Pig question: Brucellosis?

[CarolT]

Posted it on pigs but haven't got an answer there, so trying again here.

Got a pbp that I was going to slaughter but the dogs got out, busted into her pen and chewed her up pretty bad, so I had to let her heal up. Had a miscarriage right after that, so she was pregnant when we got her. She wouldn't gain weight for a long time (4+ months), looked mangy, etc. Finally got to looking good after I gave her company for a while before those got slaughtered. Got to feeling sorry for her being alone again so let the pb boar in with her. She miscarried again about 2 or 3 weeks ago and is back in season again.

I have about decided to just process her, but don't want to have anybody else exposed if it's brucellosis. Some things I read say it's unlikely to be but can't find another reason doing searches for causes for her losing this second litter. And I'm not positive there wasn't a third I missed

[CarolT]

How do you draw blood on a pig? No way could I justify paying for it and not sure how well she'd take it anyway LOL Bet the state would test for free, just have to get the sample. Hate to waste about 50 pounds of meat but also a lot of hassle for 50 pounds of meat...

[JuliaAnn]

Ditto about it being transmissable to humans. I worked in a pharmaceutical research lab and I routinely handled various body parts from pigs. I followed protocols in handling the tissues in order to reduce or eliminate the chance of contracting brucellosis in case any of the tissues were infected.

[CarolT]

The blood will have to come from somewhere else. The dog attack took her ears off Probably either the base of the tail or the jugular. Didn't plan to breed, but pity postponed her slaughter so thought I'd just breed her and let her stay.

With an income of $200/week for 4 people right now, testing a freebie pig just wasn't in the budget. The boar is my daughter's pet, when things get better, I'll get him tested. Until then, we'll treat him as infected.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Did you get blood on you when treating the dog attack wounds?

[CarolT]

No, luckily

I'm really hoping it'll be nutritional, I did get blood on me when we butchered her pen mates that came with her and I didn't get sick and that was probably 4 months ago, at least. Maybe 5 or 6. They'd been together for years.

And I know the boar has fathered other healthy piglets, so don't think he'd be the one with a problem.

[Molly Mckee]

I hope everything works out. Having said that, the cheapest thing you can do is have her tested. If it should be brucellosis and one of you comes down with it, it can be both life threatening and expensive. My DGD was helping vaccinate cattle several weeks after surgery several years ago and had an infection in the surgical site. All she was doing was getting things out of the vets truck for him---but there was great concern that she was somehow infected with brucellosis. It can be very contagious as well as dangerous. I do know that it is one of the few things our SIL had the vets vaccinate for--with over 600 head of cattle you tend to do most of your own, but the vet did the brucellosis.

[CarolT]

Actually cheapest thing would be SSS LOL And it may come to that yet. Of course I'd have to do all 4 and borrow bils backhoe for the 2nd s, but still cheapest solution. Can get them good and deep. Just keep all animals out of that pen thereafter. Though if I wear good gloves and just shoot her, get a blood sample from her then, it might salvage the others and clear the pen for use... I'm not rushing anything right now. And who knows, if it was nutritional, this litter may hold...

[haypoint]

I doubt you'd be able to get a useable sample at slaughter. Then if you could, I wonder if you could find a Lab to check it.

Recently a guy had a pig die, then another went down and couldn't get up. Thought it was a disease, but he was feeding the pigs corn, soybeans and salt. They had plenty of water. THe lack of selinenim caused it. People should either buy prepared feed or understand the mineral needs of their animals.

[Molly Mckee]

Many states test for brucellousis. Call your state lab or your vet and ask. This really is important, especially since you don't know the background of the pig. Saving a few dollars now might cost you much more later--as well as put your family at risk. At least call the state and see if they will do the test for you. SSS, and someone gets sick, you don't know for sure, other animals may have all ready contacted it. At least ask the vet what to do--

[CarolT]

It would only clear the pen for use _if_ the test was negative. I've worked at a vet's office and understand the need for a uncontaminated sample. When a pig is shot, it usually only stuns them. Hoist it and get it restrained and you can access a sample quickly then finish her off.

2 years is what they give as still in the soil, they say that for parvo, also, but I know someone who had a puppy get sick 6 years after they lost the first pup. There would be nothing in that pen, ever unless I get her tested.

Yes, saving a few dollars now may cost more later, but when you don't have the money, you don't have the money. Since she's being fed mast right now, I can wait a bit and see if things change around here. Maybe even add minerals and see what happens.

Yes, the state will test. When I have the blood. And, the state vet has worked with me and will accept my vacutainer _if_ I can get it. Pigs are much harder than cows or goats, I understand that and wouldn't submit a contaminated sample.

If the vet draws blood and sends for testing, he has to charge a set fee. I understand that. If I can get the money up, I'll get her tested. If I can figure a way to get a good sample, I'll get her tested. All I was asking was the chances. There are reports saying it's almost eradicated, others saying it's almost endemic.

The local vet is usually not worried about testing. He'll give me tubes for blood, but thinks testing for CAE in goats is unnecessary. He doesn't think there's brucellosis around but if I want to draw the blood, he'll give me the stuff.