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Exudative Epidermitis in Combination with Staphylococcal Pyoderma in Suckling Piglets
Lukas Schwarz1, Igor Loncaric2, Rene Brunthaler3
1University Clinic for Swine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 6, 2021
Summary
A coinfection of Staphylococcus hyicus and Staphylococcus aureus caused exudative epidermitis in piglets. Targeted antimicrobial therapy and improved hygiene resolved the outbreak, highlighting the importance of diagnostics and farm management.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Microbiology
- Animal Health
Background:
- Exudative epidermitis (EE) is a significant skin disease in piglets.
- Previous antimicrobial treatments were ineffective in resolving the clinical signs.
Observation:
- A severe outbreak of EE occurred on a small piglet-producing farm in Austria.
- Affected piglets exhibited clinical signs consistent with generalized EE.
Findings:
- Laboratory investigations identified coinfection with both methicillin-resistant and susceptible strains of *Staphylococcus hyicus* (SH) and *Staphylococcus aureus* (SA).
- Poor on-farm hygiene and management practices were identified as critical predisposing factors.
- In vitro susceptibility testing guided effective antimicrobial treatment, alongside enhanced hygiene protocols.
Implications:
- This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic strategies for managing complex bacterial coinfections in swine.
- Implementing stringent hygiene and management practices is crucial for preventing and controlling outbreaks of EE.
- The findings underscore the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for guiding effective treatment regimens in veterinary medicine.
