Al4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 20,1980
Clostridium perfringens Type C
DES MOINES, la. -
Colstndium perfnngens
Type C enterotoxeima is not
a problem for every hog
producer. Although it does
not share the notoriety of
diseases such as TGE, it
does threaten any hog
operation’s profit.
“Lake TGE, Clostridium
perfnngens Type C en
terotoxemia is a year round
threat to swine herds,” says
Hal Sinclair, Manager of
Technical Services at
Diamonds Laboratories, Inc.
“It usually occurs in baby
pigs one day to one month of
age. And notably, treatment
of animals with either
disease is of little value and
recovery is very rare.
“Only passive or tem
porary immunity can be
developed against either
TGE or enterotoxemia. To
provide immunity for baby
pigs, it’s necessary to
develop immunity in the
sow. In the case of these two
diseases, that means
developing immunity in the
sow prior to each time she
farrows,” Sinclair states.
“Immunity is most often
developed through a regular
vaccination program,”
Sinclair advises. “Ad
ministering a combination
vaccine such as TGE-Vac C
to pregnant sows prior to
each farrowing can help
provide protection against
both TGE and en
terotoxemia ”
Sinclair points out
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Clostridium perfnngens
bacteria live in soil. Once the
bacteria become established
in soil, it is particularly
difficult, if not impossible, to
rid the area of the disease
Unattended, the disease
can then develop into a year
round problem of longterm
duration. However, since
spores of the bacteria only
multiply in animals, the
disease is not as easily
spread as the TGE virus.
“These bacteria produce a
toxin which will eventually
kill younger pigs,” says
Sinclair. “Older animals
appear to be better equipped
to handle the disease, but
pigs that completely recover
from the clinical signs of
Clostridium perfringens are
rare.”
In most cases the en
terotoxemia strikes pigs less
than one week old. “Often
the first sign of hemorrhagic
enterotoxemia is sudden
death in the best conditioned
animals. Other clinical signs
may include excitement,
incoordination and con
vulsions,” says Sinclair
“Diarrhea is almost
always associated with
Clostridium perfnngens
Type C enterotoxemia,”
advises Sinclair. “Only in
cases of overwhelming in
fection where the pig sud
denly collapses and dies is
the diarrhea absent In acute
cases of the disease, bright
red watery feces are usually
evident In less severe cases
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diarrhea may be charac
tenzed by reddish brown
liquid feces. Long duration
cases usually have colorless
liquid feces with some gray
particles present.
“Death loss within a litter
is variable,” continues
Sinclair. “It may range from
a smgle pig to the entire
litter. But most commonly
only a portion of the litter is
affected.
“Regardless of whether it
is a smgle pig, a couple of
pigs or the entire litter, any
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Entry forms for
Classic available at
HARRISBURG - Entry
forms for the 2nd Annual
Keystone Classic, an all
breeds swine show and sale,
will be available at the 1981
Farm Show, announced
Harry Bachman, sale
manager and auctioneer.
Bachman stated in
terested swine breeders can
get in touch with the dif
ferent breed secretaries or
himself for the forms
The Keystone Classic will
be held m conjunction with
the Pennsylvania Farm
Machinery Exposition on
March 5,6, and 7, 1981 All
animals will arrive on
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is year round threat to swine
another strike against the
profit potential of the herd.”
Stressmg the fact that the
disease can be disastrous
economically and that im
munity developed to en
terotoxerma is only passive,
Sinclair advises a multi
faceted approach to control.
“First, it is important to
try to keep the disease out of
the operation from the very
start. Careful sanitation of
facilities, screening in
coming animals and
restricting access to
humans ’■'''tents and nets
Thursday, with the show
scheduled for Friday and the
sale to be held Saturday
“This swine show pits
breed against breed in
competition for the grand
championship. They’ll be
r
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eac
warmth of lasting friendship.
As we renew the bonds of
our happy relationship, we send
thanks from our house to yours.
I essess
UL
5
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DESIGNERS AUDBU'LDEFSOF S V G‘'Z
are all important in keeping
enterotoxerma and TGE out
of the hog operation.
“The second part of any
control program should
include a vaccination
schedule,” says Sinclair.
“Enterotoxenua can strike a
swine herd at any time, so
vaccinating each sow with a
vaccme like TGE-Vac C is
inexpensive protection when
you consider the possible
alternatives TGE-Vac C
administered through two
intramuscular injections
Keystone
Farm Show
snown by age uoi coioi,
said.
The Keystone Classic is co
sponsored by the Penn
sylvania Swine Breeders
Cooperative and the Penn
sylvania Department of
Agriculture
er
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given at one monthmtervals
with the second injection
recommended from 7 to 30
days prior to farrowing
offers the advantages of
positive dose accuracy.
“TGE and Clostridium
perfrmgens Type C en
terotoxemia are deadly
killers of baby pigs,” con
cludes Sinclair. “Controlling
both is essential to protec
ting the profit picture of any
hog operation ”
MMimi
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