Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in Danish piglets
Bille-Hansen, V.; Jorsal, S.E.; Henriksen, S.A.; Settnes, O.P.
Veterinary Record 127(16): 407-408
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 2267715 Document Number: 353682
Five pig herds (2 specific pathogen free and 3 conventional herds) with histories of growth retardation and dyspnoea among piglets before and particularly after weaning at 4 to 5 weeks of age were studied. Sixty-two piglets less than 12 weeks of age were examined by routine pathological and microbiological methods. Interstitial pneumonia associated with P. carinii was found in the lungs of 23 piglets aged 4 to 10 weeks. P. carinii was not identified in other organs. In the affected litters one to three piglets were diseased and most of the piglets with dyspnoea died. Treatment with antibiotics had no effect. Diarrhoea and/or jaundice were seen before and at the same time as the P. carinii pneumonia and it is suggested that malnourishment with or without other diseases may have predisposed the piglets to the development of the lung infection.