This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
Unusual Disease Outbreak on Kiambu Pig Farm ¶
As a veterinarian with 30 years of experience, Dr. Joseph Mugachia has seen his fair share of unusual animal cases. However, this year has been particularly challenging, with a record number of first-time cases, including four in the last half of the year.
One of the most complex cases Dr. Mugachia has encountered recently is a mysterious disease syndrome affecting a pig farm in Kiambu, Kenya. The farm, owned by Kariuki, has around 800 pigs in various stages of production, and the disease has been causing significant distress among the animals.
According to Dr. Mugachia, the disease mainly affects pregnant gilts and sows, causing them to appear slow in movement, reduce appetite, and eventually stop eating. The temperature of the affected pigs rises to between 40 and 41 degrees Centigrade before dropping later to below normal.
As the disease progresses, the pigs may either abort or give birth prematurely, a condition known as early farrowing. The affected pigs' ears and underside of the belly become reddened and then turn purple, a sign of reduced oxygen in the blood.
Dr. Mugachia and his colleague, Dr. Veronica, visited the farm to investigate the disease outbreak. They found that the farm had implemented functional biosecurity measures, including fencing and multiple footbaths, but the disease had still managed to spread.
Despite treatment with antibiotics, most of the piglets born out of the disease syndrome died within the first two weeks of life. Some of the mothers developed uterine infections, and four pigs had died in the last three weeks.
Dr. Mugachia performed a post-mortem examination on one of the dead sows and found a severe bacterial infection throughout the body, generating lots of pus in the uterus, abdominal, and chest cavities. The heart was hardly recognizable, and the lungs were strongly attached to the rib cage.
Although Dr. Mugachia suspected that the disease might be African swine fever, the post-mortem examination revealed that it was not. However, he still did not have an answer to what the disease exactly was until he could conduct further laboratory analysis, which was not available in the country.
Dr. Mugachia has advised Kariuki and his team to implement detailed disease control and containment measures to prevent the spread of the disease within and outside the farm. He has also compiled a report to the veterinary authorities as required.
Anyone who has seen a similar disease syndrome on a pig farm in Kenya is encouraged to contact Dr. Mugachia on email or 0721386871.
