Conjunctivitis

Signs and associated diseases

The clinical signs can be seen in one or both eyes and, if caused by infection, can be very easily transmitted to other animals due to close physical contact. Outbreaks may be associated with conjunctivitis infection Chlamydiae but there may be other manifestations of diseases such as influenza, Aujeszky’s disease and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), among others. However, clinical and laboratory results are necessary to obtain the correct diagnosis.

Treatment 

Disinfection  with  most  common  detergents  and  disinfectants  will inactivate Chlamydiaceae. Current infections are being treated with antibiotics. Generally, tetracyclines are the first antibiotics of choice to control it. In case Chlamydia suis is resistant to those, quinolones  or macrolides could be the second choice. Consult your veterinarian to identify the best treatment option for your animals.  

Environment 

Facilities with poor ventilation and poor environmental hygiene can also cause conjunctivitis. Improving environmental conditions is the key to solve the problem.

Mycotoxins 

The presence of some mycotoxins, especially trichothecenes, are sometimes related to this problem. From this group, the most frequently observed are deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2. In addition to the signs of conjunctivitis, intoxicated animals with trichothecenes will show other symptoms like vomiting, decrease in feed intake, reduced weight gain, weight uniformity in lots and high incidence of diarrhoea. The use of strategies for inactivation of mycotoxins, especially from the trichothecenes group, is important to control the situation.