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There are a variety of conditions that cause sudden death in finishing pigs. In general, sudden death in finishing pigs can be divided into enteric (gut) conditions, respiratory (lung) infections and individual pig events. Enteric conditions would include ileitis, hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS), twisted gut and stomach ulcers. Respiratory infections would include Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia and Actinobacillus suis. There are many individual pig events, such as electrocution, trauma, aneurysms, etc., that are not group issues.
Acute ileitis can be seen throughout the finishing period, and should not be confused with chronic ileitis that causes diarrhea in all ages of finishing pigs. With acute ileitis, pigs may show no signs of diarrhea at all. If there is any diarrhea, it is a black, tarry feces and not the feed-colored diarrhea associated with chronic ileitis.
Acute ileitis is most commonly seen in heavyweight market animals, commonly after the first marketing from the group. Farms that see acute ileitis often see it repeated in subsequent groups if there is no intervention. Postmortem examination reveals pale pigs that appear gaunt with a thickening of the ileum. The ileum is usually filled with...