This archive report was first published on 28 December 2019.
Unusual Cases May Be Hidden Message ¶
As a veterinarian, I have encountered several unusual cases of pig diseases this year, which have sparked my interest in understanding the underlying causes. In this article, I will share four such cases and explore possible explanations, including climate change and antibiotic resistance.
One of the cases involved a pig farmer in Makueni who was concerned about the spread of a disease to his county. I advised him that the movement of animals and animal products can promote disease spread, and that farmers and traders should be aware of this risk.
Another case involved a farmer from Kiambu who was on the verge of losing his pigs due to a mysterious disease. He had 20 pigs and 18 died in two weeks, with symptoms including bleeding spots under the skin and on the surfaces of the intestines, stomach, and heart. I advised him to report the disease to the authorities immediately and not to sell the pigs for slaughter.
After investigating the case, I suspected that it could be African swine fever, a notifiable disease that requires immediate intervention. Once a notifiable disease is confirmed, the national and county directors of veterinary services ensure that intervention measures are taken to check the outbreak, treat the animals, and give protective treatment to healthy ones.
Other experts, including a consultant and a paravet, also shared their perspectives on the cases. The consultant had seen pigs with similar symptoms in the past, but they had resolved without a confirmatory diagnosis. The paravet had used a PPV vaccine to treat the pigs, but I explained that it was unlikely to be PPV, as the symptoms did not match the typical indicators of the disease.
Dr. Juliet, a microbiologist, suspected that the disease could be a viral infection that caused depression of immunity in the sows, resulting in general bacterial infection. I am inclined to postulate the same.
As the investigation continues, I will keep receiving enquiries from farmers and traders who want to know the cause of the disease and how to protect their animals. I advise them to practise good hygiene, vaccinate their animals, and source animals from healthy herds.
Finally, I would like to thank the Kiambu County Director of Veterinary Services for requesting me to brief the sub-county Director of Veterinary Services on the area where the farm is located. This is an important step in disease outbreak investigation, and I am grateful for their cooperation.
