PLEUROPNEUMONIA

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App)

• Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) causes respiratory disease in
swine throughout the world. It has high morbidity and mortality rates
and can cause severe economic losses to swine producers. APP
severely damages the lungs of growing pigs and can linger on as a
chronic infection, leading to poor weight gain and serving as a source
of future outbreaks. Swine producers must rapidly control APP
outbreaks and use preventative measures to control this disease. is a
disease of bacterial origin with a high respiratory impact. The
production of toxins can often cause sudden death with nasal
hemorrhage.
• THE ACTINOBACILLUS PLEUROPNEUMONIAE (APP) bacteria, has at least
fifteen different serotypes, some of which do not produce any clinical
signs, while others may cause serious disease. The serotypes vary
depending on the country. Serotypes 1,2,5,9 and 11 are normally quite
virulent, while serotypes 3 and 7 are quite mild.
• TRANSMISSION The App is transported in the tonsils and the upper
respiratory tract. It is transmitted in short distances through aerosol and
only survives outside the pig for a few days.
• The organism may affect the pig from weaning to slaughter, but normally it affects
pigs 8 to 16 weeks old.
• The incubation period is very short; as short as 3 hours.
• The toxins produced by the bacteria can cause severe pulmonary damage.
• Infected animals can carry the organism during several months without
showing any symptom.
• App is not very common in sows, unless they did not had previous contact, or unless
the subclinical disease is triggered by coinfections, especially PRRS or influenza.
• Morbidity may reach 50%, and in untreated cases,
• mortality is high. Survivors generally show reduced growth rates and persistent
cough.
 SYMPTOMS
ALL AGES
• Not very common in adult pigs and very young piglets, except when the farm did not have previous contact with App.
• Sudden death/low or high mortality – the unique symptom is a nasal bloody discharge.
• Sudden death - no symptoms, more than 1% of the deaths are in this category. Post mortem examination is necessary.
• Breathing difficulties.
• Ears turn blue.
• Severely depressed animals .
• High body temperature.
• Loss of appetite.
• Pleuritis.
• Nasal bleeding.
• Lameness.
• Pale pigs.
• Pneumonia.
• Bad general condition – deteriorated and poor looking.
Causes / Contributing Factors

• Introducing infected or carrier pigs

• Can be transmitted through fomites and visitors.
• Sudden temperature changes.
• Stress/movements.
• Nutritional changes
• Continuous flow production.
• High animal density.
• Other pulmonary diseases (PRRS, influenza).
Diagnosis

• Based on the farm history, clinical signs, post mortem examination

including slaughterhouse exams and culture of the organism.
Pulmonary lesions are very typical. Serology may be used to identify
serotypes, but its interpretation can be difficult due to cross reactivity
between serotypes.
• App must be differentiated from Actinobacillus suis infections,
enzootic pneumonia, PRRS, influenza, and pneumonia caused
by Salmonella choleraesuis.
 Control/Prevention
• Due to the acute course of the disease, in new outbreaks it is important to
identify the clinical cases quickly and mass inject the entire group of pigs as quick
disease progression can make difficult identifying affected animals. The infected
pigs stop eating and/or drinking, so medicating trough feed or water is not an
adequate treatment method.
• App is sensitive to a wide range of antibiotics.
• It is important to determine the time the outbreak can take place and administer
strategic medication and prevention plans.
• In acute outbreaks, the population at risk should be examined three times a day
in order to identify the disease as soon as possible. There are several vaccines
available. These vaccines should include the specific strain of the outbreak.

Select replacement animals from herds negative to App.

QUIZ
1.WHAT IS APP?
2.APP affects pigs in what old?
3-4. Give 2 symptoms of APP
5.How many hours of incubation?