loS SWINE ERYSIPELAS 



S 92. Etiology. Loeffler and Schiit' 



pointed out in 1885 tliat swine erysipelas was 



caused by a very slender bacterium i to 2/< 



long and 0.3 to o.4;i( broad, straight or slightly 



curved, ends not rounded and in cultures 



often appearing in filaments. It is very 



, . Fig. 19. Bac- 



closely related to the bacterium of mouse i^,yiii„i of swine 



septicaemia described by Koch in 1878. In erysipelas. 

 Europe where the bacterium of mouse septicaemia is quite 

 common swine erysipelas prevails. In this countr\' the bac- 

 terium of swine erj'sipelas has not been positively identified. 

 At three different times an organism resembling it has been 

 isolated from swine. There is much uncertaintj- concerning 

 the relationship of the bacterium of mouse septicaemia to that 

 of this disease. Smith has suggested that possiblj- the bac- 

 terium which has been found in this countrj' ma^' gain viru- 

 lence suificient to produce epizootics, if such is not alread}- the 

 case. It is exceedingly important that careful search be made 

 for this organism in the outbreaks among swine where the 

 nature of the disease is not clearly determined. House mice 

 and pigeons are susceptible to the bacteria of swine erysipelas 

 Guinea-pigs and fowls are immune. Rabbits suffer from er}'- 

 -sipelatous swellings when inoculated subcutaneouslj' in the ear. 

 § 93. Symptoms. It is stated that after a period of in- 

 cubation of at least three days, the disease usually begins sud- 

 denly and violently. The animal refuses food, makes efforts 

 to vomit, has a rise of temperature, manifests severe nervous 

 disturbance, is very weak, torpid and indifferent to its sur- 

 roundings. When approached it tries to hide itself under 

 its bedding. The hind quarters become weak and paralyzed. 

 Muscular spasms and grinding of teeth are sometimes observed. 

 At first there is constipation, the conjunctiva is of a dark red or 

 brownish-red color, and the eyelids are sometimes swollen. 

 Usually a day or two after the first symptoms develop or, per- 

 haps, from the first attack, reddish spots appear on the 

 thin parts of skin, such as the region of the navel, lower surface 

 of the chest, perineum, inner surface of the thighs, ears and 

 throat. These spots, which at first are bright red and about 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



