Meningitis

By Kim Brook

The brain and spinal cord are protected within bony cavities (the skull and the spinal column) but separating the nervous tissue from the bone is a series of membranes called the meninges. When these become inflamed in the condition known as meningitis (usually due to bacterial infection), pressure builds up on the nervous tissue and nervous signs ensue.
In the early stages of meningitis, pigs will be dull and depressed, reluctant to stand and have a raised rectal temperature. Occasionally, they may be seen pressing their head against a wall and they will be unsteady on their legs. As the disease progresses and in response to stimulation (handling, noise), affected pigs will subside into paddling convulsions while lying on their side. Careful observation will reveal that the eyes, when open, will flick from side to side (this is called nystagmus). Death can ensue within a few hours and in some cases of meningitis may simply be found dead.
Infection in the brain results from the bloodborne spread of bacteria, which can gain entry through any break in the skin or mucosa. Sporadic meningitis is particularly seen in the young piglet, where infection gains entry through the navel, tail-dock wound, clipped teeth or fight wounds, and is very much a feature of colostral insufficiency. Bacterial spread in the bloodstream (bacteriaemia) can lead to infection in other areas of the body – particularly the joints, causing joint ill, or arthritis. The bacteria involved are usually environmental contaminants such as staphylococci, E. coli and streptococci. However, epizootic forms of meningitis can occur, particularly in weaner pigs four to ten weeks old and rarely in older growing pigs. The most common cause in these cases is Streptococcus suis type II and Haemophilus parasuis.

Meningitis which occurred secondary to E. coli septicemia associated with an umbilical infection.

The groves may also fill with fluid that has been expelled from the blood vessels. Arrows show early infection in the brain.

Streptococcus suis Meningitis

This is typically a post weaning disease that is triggered by the stress of weaning and by mixing pigs of different ages. Overcrowding, poor ventilation and in particular, high humidity all seem to exacerbate the disease. In an infected herd, the organism is picked up at or soon after birth, the reservoir being the nasal chambers and tonsils as well as the vagina of the sow. The organism colonises the tonsil of the young pig and from there will spread via the bloodstream to the brain.
Onset of the disease can be extremely rapid and sudden death may be seen. Streptococcus suis can readily be cultured from the meninges of an affected pig that has not been treated. Paddling convulsions are a classic feature, along with temperatures of 41degrees C (106f) and above. The disease usually behaves in an all or nothing way – in contrast with most gut or respiratory tract diseases, there is no effect on the growth of unaffected meningitic pigs.
Control can be difficult, vaccines have not proved effective and strategic use of antibiotics such as amoxycillin by injection at weaning may be needed to prevent clinical disease. Medication of weaned pigs via water or feed with penicillin-based antibiotic will often suffice in milder outbreaks. Recovered pigs may drop dead suddenly two or three weeks later, the result of seeding of infection on the heart valves and production of endocarditis.
Worth noting that S. suis type II (along with other strains of S. suis) are zoonotic, so particular care should be taken when handling affected pigs and when attending farrowing in herds known to be infected. Infection for humans is normally by skin penetration through cuts and grazes – thorough hand washing with soap is essential following contact with potentially infect material.

Haemophilus parasuis Meningitis

There are many strains of H. parasuis present within pig populations and, while the most common manifestations of disease are either respiratory or septicaemic, cases do occur where the infection targets the brain, producing meningitis (arthritis is also occasionally seen). The clinical presentation is identical to that described above, but diagnosis can be difficult as the organism is very fragile post mortem – euthanasia of an affected untreated pig and immediate sapling of the meninges or cerebral spinal fluid is essential.
Treatment
Treatment of any form of meningitis is based upon killing the causative organism and providing support therapy. Streptococcus suis is generally very sensitive to antimicrobials treatment with penicillin-based medicines such as amoxycillin, but treatment must be rapid and involve a formulation that achieves high levels of antibiotic in the body immediately. While Haemophilus parasuis is also very sensitive to antibiotics, response to treatment of affected pigs is frequently disappointing, probably due to the fact that clinical signs are the result of toxin release rather than the effect of the bacterium itself; by the time signs are seen, the damage is done and killing off the organism will have no effect.
A common complication of meningitis in pigs is dehydration. Their inability to feed and drink soon leads to fluid shortage, especially in the young pigs. This is often manifests in the form of “salt poisoning” (water-deprivation neuropathy), which can easily be confused with meningitis clinically even though it is quite distinct from it. So many pigs that die through meningitis infection actually subside into salt poisoning, which is the true cause of death.
The pig should be removed from the rest of the litter – where it can be bullied – and placed in a bedded area to prevent injury. Often, response to treatment will be very rapid (within two to four hours). It should be given fluids (water containing electrolytes), preferably by mouth on a little and often basis. Care must be taken to ensure that the pig is swallowing fluids and not inhaling them.
Support treatment with corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents can also improve recovery rates. As a general rule, however, a failure to respond to treatment within forty-eight hours is likely to leave the pig permanently brain damaged and so euthanasia is appropriate.
IN ALL CASES PLEASE DISCUSS YOUR SITUATION WITH YOUR VETERINARY PRACTICE.

Photos obtained from Google