Detection of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in naturally infected pigs in Kamuli District, Uganda
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Revue d’élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux
Abstract
Swine erysipelas is an economically significant disease affecting all stages of
pork production. The biggest losses may occur in growers-finishers because of
sudden death or acute septicemia. Survivors often suffer from chronic lameness,
arthritis and endocarditis leading to poor body growth. The causative agent is
the ubiquitous bacterium Erysipelothrix (E.) rhusiopathiae, which is also able to
enter the skin of people handling infected animals and meat and cause infection.
In order to show the presence of E. rhusiopathiae in pigs, serum samples
from 426 randomly selected pigs were collected in four subcounties (Bugulumbya,
Butansi, Kitayunjwa and Namwendwa) in Kamuli District in Uganda,
as part of a multipathogen survey conducted by the International Livestock
Research Institute in 2013. Subsequently, 100 samples of fresh pork were collected
from all 67-pork slaughterhouses operating in the same subcounties for
isolation and bacterial culture. Overall, 308/460 (67%) of the pig sera carried
antibodies against E. rhusiopathiae and 45/100 (45%) of the fresh pork samples
were contaminated with E. rhusiopathiae. This is the first ever report of E. rhusiopathiae
in pigs and pork in Uganda.
Description
Keywords
Swine, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Pork, Smallholder, Uganda
Citation
Musewa A., Roesel K., Grace D., Dione M., Erume J., 2018. Detection of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in naturally infected pigs in Kamuli District, Uganda. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop., 71 (1-2): 97-101, doi: 10.19182/remvt.31229