatment: Rehydration fluids, targeted oral or injectable antibiotics.
Control: Keeping farrowing crates clean and dry, vaccinating pregnant sows.
🪱 Parasitic & Fungal Diseases
21. Sarcoptic Mange
Cause: Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis (parasitic mite).
Symptoms: Severe itching, scratching, thickened crusty skin, hair loss.
Treatment: Injectable Ivermectin or topical Doramectin.
Control: Treating sows before entering farrowing pens, quarantining new stock.
22. Ascariasis (Large Roundworms)
Cause: Ascaris suum nematode.
Symptoms: Coughing (thumps), poor feed efficiency, "milk spots" on the liver found at
slaughter.
Treatment: Dewormers like Fenbendazole, Ivermectin, or Piperazine.
Control: Regular deworming schedules, concrete floors, frequent manure removal.
23. Trichuriasis (Whipworms)
Cause: Trichuris suis.
Symptoms: Bloody, mucous diarrhea, anemia, severe emaciation in growing pigs.
Treatment: Fenbendazole or Flubendazole.
Control: Rotating pastures, maintaining clean slatted floors.
24. Coccidiosis
Cause: Isospora suis (protozoan parasite).
Symptoms: Yellowish-grey, frothy diarrhea in piglets aged 7-21 days.
Treatment: Oral Toltrazuril administered early in life.
Control: Meticulous disinfection of farrowing crates using specialized anti-coccidial
products.
25. Ringworm
Cause: Fungi like Microsporum nanum.
Symptoms: Circular, reddish-brown spreading lesions on flanks and belly.
Treatment: Topical antifungal washes (Iodine solution or Copper sulfate).
Control: Keeping pens dry, avoiding overcrowding, avoiding direct skin abrasions.
Part 2: Non-Living (Non-Infectious) Diseases & Conditions
🌾 Nutritional Deficiencies & Metabolic Conditions
26. Piglet Anemia
Cause: Lack of iron (sow's milk naturally contains very little iron).
Symptoms: Pale skin and gums, rapid breathing (thumps), slow growth.
Treatment: Intramuscular Iron Dextran injection within the first 3 days of life.
Control: Routine iron administration to all newborn piglets.
27. Mulberry Heart Disease
Cause: Vitamin E and/or Selenium deficiency in feed.
Symptoms: Sudden death in fast-growing weaners, mottled purple heart muscle.
Treatment: Injectable Vitamin E and Selenium for affected groups.
Control: Ensuring balanced feed formulation with adequate antioxidant content.
28. Rickets
Cause: Deficiency or imbalance of Calcium, Phosphorus, or Vitamin D.
Symptoms: Rubbery bones, swollen joints, lameness, bowed legs.
Treatment: Correcting dietary mineral ratios, supplementing Vitamin D.
Control: Testing and balancing feed formulations regularly.
29. Parakeratosis
Cause: Zinc deficiency, often aggravated by excessive dietary Calcium.
Symptoms: Hard, crusty, scaling skin lesions resembling mange but without itching.
Treatment: Supplementing Zinc carbonate or Zinc sulfate in feed.
Control: Maintaining correct dietary Calcium-to-Zinc ratios.
30. Water Deprivation (Salt Poisoning)
Cause: Lack of water access combined with high-salt diets.
Symptoms: Blindness, aimless wandering, head pressing, convulsions, death.
Treatment: Reintroducing fresh water extremely slowly and gradually.
Control: Daily checks of water nipples to guarantee uninterrupted flow.
🧪 Toxins & Poisoning
31. Aflatoxicosis
Cause: Ingestion of Mycotoxins produced by molds (Aspergillus) in feed.
Symptoms: Liver damage, jaundice, poor growth, general immunosuppression.
Treatment: Removing contaminated feed, providing supportive vitamins.
Control: Storing feed in dry conditions, mixing mycotoxin binders into feed.
32. Zearalenone Toxicosis
Cause: Mycotoxin produced by Fusarium mold in damp grain.
Symptoms: Swollen, red vulvas in young gilts, false pregnancies, small litters.
Treatment: Immediate elimination of contaminated feed.
Control: Testing grain quality, keeping moisture levels low in storage silos.
33. Coal Tar Poisoning
Cause: Ingestion of phenolic compounds found in old clay pigeons, tar, or creosote-
treated wood.
Symptoms: Acute liver failure, fluid build-up in the abdomen (ascites), sudden death.
Treatment: None effective.
Control: Removing all treated wood and tar products from pig paths and housing.
🏠 Environmental & Physical Management Issues
34. Gastric Ulcers
Cause: Finely ground feed particle sizes, stress, extended periods without food.
Symptoms: Pale skin, black tarry stools (melena), vomiting, sudden death.
Treatment: Moving pig to a low-stress pen, feeding coarser fibrous diets.
Control: Maintaining feed particle sizes above 700 microns, avoiding sudden feed gaps.
35. Heat Stress
Cause: High ambient temperatures combined with poor airflow (pigs cannot sweat).
Symptoms: Open-mouth panting, lethargy, reduced feed intake, abortion in sows.
Treatment: Wetting pigs with coarse mist, providing immediate shade and cool air.
Control: Installing drip coolers, shade cloths, and powerful exhaust fans.
36. Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS / Pale Soft Exudative Meat)
Cause: Genetic mutation (Halothane gene) triggered by heavy handling or stress.
Symptoms: Muscle tremors, high body temperature, red skin blotches, sudden collapse.
Treatment: Immediate cooling with water, minimizing handling.
Control: Testing and breeding out carriers of the Halothane gene.
37. Rectal Prolapse
Cause: Increased abdominal pressure from coughing, cold-induced piling, or chronic
diarrhea.
Symptoms: Pink or dark red tissue tube protruding from the anus.
Treatment: Surgical repair, purse-string suturing, or applying a prolapse ring.
Control: Treating respiratory diseases early, preventing chilling and crowding.
38. Ear and Tail Biting
Cause: Overcrowding, poor air quality, boredom, or dietary deficiencies.
Symptoms: Bleeding tails or ears, infection, abscesses along the spine.
Treatment: Isolating injured pigs, applying antiseptics, administering antibiotics.
Control: Tail docking piglets, providing enrichment (chains, straw), reducing densities.
39. Sunburn
Cause: Extended exposure to direct ultraviolet radiation (mainly affects white breeds).
Symptoms: Red, painful skin, blisters, peeling, reluctance to move or nurse.
Treatment: Providing shade, applying soothing topicals like aloe vera.
Control: Providing adequate mud wallows or physical shade structures outdoors.
40. Splayleg (Spraddle Leg)
Cause: Slippery flooring combined with genetic factors or weakness at birth.
Symptoms: Piglet's hind legs flare out sideways, making them unable to stand or walk.
Treatment: Taping or tying the hind legs together loosely in a normal stance for 2-3 days.
Control: Installing textured mats or straw bedding in farrowing crates.