Data collection for the investigation of the aetiology of ear margin, ear tip and flank necroses of pigs using questionnaires

作者：Lang Christiane^*; Pyrek Rosmarie; Voglmayr Thomas; Waxenecker Franz; Hofstetter Ursula; Bruns Georg; Ritzmann Mathias

来源：Tieraerztliche Umschau, 2011, 66(4): 150-156.

• pig
• ear margin necrosis
• ear tip necrosis
• flank necrosis
• questionnaire
• aetiology

In the present study a questionnaire was especially designed and sent to participating veterinarians from Austria and Germany in order to clarify the causes for the occurrence of ear margin, ear tip and.flank necroses. A total of 54 questionnaires could be evaluated. Every questionnaire corresponded to a single farm. 86% of the 15 participating veterinarians observed ear margin, ear tip and flank necroses frequently and classified them as problematic disease. In 91 % of the 54 farms ear tip necroses, in 57% ear margin necroses, in 50% ear tip and margin necroses and in 15 % flank necroses were observed. The early clinical pattern characterized by easily rupturing vesicles was rarely seen. Most of the veterinarians described an acute to chronic stage of disease, where inflammation and necrosis were the predominant pathomorphologic alterations. The severity of disease was classified as moderate for ear margin and ear tip necroses and mild for flank necroses. The animals affected by ear tip and ear margin necroses were 8 weeks old, those with flank necroses were significantly older with an average age of 11 weeks. In a quarter of the firms, the necroses could be associated with various bacterial, viral or multifactorial caused diseases. Thus, the ear and flank necroses mostly occur in immunologically unstable herds and there seems to be a disposition of individual animals or groups of individuals. Three quarters of the veterinarians specified having positive experiences with therapeutic or prophylactic measures. The application of antibiotics, vaccinations, local treatment or changes in management measures improved the situation. An incidental temporal coincidence of those measures with a phase of self-healing could not be ruled out. Some of the veterinarians observed a possible connection between high stocking density and suboptimal indoor climate and the occurrence of necroses, which has not been scientifically proved yet. It can be assumed that ear tip, ear margin and flank necroses are caused multifactorially. The risk of the development of these diseases can he reduced by an improved herd management, a stable immunological status of the herd and an effective disease control and prophylaxis.

• 出版日期2011-4