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<br />r SYMPOSIUM ON POTBELLIED PIGS
<br />Raising a healthy potbellied pig (corrt'd) .
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<br />f 1 m infection results in
<br />vaccination should be initiated when
<br />the piglets are a week old and then
<br />repeated as the pigs get older. For
<br />more information as to vaccination
<br />timing, refer to the manufacturer's
<br />recommendations.
<br />Pseudorabies, a swine disease
<br />caused by a herpesvirus, results in
<br />reproductive failure or systemic
<br />disease in pigs of any age. Because
<br />eradication of pseudorabies is being
<br />attempted nationwide, in most
<br />states the pseudorabies vaccine is
<br />under the control of the state vet-
<br />erinarian's office and is therefore
<br />only available through the state
<br />veterinarian.
<br />At this time, it is not recom-
<br />mended to vaccinate pet pigs
<br />against pseudorabies because they
<br />are generally not at risk for expo-
<br />sure. And in some instances, sera
<br />logic testing may not differentiate
<br />vaccination titexs from virus expo-
<br />sure. Many owners show their pets
<br />at state and county fairs that re-
<br />quire the pigs to be seronegative to
<br />pseudorabies.
<br />Though pigs are not immune to
<br />rabies, which i.s caused by a rhab-
<br />dovirus, they ~u a very resistant to
<br />acquiring the disease. Besides, an
<br />approved rabies vaccine for pigs
<br />does not exist, so vaccination of pigs
<br />against rabies is not recommended.
<br />Parasite control
<br />The occurrence of parasitic
<br />disease in potbellied pigs
<br />Potbellied pigs are susceptible to
<br />a variety of internal and external
<br />parasites, but they do not usually
<br />suffer heavy parasite burdens. This
<br />low level of parasitism may be be-
<br />cause pet pigs live in semiseclusion.
<br />They usually do not interact with
<br />4,1' 6 VEItiT2~L°~RY MEDIdNE/MAY 1993
<br />other pigs and, therefore, have
<br />fewer chances of acquiring para-
<br />sites. Potbellied pigs do not share
<br />parasites with cats or dogs. Many
<br />breeders will routinely treat their
<br />breeder pigs and piglets with para-
<br />sitacides without having a fecal ex-
<br />amination or skin scraping per-
<br />formed: However, parasite treat-
<br />ment should be based on the results
<br />of a fecal examination for gastroin
<br />testinal parasites, or on skin scrap-
<br />ings for or observation of:external
<br />parasites.
<br />pigs may suffer from mite or lice
<br />infestation. The pig louse,
<br />Haematopinus suis, is a rather
<br />large, sucking creature, which is
<br />easily observed, usually around the
<br />neck and ears. In general, few lice
<br />are found on pet pigs. The sarcoptic
<br />mange mite has also been found on
<br />pet pigs. Infestation results in a
<br />pruritic condition with crusty scales
<br />often found around the ear margins.
<br />Internal parasites in potbellied
<br />pigs can include lungworma (Meta-
<br />strongylus elongates, Meta-
<br />strongylus pudendotectus, and
<br />Metastrongylus salmi); intestinal
<br />worms, such as roundworms (As-
<br />caris suis), stomach worms
<br />(Hyostrongylus rubidus), nodular
<br />worms (Oesaphagostomum denta-
<br />tum), threadworms (Strongyloides
<br />ransomi), and whipworms
<br />(Trichuris suis); and coccidia
<br />(Isospom suis). If present in suffi
<br />dent numbers, intestinal parasites
<br />may cause ill thrift, stunted
<br />growth, a potbelly, and diarrhea.
<br />Bloody diarrhea may be the result
<br />of whipworm or threadworm infec-
<br />tion. coccidia typically causes diar-
<br />rhea in piglets. Migration of the
<br />larvae of some intestinal worms
<br />through the lungs or the presence
<br />o un
<br />]~
<br />`,`thumps" (an asthmatic cough and
<br />difficulty in breathing) and a mild
<br />cough. Whipworm infection may
<br />also cause anemia.
<br />Treatment
<br />The choice of anthehnintic used
<br />should be based on the type of para-
<br />site identified. Ivermectin (Ivomec®
<br />- Merck AgVet Division) is the
<br />parasiticide used moat commonly
<br />against ascarids, stomach worms,
<br />nodular worms, threadworms, lung
<br />worms, sucking lice, and mange
<br />mites. The dose of ivermectin for
<br />swine is 300 µg/kg or 1 ml of a 1%
<br />solution per 7b pounds. Pigs with
<br />lice or mites should be treated
<br />twice,.14 to 21 days apart. Pyrantel
<br />(Nemex'" or Strongid T®-Pfizer)
<br />at 3 mg/!b is also effective against
<br />ascarids and nodular worms.
<br />Whipworms are difficult to eradi-
<br />cate. Fenbendazole (Panacur®or
<br />Safe-Guard'" -Hoechst-Koussel)
<br />at 9 mg/kg for three to 12 days is
<br />the only effective whipworm ant-
<br />hehnintic readily available.
<br />Zoonotic potential
<br />Potbellied pigs pose a minimal
<br />health risk to people if they start
<br />out healthy and are cared for re-
<br />sponsibly. Alimited study com-
<br />pared the potential human health
<br />risk from dogs, cats, and potbellied
<br />pigs a After studying 20 potential
<br />diseases, the researcher decided
<br />that the pig was less of a threat to
<br />people, or at least no more of one,
<br />than the dog or the cat. The results
<br />of this study are related to the be-
<br />havioral differences among the
<br />species. For example, dogs and cats
<br />are hunters, which increases their
<br />opportunities to acquire disease.
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