One of the most common diseases of pigs is scabies or in another way - sarcoptosis. This infection manifests itself in animals, primarily, intolerable itching. Unfortunately, this disease poses a threat not only to the piglets themselves, but also to humans. In any case, pig scabies should be treated if its first signs are detected.
Pathogen
Pig sarcoptosis is caused by microscopic mites Sarcoptes parvula or Sarcoptes suis. The body length of these blood-sucking parasites does not exceed 0.5 mm. Ahead of the ticks is a developed gnawing mouth apparatus. These parasites are localized on the body of the pig in the layers of the epidermis. Here they gnaw vertical and horizontal passages, eating blood, which causes itching in the animal.
At one time, the female of this parasite can lay up to 50-60 eggs, from which the larvae very quickly leave. Therefore, scabies spread in a herd of pigs is always just swift.
Causes of infection
One of the features of scabies mites is that they cannot live for a long time without a carrier. In the litter, in feed, on inventory and on the ground, parasites die on average in 10 days, and more often much earlier. Therefore, infection with tick mites usually occurs only in direct contact with the carrier. For example, parasites can be transmitted from male to female during mating or from the uterus to piglets.
At high temperatures, the reproduction of the tick practically stops. In the cold and damp, this parasite begins to actively eat and lay eggs.
The main causes of infection of pigs with scabies mites are thus:
- non-compliance with sanitary standards in the barn and on the walk;
- poor conditions.
The crowding of animals in the pigsty also greatly contributes to the spread of the disease.
In addition to the piglets themselves, the carriers of these parasites can be birds, wild and stray animals, rodents. Also, sometimes this infection is brought to the farm by staff. Ticks can get into the pigsty from the clothes, leather or shoes of its workers.
Parasite features
Adult pigs, the ticks Sarcoptes parvula and Sarcoptes suis are often disturbed. But most often, scabies are still found in piglets aged 2-2.5 months. Moreover, one of the features of sarcoptosis is that in most cases it has a seasonal course. Epidemics of scabies on pig farms most often flare up in early autumn or early spring. In summer, pigs become infected with a tick only in case of gross violations of the rules for their maintenance.
What damage can the disease cause?
Preventive measures in the courtyards aimed at preventing infection of the livestock should be followed without fail. Damage to farms sarcoptosis can cause really serious. Sometimes it happens that this disease even causes the death of the entire livestock.
Sarcoptosis does not lead to death. However, almost always scabies on the farm causes a significant reduction in animal productivity. Sick pigs primarily reduce body weight gain. At the same time, the feed consumption is significantly increased on the farm. For gaining a full slaughter mass, piglets suffering from sarcoptosis, for example, need 35–40 kg more concentrates than healthy pigs.
Key features
Scabies in piglets usually proceeds in a chronic form, and without pronounced symptoms. But to determine this pathology in animals, of course, it is still possible. The main signs of sarcoptosis in pigs are:
- weight loss;
- severe itching;
- anxiety;
- the presence of dark spots on the belly, in the ears and around the eyes;
- increased thirst;
- combs on the body.
Also, on a skin of infected animals, upon careful examination, you will notice a small rash and vesicles, which later turn into scabs. As the disease progresses, the integument of the animals begins to coarsen and thicken, acquiring a reddish color. These changes are especially noticeable around the eyes of piglets, in the ears and between the limbs. At this time, with a careful examination, you can notice already areas of the skin eaten by ticks.
How animals infected with sarcoptosis look can be seen in the photo below. Scabies in pigs in the late stages is often accompanied by severe damage to the auditory canals. In this case, the following symptoms can be observed in piglets, among other things:
- aggression;
- neurotic pathologies.
Animals begin to respond inappropriately to external stimuli.
How are scabies treated in pigs
On farms, this pathology, of course, is most often fought with traditional medicine methods. In private households private scabies can be treated including folk remedies. But, in any case, before you start fighting with ticks, you should definitely invite a veterinarian to the farm. The specialist will make an accurate diagnosis and give recommendations on the most effective treatment of animals.
Important
It is supposed to treat animals infected with scabies exclusively in overalls and gloves. Pig mites, unfortunately, can live in the human epidermis.
Traditional methods
In this case, piglets are treated using special veterinary drugs. In this case, with the onset of symptoms of scabies in pigs, three types of agents can be used:
- intended for irrigation and watering the skin;
- used as feed additives;
- injectable drugs.
Skin treatment
The first group of drugs includes, for example:
- chlorophos solution 2%;
- solution SK-9 2%;
- TAM-85;
- trichloromethaphos solution 1.5%;
- Neostomozan, etc.
Processed using these funds in most cases, the skin of pigs completely. At the same time, special attention is paid to such areas as:
Before using drugs of this group, animals are bathed in warm soapy water to get rid of scabies. For greater effect, in addition to alkaline detergent, creolin is also added. The preparations themselves are diluted with water before use, according to the instructions.
What you need to know
Tools intended for treating pig skin when infected with a tick, unfortunately, are toxic. Therefore, to avoid poisoning, before spraying piglets from the pigsty are removed:
- food residues;
- stock, including drinking bowls and feeders;
- litter.
If the pigs nevertheless get poisoned, they are given injections using Atropine in the amount of 1 ml / 100 kg.
Feed additives
Such drugs on farms are also used quite often. They are pre-crushed, and then thoroughly mixed with food. A definite disadvantage of this type of drug is the impossibility of accurate dosages. Indeed, some pigs can eat more food with medicine, others less. In this case, the latter often become new spreading agents of the infection.
Most often, when diagnosing scabies in pigs, the Ivomek premix is added to their feed. It is usually given to all herds animals twice at weekly intervals. In this case, the additive is consumed in an amount of 0.1 mg / kg. Piglets that are born from uterus treated shortly before delivery, this premix is usually not mixed into feed.
Injectable medicine
Of this group of drugs for treating pigs on farms, the most commonly used are drugs such as Doramectin and Ivermectin. These drugs are administered from scabies to pigs under the skin. Dosages of funds in this case can be selected individually by the veterinarian. But most often, such drugs are used in an amount of 0.3 mg per 1 kg of piglet weight or 1 ml per 33 kg.
The peculiarity of injectable drugs for scabies of pigs is, first of all, that they can effectively affect only adult ticks. The eggs after the death of the parasites remain intact and viable. Therefore, injections to pigs from ticks using such funds are done at least twice.
Young ticks develop in the eggs within two weeks. After this period, a second treatment is carried out. In this case, the medicine is used in the same dosages. In the same way, feed additives are also used , as well as products intended for treating the skin.
Injection Prevention
There are only good reviews from farmers regarding the effectiveness of the Ivermectin and Doramectin preparations. Scabies in pigs, as owners of farmsteads say, they can heal quickly enough. Moreover, such drugs are relatively inexpensive. But of course, on farms it is much easier to prevent the disease of piglets with scabies, then to treat this pathology.
In order to prevent tick infection in pig farms, “Doramectin” and “Ivermectin” are usually also used. At the same time, the program necessary to prevent parasite infection by measures in most cases is as follows:
- sows are given injections before farrowing;
- injections are given to manufacturers 7-14 days before mating;
- for gilts, prevention is carried out before transferring to fattening.
Pig disinfection
Without a carrier, scabies mites are not known to live long. But nevertheless, in some cases, infection of piglets can occur through objects located on the farm, or, for example, litter. Therefore, in the treatment of animals using additives, injections or rinses, pigsties are also disinfected.
In this case, the tactic preparation is most often used for processing farm premises. This product is pre-diluted in water in an amount of 10 ml per 10 liters. Before using it, the equipment is taken out of the farm and the litter is removed from the floor.
The use of folk remedies
In private households for the treatment of scabies in pigs, in addition to rinses, additives and medications, for example, such means as can be used:
- A mixture of sour cream with gunpowder in the proportion 3/1, infused for 3 hours.
- Tincture of garlic. To cook it, 100 g of hot vegetable are finely chopped, pour 0.5 l of mustard oil and bring to a boil on the stove.
Use solutions prepared at home, of course, for wiping areas affected by the mite. The treatment of scabies in pigs with folk remedies is certainly less effective than with medicines and insecticides. But even with the use of such funds, it is still possible to rid pigs of the mite.