Manitoba Sow Deaths Caused by Rare Actinobacillus

CANADA - Manitoba researchers have published a paper that reveals Actinobacillus equuli as a primary pathogen in breeding sows and piglets.

The deaths of more than 300 sows in two months on a 3,000-sow farrow-to-isowean operation in Manitoba was attributed to infection with Actinobacillus equuli, report Amy B. Thompson of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives and others in the Canadian Veterinary Journal.

They add that this pathogen commonly infects foals, and is rarely reported in pigs. Their report is the second recently published case of this pathogen in North American swine.

Reference

Thompson A.B., R.C. Postey, T. Snider and T. Pasma. 2010. Actinobacillus equuli as a primary pathogen in breeding sows and piglets. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 51(11): 1223–1225. PMCID: PMC2957028