Common Diseases of Farm Animals Part 27

_The symptoms are most evident_ in pigs weighing from forty to eighty pounds. The first symptom is a cough, occurring on leaving the bed, after exercise and after eating. In badly infected cases the paroxysm of coughing is quite severe. The appet.i.te usually remains good and the thriftiness of the pig is not seriously interfered with. The feeding of a suitable ration, and the good care that is usually given young hogs, are responsible for the mildness of the disease.

The treatment that is of most importance is clean quarters, and the feeding of a ration that will keep the pig growing and healthy. The sleeping quarters should be kept free from dust. Disinfectants should be used freely about the quarters.

THE KIDNEY WORM OF HOGS.--_Sclerostoma pinguicola_ is the kidney worm of hogs. It is from 1 to 1.5 inches (25 to 27 mm.) long, and when seen against the kidney fat it appears dark or mottled. It is usually found in the fat in the region of the pelvis of the kidney. Although the kidney worm is capable of causing inflammatory changes in the tissues surrounding the kidney and the pelvis of this organ, the disease cannot be determined by any noticeable symptom. Paralysis of the posterior portion of the body is attributed to the presence of kidney worms by stockmen. There are no data by which we may prove that the kidney worm is responsible for this disorder.

_The treatment_ is preventive. Clean feed, pens, watering troughs and feeding floors are the preventive measures indicated here. It is useless to attempt treatment with drugs, as the worms are out of reach of any drug that may be administered.

WORMS OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT OF POULTRY.--Poultry are often seriously infested with worms. A small number of the less injurious worms may not cause any appreciable symptoms of disease; but the fowl that harbors them is a source of infection to the other fowls. The infectious nature of parasitic disease caused by worms should be recognized more fully than at present by poultrymen.

The different species of poultry are hosts for many different species of round-worms, thorn-headed worms and tapeworms. Dr. Kaupp states that _Acaris inflexa_ or large round-worm, _Heterakis pipilosa_ or small round-worm, and the _Spiroptera hamulosa_ or gizzard-worm are frequently found in fowls. The common round-worm may be found in the first portion of the intestine, and the small round-worm in the caec.u.m. Neither of the species are dangerous unless present in large numbers. They may then obstruct the intestine, and irritate the intestinal mucous membrane. This may cause constipation, catarrhal inflammation of the intestine and diarrhoea. The gizzard-worm is the most dangerous of the parasites mentioned. The gizzard has an important digestive function, and any condition that may weaken its muscular walls may cause serious digestive disorders. This parasite may encyst in the wall of the gizzard.

_The treatment_ of intestinal worms in poultry is both preventive and curative. The preventive measures consist in keeping the houses and runs clean. Air-slaked lime should be scattered over the runs every few weeks.

The drinking places should be cleaned and disinfected daily. All possible precautions should be taken in order to prevent filth from getting into the drinking water. Epsom salts, powdered areca nut and santonin are the remedies commonly recommended for the treatment of intestinal worms. From twenty to forty grains of Epsom salts may be given. Powdered areca nut is recommended in from three to ten grain doses. Santonin may be given in from one to two grain doses. Both the areca nut and santonin may be given with the feed.

THE GAPES IN BIRDS.--The gape-worm, _Syngamus trachealis_, is from 0.2 to 0.8 inch (5 to 20 mm.) long. The male and female are permanently united.

The male is about one-third as long as the female, and when attached to the anterior third of the female, gives the pair a forked appearance.

Fowls become infested with the gape-worm by eating the adult parasite that has been expectorated, or an earth worm that is host for the immature parasite. The embryo gape-worm is freed in the intestine, and from here they are supposed to migrate into the abdominal air sacs and to the trachea and bronchi.

_The symptom_ are most severe in very young fowls. The affected bird opens its mouth and appears to gasp for breath, sneeze and attempt to swallow. In the severe cases the appet.i.te is interfered with, mucus acc.u.mulates in the mouth and the bird is dull and listless. The death rate is quite high in young-chickens and turkeys.

_The treatment_ is both preventive and curative. If the gape-worm is known to be present in the runs, the ground should be covered with lime, and the fowls moved to fresh runs if possible. The young birds should not be exposed to the infection until they are well feathered out. Antiseptics may be given with the drinking water. Disinfectants should be used freely about the poultry houses, and the quarters kept clean. The worms may be snared by inserting a stiff horse hair that has been twisted and forms a loop into the trachea. This may be dipped into camphorated oil or turpentine. This treatment should be repeated until the bird has been relieved.

QUESTIONS

1. Name the different groups of internal parasites; give examples of each.

2. What conditions favor liver rot? Give the life history of the liver fluke.

3. Name three common tapeworms; give the life history of the beef and pork tapeworms.

4. Name the common intestinal worms of horses and give the treatment.

5. Give the symptoms and treatment of stomach-worm disease of sheep.

6. Name the common intestinal worms of hogs and give treatment.

7. What species of domestic animals suffer most of verminous bronchitis?

Give the treatment.

8. Name the common internal parasites of poultry and give treatment.

PART VI.--INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CHAPTER XXVI

HOG-CHOLERA

HOG-CHOLERA is a highly infectious disease of swine. It is characterized by an inflammation, of the lymphatic glands, kidneys, intestines, lungs and skin. The inflammation is hemorrhagic in character, the inflamed organs usually showing deep red spots or blotches.

Hog-cholera is especially prevalent in the corn-raising States which possess a denser hog population than any other section of the United States. In this country the loss from hog-cholera in 1913 amounted to more than $60,000,000, and it may be considered of greater economic importance than any of the other animal diseases.

SPECIFIC CAUSE.--The specific cause of hog-cholera is an _ultra-visible organism_ that is present in the excretions, secretions and tissues of a cholera hog. De Schweinitz and Dorset in 1903 produced typical hog-cholera by inoculating hogs with cholera-blood filtrates that were free from any organism that could be demonstrated by microscopical examination or any cultural method. The term ultra-visible virus is applied to the virus of hog-cholera.

_The ultra-visible virus_ is eliminated from the body of the cholera hog with the body secretions and excretions. Healthy hogs contract the disease by eating feed or drinking water that is infected with the virus. There are other methods of infection, but field and experimental data show that hog-cholera is commonly produced by taking the germs into the body with food and drinking water.

ACCESSORY CAUSES.--The usual method of introducing hog-cholera into a neighborhood is through the importation of feeding or breeding hogs that were infected with the disease before they were purchased, or became infected through exposure to the disease in the public stock-yards and stock-cars. The s.h.i.+pping of feeding hogs from one section of the country to another, and from public stock-yards, has always been productive of hog-cholera. Dr. Dorset states that more than fifty-seven per cent of the hog-cholera outbreaks are caused by visiting, exchanging work, exposure on adjoining farms and harboring the infection from year to year (Fig. 79), and more than twenty-three per cent to purchasing hogs and s.h.i.+pping in infected cars, birds and contaminated streams.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 79.--A hog yard where the disease-producing germs may be carried over from year to year.]

In neighborhoods where outbreaks of hog-cholera occur necessary precautions against the spread of the disease are not taken. The _exchange of help_ at thres.h.i.+ng and shredding time in neighborhoods where there is an outbreak of hog-cholera is the most common method of spreading the disease. _Visiting farms_ where hogs are dying of cholera; walking or driving a team and wagon through the cholera-infected yards; stock buyers, stock-food and cholera-remedy venders that visit the different farms in a neighborhood may distribute the hog-cholera virus through the infected filth that may adhere to the shoes, horses' feet and wagon wheels. _Cholera hogs_ may carry the disease directly to a healthy herd when allowed to run at large. _Streams_ that are polluted with the drainage from cholera-infected yards are common sources of disease.

_Pigeons, dogs, cows_ and _buzzards_ that travel about the neighborhood and feed in hog yards and on the carca.s.ses of cholera hogs may distribute the disease. Because of the active part that dogs, birds and surface drainage take in the distribution of hog-cholera, the practice of allowing the carca.s.ses of dead hogs to lie on the ground and decompose is responsible for a large percentage of the hog-cholera outbreaks.

_Age_ is an important predisposing factor. Young hogs are most susceptible to cholera, and this susceptibility can be greatly increased by giving them crowded, filthy quarters. Infection with lice, lung and intestinal worms, the feeding of an improper ration and sudden changes in the ration lower the natural resistance of a hog against disease. Pampered hogs usually develop acute cholera when exposed to this disease.

Hog-cholera is more virulent or acute during the summer and fall months than it is during the winter and spring months. After the disease sweeps over a section of country, it becomes less virulent and takes on a subacute or chronic form. Outbreaks of hog-cholera usually last two or three years in a neighborhood. This depends largely on the number of susceptible hogs that were not exposed to the infection the first season, and the preventive precautions observed by the owners.

PERIOD OF INCUBATION.--The length of time elapsing between the exposure of the hog to the cholera virus, and the development of noticeable symptoms of hog-cholera, varies from a few days to two or three weeks. The length of this incubation period depends on the susceptibility of the animal, the virulence of the virus and the method of exposure. An acute form of hog-cholera indicates a short period of incubation, and a chronic form, a long period.

SYMPTOMS.--The symptoms of hog-cholera may differ widely in the different outbreaks of the disease. The symptoms may be cla.s.sified under the following forms: Acute, subacute and chronic. The acute form of hog-cholera is the most common. The early symptoms are tremors, fever, depressed appearance, marked weakness, staggering gait, constipation and diarrhoea, labored breathing and convulsions. Death may occur within a few hours or a few days. Recovery seldom occurs. In the subacute form, the symptoms are mild and develop slowly. Recovery may take place within a few days, or after extending over a week or ten days it may a.s.sume the chronic form.

Very often in outbreaks of subacute cholera a large majority of the herd does not show visible symptoms of the disease. In the chronic form, marked symptoms of pleuropneumonia and chronic inflammation of the intestine are common. Ulcers and sores form on the skin and the hair may come off. Large portions of the skin may become gangrenous and slough. Young hogs are usually stunted and emaciated.

_The first symptom_ of disease is an elevation of body temperature.

At the beginning of any outbreak of hog-cholera the _body temperatures_ of the apparently healthy animals may vary from 105260 to 108260 F. After a few days, animals that are fatally sick or recovering from the disease may show normal or subnormal body temperature.

_Loss of appet.i.te_ is the first symptom of disease usually noted by the person in charge of the herd. The hog may show a disposition to eat dirt.

The sick hog is usually found lying in its bed, or off by itself in a quiet place. It presents a rather _characteristic appearance_. The back is arched, the hind feet are held close together, or crossed, the abdomen is tucked up and the hog appears weak in its hind parts. _Diarrhoea_ or _constipation_ may be present. The color of the diarrhoeal discharges varies according to the character of the feed, and it may be more or less tinged with blood and have a disagreeable odor. The urine is highly colored.

_The respirations and pulse beats_ are quickened and abnormal in character.

Thumps sometimes occur. When the mucous membranes lining the throat and anterior air pa.s.sages are thickened, the respirations are noisy and difficult. The animal may cough on getting up from its bed and moving about. There is at times a noticeable discharge from the nostrils. When the _lungs_ are inflamed the respirations are quickened and labored. In case the pleural membrane is inflamed, the respiratory symptoms are more severe, and the hog shows evidence of pain when the walls of the chest are pressed on. The _pericardium_ may be inflamed. In such cases the hog staggers and falls when forced to walk.

_The central nervous system_ may be involved by the inflammation. The usual symptoms occurring in inflammation of the brain and its coverings are then present. A sleepy, comatose condition may end in death, or the animal dies in a convulsion.

_The secretions of the skin_ and mucous membranes are abnormal. The skin in the regions of the ears, inside of the thighs and under surface of the body is moist, dirty or discolored red. Just before death the skin over the under surface of the body becomes a purplish red. In the chronic form, a dirty, thickened, wrinkled skin is commonly observed. At first the secretion from the eyes is thin and watery, but it becomes thick, heavy and pus-like, causing the margins of the lids to adhere to each other.

The death rate in hog-cholera varies in the different forms of the disease.

The average death rate is about fifty per cent.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS.--The diagnosis of hog-cholera in the field must depend on the clinical symptoms, post-mortem lesions and history of the outbreak. The history should be that of a highly infectious disease.