Management of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in Italian pig farms: a case report

Abstract Background Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) has been isolated from many animals, frequently as the cause of fatal myocarditis, but pigs are the most susceptible domestic specie. The virus was isolated in swine farms since 1958 in Panama and Europe from cases of sudden death in young pigs,...

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Main Authors: A. Scollo, C. Mazzoni, A. Luppi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-02-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-023-03611-6
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author A. Scollo
C. Mazzoni
A. Luppi
author_facet A. Scollo
C. Mazzoni
A. Luppi
author_sort A. Scollo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) has been isolated from many animals, frequently as the cause of fatal myocarditis, but pigs are the most susceptible domestic specie. The virus was isolated in swine farms since 1958 in Panama and Europe from cases of sudden death in young pigs, and the main origin of outbreaks has been assumed to be local rodent populations. There is no treatment for the disease. Case presentation The clinical case describes an outbreak of encephalomyocarditis virus in a farrowing (farm A) and a weaning (farm B) site, with mortality that reached 24.2% in suckling piglets and 7.7% in weaners. The farms were located in an endemic Italian area, and the outbreak was characterised by high mortality with sudden death and clinical signs due to heart failure (trembling, dispnea and fever). The rodents control program was the key action in managing the outbreak. However, in the weaning site, the lack of rodent program in some unexplored areas of the barn (false ceiling) was responsible of a longer time of resolution of the outbreak. An unusual support treatment approach from human medicine suggestion was also applied using acetylsalicylic acid for its antiphlogistic and antithrombotic effects. Conclusions To control the rodent population in a pig farm is often difficult and requires a deep knowledge also of the rodents habits. Considering the lack of treatment for the disease and the absence of available vaccines in several Countries, acetylsalicylic acid might be of interest for further studies as an important support for pigs’ recovery.
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spelling doaj.art-7240a097bc674925803a03b255268d952023-11-26T13:38:26ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482023-02-011911910.1186/s12917-023-03611-6Management of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in Italian pig farms: a case reportA. Scollo0C. Mazzoni1A. Luppi2Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of TorinoSwivet Research sasIstituto Zooproflattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-RomagnaAbstract Background Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) has been isolated from many animals, frequently as the cause of fatal myocarditis, but pigs are the most susceptible domestic specie. The virus was isolated in swine farms since 1958 in Panama and Europe from cases of sudden death in young pigs, and the main origin of outbreaks has been assumed to be local rodent populations. There is no treatment for the disease. Case presentation The clinical case describes an outbreak of encephalomyocarditis virus in a farrowing (farm A) and a weaning (farm B) site, with mortality that reached 24.2% in suckling piglets and 7.7% in weaners. The farms were located in an endemic Italian area, and the outbreak was characterised by high mortality with sudden death and clinical signs due to heart failure (trembling, dispnea and fever). The rodents control program was the key action in managing the outbreak. However, in the weaning site, the lack of rodent program in some unexplored areas of the barn (false ceiling) was responsible of a longer time of resolution of the outbreak. An unusual support treatment approach from human medicine suggestion was also applied using acetylsalicylic acid for its antiphlogistic and antithrombotic effects. Conclusions To control the rodent population in a pig farm is often difficult and requires a deep knowledge also of the rodents habits. Considering the lack of treatment for the disease and the absence of available vaccines in several Countries, acetylsalicylic acid might be of interest for further studies as an important support for pigs’ recovery.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-023-03611-6Encephalomyocarditis virusPigsAcetylsalicylic acidSupport therapy
spellingShingle A. Scollo
C. Mazzoni
A. Luppi
Management of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in Italian pig farms: a case report
BMC Veterinary Research
Encephalomyocarditis virus
Pigs
Acetylsalicylic acid
Support therapy
title Management of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in Italian pig farms: a case report
title_full Management of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in Italian pig farms: a case report
title_fullStr Management of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in Italian pig farms: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Management of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in Italian pig farms: a case report
title_short Management of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in Italian pig farms: a case report
title_sort management of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in italian pig farms a case report
topic Encephalomyocarditis virus
Pigs
Acetylsalicylic acid
Support therapy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-023-03611-6
work_keys_str_mv AT ascollo managementofencephalomyocarditisvirusinfectioninitalianpigfarmsacasereport
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