by Diane Jaramillo

Created on: December 11, 2011

Rhinitis in pigs
 
 There are two types of rhinitis that can occur in pigs.  The first type, atrophic rhinitis, is often called bull nose because of the facial deformities caused.
 
Atrophic rhinitis is caused by a combination of bacterial infections.  The first bacteria involved is called Bordetella brochisepta.  An infection by this bacteria can reduce the immune system of the pig enough to allow a secondary infection by Pasturella multocida to take root.  This combination is particularly damaging.

 
Atrophic rhinitis causes a deformation of the upper jaw and nasal cavity along with atropy of the nasal turbinate bones.  This in turn impairs the ability of the nasal passages to filter the air that the pig breathes, allowing more bacteria to reach the lungs and potentially cause secondary infections such as pneumonia.
 
There are two types of atrophic rhinitis: progressive and non-progressive.  Non-progressive atrophic rhinitis is as it sounds.  It is a mild infection that is quickly recovered from by the pig.  Progressive atrophic rhinitis is much more serious.  This is a severe disease that causes permanent disfigurement and other problems for the pig.
 
Piglets are usually infected between three and eight weeks of age.  The disease can be passed from pig to pig, so it is important to vaccinate pigs.  Symptoms include sneezing, snuffling, nasal discharge, eye stains, and rubbing the nose on the ground.  Because of the softening and atrophy of the turbinate bones, this is what causes the majority of the facial deformities in the pigs.
 
Antibiotics are somewhat effective in treating atrophic rhinitis.
 
The second type of rhinitis is necrotic rhinitis.  As you can probably tell from the name, this is a much worse type of rhinitis.  The symptoms are the same, but much more severe.  This is an uncommon infection that usually only affects one to two pigs in a herd.  The disease causes lesions in the nasal cavity that are filled with pus and necrotic tissue.  A hard mass can also sometimes be felt in the pigs nose.  Again, this hard mass, when biopsied, is filled with pus and necrotic tissue. 

Necrotic rhinitis can be differentiated from atrophic rhinitis by the swelling and bulging of the pigs nose and face.  In early cases, surgery is recommended.  The lesions are removed and the nasal cavity packed with a sulfonamide or iodine tincture.  In advanced cases, treatment is not recommended.

Both types of rhinitis stunt the growth of the pig.

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