Protect Pigs from Swine Dysentery with Denagard

Key Points:

• Swine dysentery is reemerging as a major disease in swine operations
• Swine dysentery has major economic implications for producers
• Denagard® (tiamulin) premix and Denagard LC are powerful, proven tools for swine dysentery management

Despite near eradication in the 1990s, swine dysentery (SD) has reemerged as an economically significant disease in U.S. hog operations. If reoccurring diarrhea is present in your hogs, especially after changing feed medications or the stress of marketing, a complete diagnostic investigation is warranted and should include SD diagnostics. Once the disease is present, it is difficult and costly to control or eliminate. Managing SD through preventing entry; identifying SD if within your operation; and implementing an effective treatment, control or elimination program is important in order for pigs to reach their maximum lifetime value.

Be prepared for SD by:

• Learning to identify the signs of SD
• Knowing the costs of the disease
• Determining the best management plan based on the unique characteristics of the infected herd

Characteristics and Symptoms of Swine Dysentery
SD is characterized by diarrhea containing mucus and blood, but may not be overtly obvious to herdsmen. Among other processes, SD prevents infected pigs from reabsorbing fluids, leading to diarrhea and severe dehydration. As many as 30 percent of infected pigs may die from the disease. Although it can affect all ages, SD is most often observed in mid-finishing pigs (12 – 15 weeks of age). Clinical expression can be altered by your feed medication program, if it has some efficacy against SD.

Clinical Signs
• Rapid loss of bodily condition; animal begins to become thin
• Fresh blood and mucus in diarrhea
• Affected pigs will drink, but have reduced feed intakes

A main reason SD is so difficult to control once present is that it is highly contagious; immunity is limited and slow to build in infected pigs.
• Introduced to farms by carrier pigs, contaminated equipment or personnel
• Bacteria can survive seven days in feces and 60 days in water
• Infected pigs remain carriers up to 90 days after infection, although clinically normal
• Mice, rats, dogs and flies are also SD carriers

Swine Dysentery’s Economic Impact
Although economic impact varies based on the severity and prevalence of the disease within an operation, the combination of poor pig performance, treatment costs and death loss can cost producers thousands of dollars a year. It is estimated a producer loses between $5 and $10 for every infected animal.
A case study has shown a loss of nearly $9 per diseased animal (refer to Table 1).

Managing Swine Dysentery
There are three ways to approach SD management: treatment, control or eradication. Which option is best depends on the economic impact on the operation, the extent of the disease, how many farms are infected, and the potential for the disease to spread within the operation, so assessing biosecurity procedures is paramount if SD is suspected. (Refer to Table 2.)
• If the incidence of infection is low and perceived to have major economic consequences, take an eradication approach to eliminate the disease before it can spread to other farms
• As the incidence of infection becomes higher, a move from a control to a treatment approach makes sense to decrease clinical signs and improve performance
• As economic significance and prevalence of the disease within a system are better understood, the appropriate management action can be taken
• The ultimate question to answer is how SD will be managed long term in the farm or farms

Control and Treatment of Swine Dysentery with Denagard
When it comes to controlling and treating SD, a powerful, proven antibiotic like Denagard® is
an important tool.

Denagard premix is a feed-grade antibiotic effective in the control and treatment of SD.
• Control – 35 g/ton of Denagard premix; 2-day preslaughter withdrawal
• Treatment – 200 g/ton of Denagard premix; 7-day preslaughter withdrawal

Denagard LC is a fast-acting liquid concentrate formulation effective in the treatment of SD.
• Pigs usually show an initial response to Denagard LC as quickly as 24 to 48 hours
after administration
• Simply add it directly to drinking water for 5 consecutive days
• Denagard LC should be given at a daily dose of 3.5 mg tiamulinhydrogen fumerate per
pound of body weight

Caution: Do not use Denagard undiluted. Do not use in feeds for animals other than swine.

Contraindications: Swine being treated with Denagard (tiamulin) should not have access to feeds containing polyether ionophores (e.g., lasalocid, monensin, narasin, salinomycin and semduramicin) as adverse reactions may occur.

Warning: Observe label withdrawal times.

See product label for directions for use and additional information. Always read and follow the label and use directions. For more information about how Denagard can help you manage SD, contact your Novartis Animal Health representative or veterinarian, or visit www.livestock.novartis.com/swine.html.