Edema disease (E. coli, post-weaning diarrhea, Bowel edema)

Description

Caused by certain E. coli serotypes that produce a very powerful toxin (Stx2e). The usual E. coli serotypes are K88 (F4) or F18. This toxin damages the small blood vessels walls, including the ones situated in the brain, and produce fluid accumulation or edema in stomach and large intestine tissues. The damage produced to the blood vessels in the brain produces characteristic nervous symptoms. The disease usually appears 1 to 4 weeks after weaning, reaching its peak 10 days after weaning.

Symptoms

Sows, lactating piglets and growers

• Not present.

Weaners

Sometimes the only visible sign is finding a good pig death.

Affected pigs show:

• Incoordination
• Swollen eyelids which give pigs a sleepy aspect.
• Pigs stop eating.
• In the last part of the disease pigs suffer from partial paralysis and fall down.
• Sometimes nervous signs are present.
• Diarrhea is not a typical symptom.
• Brain damage is irreversible and most of the pigs die.
• Face or eyelid edema are common.
• Acutely affected animals do not present fever, on the contrary, their temperature is low. 

Causes / contributing factors

• Associated to weaning and diet changes.
• Contaminated and not disinfected barns.

Diagnosis

It is obtained from typical clinical signs, and the sudden presentation of the disease after farrowing; the necropsy, which shows edema (fluid in tissues) in the greater curvature of the stomach, spiral colon and eyelids; and the isolation of usually haemolytic E. coli serotypes that produce the Stx2 toxin from the anterior small intestine. Animals do not present fever. 

Control / prevention

When clinical signs are observed, it is too late and most of the affected pigs die. Treatments try to avoid the establishment of the organism, and reduce the infection load. General principles to control coliforms infections and post weaning diarrheas must be followed.

• Isolation of the organism and determination of the sensibility to antibiotics.
• Identify when the disease appears for the first time (for example 10 days after weaning) and medicate feed or water 3 to 5 days before.
• Antibiotics to medicate feed include: apramycin, framycetin , neomycin . As an alternative, apramycin, neomycin, gentamicin or trimethoprim/sulphamide can be used in water. The disease is difficult to treat and preventive medications, as well as treatments, often have no success.
• Use oral vaccines at weaning to prevent the disease. 

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Laboratory diagnostics: Edema disease

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What laboratory diagnostic methods can I use to diagnose Edema disease? Which one should I choose according to the situation? How do I interpret the results?

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