Bacterial polyarthritis in post-weaning pigs in a high-density swine breeding area in Italy.

Abstract

We assessed the bacterial agents found in 8-12-wk-old post-weaning pigs with arthritis. The bodies of 178 post-weaning pigs from 90 farms (average of 2 pigs/farm) with recurrent problems of lameness and swollen joints in a high-density breeding area were submitted for autopsy and sampled for further bacterial investigation. The most common articular gross lesions and histopathologic findings were serofibrinous (95 of 178; 53%) or serous (65 of 178; 37%) arthritis; suppurative lesions were less frequent (18 of 178; 10%). In 133 of 178 (74.7%) cases, a bacterial agent was detected in joints.was the most common bacterium detected (82 of 133; 61.6%).andspp. were observed in 27 of 133 (20.3%) and 24 of 133 (18.0%) cases, respectively. Other bacteria in the 113 cases, considered less important, in order of their low frequency, werespp. (13; 9.8%),(11; 8.2%),(4; 3.0%),spp. (3; 2.2%),(2; 1.5%), andspp. (2; 1.5%). Our results highlight the primary role ofcompared to other microorganisms involved in young pigs with arthritis.