SWINE FEVER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 188, 29 October 1927, Page 25 (Supplement)

SWINE FEVER

A DEADLY DISEASE EFFECT ON THE HERD

While farmers of this country have not been greatly menaced by the introduction of swine fever into their piggeries, in Tasmania, and even Australia, it lias at times, spread with disastrous results. The disease is always accompanied by fever, and has an incubation period of from two to 21 days. When it makes its appearance in the acute form the outbreak is severe in its effects, and the swine sicken and die quickly. When it appears in a herd, all the hogs do not become sick at one time, only one or two being affected. Such animals refuse to come up to the feed, and remain hidden in the bedding or corner of the sty, and when made to move they may appear to be cold and shiver and go about with the back arched. The rest of the herd may remain apparently healthy for a few days, when others are found to be affected in the same way as those first attacked. As the disease progresses the following symptoms may be noticed: Animals will not eat, but are thirsty, and lie about the sties or yards huddled together. The majority of affected animals have diarrhoea. A whitish discharge is often noticed about the nostrils and eyes; the latter may be gummed up. Temperature is from 104 degrees up to from 105 degrees to 107 degrees. In other cases the pigs may bo constipated; but this is generallv followed by diarrhoea. As the disease reaches its height purple or reddish blotching of the skin may be seen behind the ears, under the belly, between the thighs, and sometimes around the snout. If urged to move, the affected swine have a staggering gait, and may show a thumping movement in breathing. V omiting »s an- j other symptom, and there may be a cough. Deaths may occur within hours up to three weeks H orn outset i ~f symptoms, while some animals may -apparently recover" and. become carriers of the disease. I