Transmissible gastroenteritis
The Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) is a by coronaviruses induced inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract ( gastroenteritis ) in pigs which in piglets with diarrhea, and vomiting and in lactating accompanied sows with a strong decrease in milk production. The disease was first observed in 1946 and occurs worldwide. In Germany it is a reportable animal disease .
The TGE is caused by the transmissible gastroenteritis virus , a subtype of the alphacoronavirus 1 species .
Clinical picture
The symptoms vary with the age of the animals. A TGE is particularly dramatic in piglets. It manifests itself in tremors, vomiting, refusal of milk and extreme thirst, shortly afterwards in severe diarrhea with a foul smelling odor. In an infected herd, almost all piglets fall ill and die of the disease within a few days.
Older pigs often show no signs of illness, possibly loss of appetite and poor husbandry conditions can also cause diarrhea and vomiting. The death rate is low, however. In lactating sows who have not yet had contact with the pathogen and therefore no antibodies against the pathogen, vomiting, severe diarrhea and refusal to feed occur. There is a strong reduction in milk yield, which is also important for the high piglet mortality rate.
The suspected diagnosis can be made on the basis of the clinical picture and pathological examinations. The Colir watch is to be distinguished in particular . The virus detection serves as the final confirmation of the diagnosis.
Treatment and control
Since sows transmit the pathogen via milk, separation from the mother and rearing of the piglets with milk replacers is recommended. After surviving the infection, sows develop antibodies so that subsequent litters are not endangered.
The main focus is on preventing the TGE from being introduced into a herd through consistent hygiene measures. There is also a live vaccine .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Annex to Section 1 of the Ordinance on Notifiable Animal Diseases (TKrMeldpflV) in the version published on February 11, 2011 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 252 ), last amended by Article 381 of the Ordinance of August 31, 2015 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 1474 )
