Representatives of one of the pig farms in the Krasnodar Territory turned to the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Krasnodar MVL” for help in establishing the causes of the death of 2-4 day old suckling piglets. At the same time, the following signs were observed in 3 piglets from different machines: loss of appetite, diarrhea, increasing weakness, heart failure and dehydration; death occurs before 5-7 days of age of animals, the waste is small. The piglets were not treated with antibacterial drugs. The corpses of animals were delivered to the laboratory as a whole, within 3 hours after death.
Having carefully studied the history, the laboratory specialists, in agreement with the customer, decided to examine these samples for the presence of a mixed intestinal infection, as well as to establish the sensitivity of the detected cultures to antibacterial drugs. Diagnosis was carried out according to the Guidelines for the bacteriological diagnosis of mixed intestinal infection of young animals caused by pathogenic enterobacteria, approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Russia, Department of Veterinary Medicine on 11.10.99, No. 13-7-2 / 1759.
The study period is up to 7 days. The study is carried out by pathoanatomical, microscopic, bacteriological, biological and serological methods.
Sensitivity to antibiotics is determined by the disk-diffusion method according to the guidelines 4.2.1890-04 “Determination of the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibacterial drugs”, approved by the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation G.G. Onishchenko in 2004. The duration of the study in the presence of a pure culture of the pathogen is a day. These regulatory documents are included in the scope of accreditation in the national system Rosaccreditation.
Bacteriological examination of 3 corpses of piglets from sample No. 1 (piglet, age 5 days) revealed causative agents of mixed intestinal infection: cultures of Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Enterococcus faecalis; from sample No. 2 (piglet, age 4 days), pathogens of mixed intestinal infection were found: cultures of Escherichia coli (0115; 0126) and Staphylococcus haemolyticus; from sample No. 3 (piglet, age 3 days), causative agents of mixed intestinal infection were found: cultures of Escherichia coli (0126), Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Bacillus cereus and Enterococcus faecalis.
Mixed intestinal infection is an acute infectious disease of young animals of different species of animals and birds, caused by two to three or more types of pathogenic enterobacteria belonging to the genera Escherichia, Citrobacter, Proteus, Morganella, etc. In addition to these microorganisms, bacteria of other genera and families can also be pathogens – Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, etc. Along with bacterial cultures, the disease is often caused by corona – and rotaviruses. Sick animals are the source of infection. The transmission mechanism is fecal-oral. The main route of transmission is food. Transmission factors can be water, food, feces, care items, hands of personnel. Seasonality is not typical. Mixed intestinal infection can occur in intestinal and septic forms. The main clinical signs of the disease are: loss of appetite, diarrhea, increasing weakness, rapid breathing and heartbeat, dehydration.
The diagnosis is established after laboratory tests. For post-mortem bacteriological diagnosis, 1-4 corpses of dead or killed animals for diagnostic purposes (preferably not treated with antibiotics) are sent to the laboratory. For lifetime diagnostics, fresh feces from sick animals are sent.
Treatment is carried out with antibiotics sensitive to isolated bacteria in combination with probiotics. In this case, Proteus cultures showed sensitivity to ceftriaxone, amikacin, meropenem, azithromycin; cultures of Staphylococcus haemolyticus to: gentamicin, tobramycin, rifampicin, netilmicin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, ceftriaxone; cultures of Escherichia coli to: netilmicin, doxycycline, ceftriaxone, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, neomycin, meropenem, amoxicillin; cultures of Enterococcus faecalis to: amoxicillin, rifampicin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, cefotaxime; culture of Bacillus cereus to: tobramycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, netilmicin. Based on the results of the research, advisory assistance was provided to veterinary specialists of the farm.
For prevention, it is required to observe optimal conditions for keeping and feeding young animals, avoiding an imbalance in the intestinal microflora.
Specialists of the bacteriology department of the Krasnodar MVL are ready to assist in conducting bacteriological studies, as well as to select the most sensitive drugs for each pathogen for the timely treatment of animals.
Full version on the website Causative agents of mixed intestinal infection in piglets have been isolated
