Also known as Scabby face
Facial dermatitis occurs worldwide and affects pre-weaning piglets and effects are wound on the face. The effects are infected wounds on face.
- Causes of Facial dermatitis >
- Effects of Facial dermatitis >
- Diagnosis of Facial dermatitis >
- Treatment & Control of Facial dermatitis >
Causes of Facial dermatitis
Facial dermatitis in piglets is caused by fighting with leaves scars and scratches on the face. These are subsequently colonised by bacteria such as Staphylococcus hyicus, the cause of greasy pig disease. The fighting is part of the natural order and establishment of teats occurs after pigs are born.
In the first week of life, fighting may be more apparent if they are part of a large litter, or if there is interruption in the supply of milk as a result of mastitis or agalactia. Fighting may reoccur if there is disease in the litter, leading to displacement of one of the higher-ranking piglets, or if the gland Supplying the high-ranking piglet become less attractive. The lesions are caused by the canine teeth and consist of shallow scratches which become infected. In severe cases, they may lead to widespread Scab formation and act as sa focus for the initiation of greasy pig disease (exudative epidermitis).
Effects of Facial dermatitis
The condition becomes apparent within the first week of life, initially as scratches and later as spreading brownish blackish Scabs which may become seriously infected or if extensive. They may be sufficiently severe to obscure the eyes or the corner of the mouth and the infection may subsequently spread all over the skin in exudative epidermitis.
Piglets in litters where facial dermatitis is occurring may weigh up to less than 0.5 kg at weaning piglets with clipped teeth.
Diagnosis of Facial dermatitis
Scratches are usually visible and may be seen fighting. In late and severely infected cases, the thick brown or blackish Scabs may have to be distinguished from milk encrusted with dirt around the mouth which is easily removed, or faulty tooth infection and abscessation following clipping, or the early stage of greasy pig disease.
In greasy pig disease, lesions bunch of bling brown flakes are found in the armpits and groin and not just on the face. The organisms involved may be identified by removing a Scab and sampling the underside. S hyicus is the most common organism involved, but deep or severe lesions may contain streptococci and anaerobic including fusobacteria.
Treatment & Control of Facial dermatitis
Treatment of the infection is possible using penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, lincomycin or Tylosin given orally or by injection dose size in piglet. Scabs can be Bathed in a skin disinfectant such as chlorhexidine or cetrimide.
The condition can be prevented by carefully clipping the teeth of all litters within 24 hours of birth. Removing underlying causes such as over crowding by fostering piglets from large litter, or rearing them artificially to leave one animal per functioning teats, and prompt treatment of agalactia may also reduce fighting and reduce facial dermatitis.
