Atlas of pathology
Where: skin and subcutaneous tissue, musculoskeletal system
Possible causes: FrostbiteMycoplasma arthritisSalmonellosisOther
This weaner pig was found dead with necrotic lesions in the feet and cyanosis of the tail and ears.
Salmonella typhimurium was isolated in a septicaemic pattern in this pig and pen mates.
Most salmonellosis outbreaks occur in weaner pigs, and although disease in adults and piglets is infrequent, infection is not. Salmonella infection of pig herds is much more common than disease and involves limited invasion of tissues, including mesenteric lymph nodes, tonsils, intestine or bladder. Some serotypes develop severe generalised clinical disease, such as septicaemia, pneumonia, enteritis, meningitis and lameness as seen in this case. The skin of distal parts of the body (i.e. tail, ears, nose and feet) becomes cyanotic (blue) in cases of septicaemia that could lead to necrosis of the affected areas.
Salmonella is a major cause of food-borne illness in humans.
