Pigs of all ages are susceptible to intestinal diseases, and diarrhea is the sign common to nearly all such disorders. Transmission of infectious agents that cause enteropathies is by the fecal-oral route. At least 16 different etiologic agents, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites, can cause primary intestinal disease. Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV 2) virus may be isolated from the intestines of pigs with diarrhea. PCV 2 is the cause of several multisystemic diseases in pigs, including postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (see Porcine Circovirus Diseases). Diarrhea in a herd may be due to a single agent, but concurrent infections are common. Because some diseases are age-dependent, differential diagnosis is best considered by age group (see Table: Distribution of Diarrheal Diseases in Pigs by Age Group).
OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER
Intestinal Diseases in Pigs
Overview of Intestinal Diseases in Pigs
Clostridium difficile Enteritis in Pigs
Clostridium perfringens Type A Enteritis in Pigs
Clostridium perfringens Type C Enteritis in Pigs
Edema Disease in Pigs
Enteric Colibacillosis in Pigs
Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome in Pigs
Intestinal Salmonellosis in Pigs
Intestinal Spirochetosis in Pigs
Parasitism (Gastrointestinal) in Pigs
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea
Porcine Proliferative Enteritis
Rectal Strictures in Pigs
Rotaviral Enteritis in Pigs
Swine Dysentery
Transmissible Gastroenteritis in Pigs
Other Intestinal Viruses of Pigs