ERYSIPELAS (DIAMOND DISEASE)

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Causative Agent

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

The genus Erysipelothrix is subdivided into two major species: E. rhusiopathiae and

Erysipelothrix tonsillarum.

Other strains considered as additional species are Erysipelothrix sp.-1, Erysipelothrix sp.-2,

Erysipelothrix inopinata, and Erysipelothrix sp.-3.

Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is worldwide in distribution. E. rhusiopathiae is zoonotic. Cases occur through scratches and puncture wounds of the skin to people working with infected animals or their products such as butchers, abattoir workers, veterinarians, farmers, fishermen and fish handlers. Sometimes systemic clinical signs such as fever, joint pain, and lymphadenopathy occur.

The domestic pig is considered the most important reservoir. The bacteria is transmitted directly via oronasal route and indirectly through faeces and environmental contamination. Pigs get infected by ingestion of contaminated feed or water or contamination of skin wounds.

The disease occurs in three clinical forms, acute, subacute, and chronic forms.

The acute form is septicaemic disease of sudden onset. The clinical signs observed are pyrexia, inappetence, depression, lethargy, recumbency, joint pain, abortions, pink, red or purple raised lesions on the skin and death.

In dark-skinned animals, the skin lesions can be identified by palpation or observation of areas with raised hairs

The sub-acute is a less severe septicaemic disease.

There is usually no fever, the appetite remains unaffected and skin lesions are usually few in number, mortality is low, animals become infertile, foetuses become mummified.

Subclinical cases sometimes go un-noticed.

Chronic erysipelas follows acute, subacute, or sometimes subclinical septicaemic erysipelas manifesting as chronic arthritis resulting in lameness. The hock, stifle, or carpal joints become enlarged.

The disease causes vegetative valvular endocarditis, which leads to cardiac insufficiency pulmonary oedema, respiratory distress, lethargy, cyanosis, and death.

Diagnostic Considerations

Spleen, heart, lungs, liver, affected sections of skin, kidney, and lymph nodes are collected for bacterial culture and isolation of Erysipelothrix species.

Fluorescent antibody assay in frozen tissue sections can be used for rapid identification of the organism.

Immunohistochemical assays can also be used on hyperimmune serum.

Serological tests such as plate, tube, and microtitration agglutination tests, passive hemagglutination, hemagglutination inhibition, complement fixation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence are available to use in diagnosing this disease.

Several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods are available for rapid detection of

Erysipelothrix

Management and Treatment

This should commence early in the course of the disease. Penicillin, 2000IU/kg b.w., q24h 5 days I.M.

Ceftiofur, 3mg/kg b.w., q24h, 5 days I.M.

Enrofloxacin, 5mg/kg b.w.q24h 5days I.M.

Other Management Interventions include:

Antiserum should be administered to suckling pigs or the entire herd during an acute outbreak.

Prevention of swine erysipelas is by vaccination of pigs and the duration of immunity varies between 6 and 12 months.