How to differentially diagnose abortion and stillbirth in sows
Sow abortion and stillbirth: how to differentially diagnose
Pregnant sows show no symptoms but have abortion, return to estrus, pseudopregnancy, embryo loss.
Main causes: overfeeding in early gestation, sows being too thin and malnourished, excessive stress, high temperature, fright.
The sow shows no symptoms, and abortion occurs.
① Mummified fetuses, malformed fetuses, weak and sick piglets, stillborn fetuses showing osteolysis, putrefaction, blackening, partial calcification of the placenta, fetal edema, congestion, necrotic lesions.
Possible cause: parvovirus.
② Fetal brain enlargement, hydrocephalus, subcutaneous edema, abdominal effusion, eye malformation, blindness.
Possible cause: Japanese encephalitis.
③ Fetal autolysis, normal appearance, subcutaneous edema, diarrhea and effusion, hemorrhage, purulent placentitis, white bead-like necrosis on the fetal membranes.
Possible cause: Brucella.
④ Mummified fetuses, stillbirths, low birth weight, malformed pigs, high rate of weak piglets, newborn piglets hairless with protruding eyeballs, mucous edema of the neck skin, most die within a few hours of birth.
Possible cause: iodine deficiency.
The sow has mild symptoms, and abortion and stillbirth occur.
① The sow has mild coughing and panting, fever, vomiting, abortion, stillbirth, mummified fetuses, white necrotic spots in the fetal liver and kidneys, some piglets show splayed legs, convulsions, flaccid limbs, neurological symptoms.
Possible cause: pseudorabies.
② The sow is lethargic, anorexic, febrile, with alternating constipation and diarrhea, fetuses show mummification, stillbirth, edema, dehydration, head and limb malformations, liver necrosis, birth of weak small piglets that die within a few days.
Possible cause: swine fever.
③ The sow is extremely weak, lethargic, breathes with effort, gives birth to few piglets, mummified fetuses, stillbirths, newborn piglets are weak, and fetuses often die at different stages of development.
Possible cause: swine influenza.
④ The sow shows no symptoms, occasionally has fever, gives birth to stillborn, weak, and malformed fetuses; suckling piglets suddenly fall ill, are lethargic, suckle less frequently, body temperature rises, abdominal breathing, white or yellow serous fluid from the nostrils, and purple patches appear on the body.
Possible cause: Toxoplasma.
Abortion in sows mostly occurs at the same stage.
① The sow shows anorexia, fever, vomiting, diarrhea with blood in the stool, spotted hemorrhage in the fetal placenta, and some sows die after vomiting.
Possible cause: African swine fever.
② The sow is anorexic, febrile, has difficulty breathing, delayed farrowing, gives birth to mummified fetuses, stillbirths, weak piglets; there are red hemorrhagic spots on the piglet fetal membranes; the sow aborts 7--10 days early, the estrus period becomes longer, no estrus, infertility.
Possible cause: PRRS.
This is abortion caused by circovirus or PRRS
PRRS fetal membranes
③ The sow has abortion, and vesicles appear on the snout, gums, hoof coronary band, and around the udder.
Possible cause: swine vesicular disease.
Abortion and stillbirth in sows have complex causes, mostly caused by reproductive disorders, so sow vaccination and sow health care must be done well. At the same time, attention must also be paid to feeding management and nutritional balance, especially abortion caused by vitamin deficiency in sows, feed mycotoxin levels exceeding the standard, and environmental stress.