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Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae serotype 15 associated with recurring pig erysipelas outbreaks
Author(s) -
Gerber Priscilla F,
MacLeod Alasdair,
Opriessnig Tanja
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.104421
Subject(s) - erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae , erysipelas , serotype , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , outbreak , mycoplasma hyopneumoniae , veterinary medicine , virology , medicine , pathology
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is the causative agent of pig erysipelas and can be associated with sporadic cases or larger outbreaks of septicaemia with characteristic skin lesions or chronic polyarthritis.1 Within the genus Erysipelothrix , at least 6 species ( Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae , Erysipelothrix tonsillarum , Erysipelothrix species strain 1, Erysipelothrix species strain 2, Erysipelothrix species strain 3 and Erysipelothrix inopinata ) and 28 serotypes (1a, 1b, 2–26 and N) have been recognised.1 E rhusiopathiae serotypes 1 and 2 are frequently isolated from clinically affected pigs, although other E rhusiopathiae serotypes have been sporadically associated with clinical disease.1 2 While there is no experimental evidence that Erysipelothrix species other than E rhusiopathiae cause disease in pigs,3 certain Erysipelothrix species strains have been isolated from clinical cases4 5 and from condemned carcases in abattoirs.2 6Pig erysipelas is generally seen in adults and grow-finish pigs after the decline of maternal antibodies.1 Humoural immunity is considered most important for disease prevention and vaccines containing live or inactivated E rhusiopathiae serotype 1 or 2 isolates are commonly used.7 In the UK, there are two E rhusiopathiae bacterins available commercially based on serotype 2 or serotypes 1 and 2.8In recent years, the incidence of E rhusiopathiae infection in pigs appears to have increased worldwide2 9–11 and is also increasing in European poultry production systems.12 This study summarises the findings associated with chronic E rhusiopathiae infection in a commercial wean-finish pig herd in the UK (farm A) that received piglets from an E rhusiopathiae vaccinated high health breeding herd free of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae as monitored by serological testing in three-month intervals. Specifically, the breeding farm used a commercial E rhusiopathiae serotype 2-based bacterin (Porcillis Ery, Intervet UK) which was administered …