Can swine fever infect cattle and sheep? Farmers need to understand this

Under natural conditions, swine fever will not infect cattle and sheep. However, pigs and wild boars of different ages, sexes, and breeds are all susceptible, and it can occur in all four seasons. So what are its symptoms and how do you prevent and treat it?

What are the symptoms of swine fever?

1. Acute

There is bleeding of varying degrees in the skin, serous membranes, mucous membranes, and internal organs throughout the body. The lymph nodes throughout the body are swollen, juicy, congested, and hemorrhagic, with a purplish-black appearance on the surface and a marble-like cut surface; the kidneys are pale in color, and the cortex has pinpoint- to millet-sized hemorrhagic spots; the spleen has infarcts, mostly at the edges, appearing as small blackish-purple patches; and there is hemorrhage in the mucous membrane of the throat and the tonsils. There are scattered hemorrhagic spots on the mucous membrane of the bladder. The mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines show catarrhal inflammation. Button-shaped ulcers form at the ileocecal valve of the large intestine.

2. Chronic

Necrotic enteritis; systemic hemorrhagic changes are not obvious. Due to disturbance of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, in weaned sick pigs, a yellow ossification line formed by impaired ossification can be seen at the junction of the ends of the ribs and cartilage tissue.

3. Mild

Pathological changes are not obvious, and the course of the disease is relatively long. The body temperature remains at around 40°C. There are no small hemorrhagic spots on the skin, but there is congestion and necrosis. Appetite is sometimes good and sometimes bad, and the feces are sometimes dry and sometimes loose. The sick pigs are very thin and weak.

How do you prevent and treat swine fever?

1. Practice self-breeding and self-raising, and avoid introducing piglets from other places as much as possible; when introducing breeding pigs from other places, select them from disease-free areas, carry out preventive vaccination, and after arrival, isolate and quarantine for 2 to 3 weeks;

2. When using leftovers as feed, boil them before feeding; strengthen feeding management, ensure adequate nutrition, and improve the pigs' resistance;

3. Pig farms should carry out regular sanitation work, disinfect regularly, and prohibit non-staff personnel and other animals from entering;

4. In accordance with national regulations, implement strict quarantine for the trading, transportation, slaughtering, and import of pigs; carry out preventive vaccination.