Characteristics: Edema Disease is a condition that affects the digestive system, central nervous system, and causes edema, resulting in high mortality in piglets before and after weaning (80-100%). This disease is also known as Swine Edema, Hemorrhagic Colibacillosis, Piglet Convulsions, E.D., etc.

Causes of ED:

Sudden weaning of piglets (improper weaning technique).
Abrupt changes in feed.
Delayed introduction of feed to piglets after 21 days.
Deficiency of vitamins, particularly B vitamins, in the diet.
Feeding piglets with high-protein, high-energy feed immediately after weaning, or overfeeding.
Moldy feed, toxin contamination, bacterial infections.
Degeneration of the intestinal mucosa, possibly a consequence of White Diarrhea, leading to poor feed absorption and favorable conditions for bacterial growth.
Adverse environmental conditions (cold, drafts, high humidity), polluted environment (contaminated water).

Symptoms: The disease commonly occurs in piglets before and after weaning.
Healthy, well-fed piglets are affected first, showing signs of facial edema, bulging eyes, and sudden death.
Affected piglets exhibit neurological symptoms, convulsions, and circling in one direction.
Some may lose their voice, exhibit jaw stiffness, or lie in a rigid position.
There may be fever or normal body temperature before death.
Piglets may or may not have diarrhea.
The disease is localized and does not spread between different groups of pigs.

Clinical Signs: Facial and eye swelling, with a high risk of sudden death.

Pathological Findings: Non-specific. Stomach filled with food, swollen stomach walls. Possible brain edema, facial edema, swelling around the eyes, and swollen mesenteric lymph nodes. Hemorrhage in the small intestine.

Các biểu hiện khi giải phẫu heo con mắc bệnh: sưng hạch màng treo ruột; ruột non xuất huyết.

Diagnosis: Based on epidemiological investigation, clinical symptoms, and pathological findings. The disease occurs in piglets before and after weaning, rarely in older pigs and not in sows or breeding boars. The disease appears suddenly, affecting well-fed piglets first. An incision along the forehead of a dead piglet can reveal edema if the skin edges are separated.

Symptoms observed during necropsy of piglets with the disease: Swelling of the head and cerebral edema.

Differential Diagnosis:

Pseudorabies
Listeriosis
Swine Fever
Stress Syndrome
Blue Ear Disease

Treatment:
A/ Supportive Care:

Isolate sick piglets in a dark, quiet area.
Withhold feed for 1-2 days.
Replace post-weaning feed with piglet feed in smaller amounts, increase fiber content, and ensure proper hydration.
Feed the remaining piglets with piglet feed in smaller portions, divided into 3-4 meals per day, for 5-7 days.
Minimize salt in the diet, provide bland feed. Avoid giving electrolytes.
Gradually reintroduce feed, starting with small amounts, and transition to post-weaning feed over 4 days.
B/ Medication:

Administer antibiotics to the entire group for 3-5 days:
COLIVINAVET (100g/1000kg body weight, 2 times/day) or
AMPICOLI FORT (100g/800-1250kg body weight, 2 times/day).
Combine with digestive enzymes:
SUPER EMZYM (1g/liter of drinking water or 2g/kg body weight/day) for 5-7 days.
Injectable antibiotics:
Coli KN (1ml/5kg body weight, 1-2 times/day) for 3-5 days.
Mg-Calcium fort (1ml/5kg body weight, 1-2 times/day) for 3-5 days.

Notes:

For piglets with neurological symptoms, add a sedative such as VINATHAZIN (2-5ml/piglet, once/day).
Continue to provide digestive enzymes after stopping antibiotics for more than 7 days to prevent recurrence.
Do not overfeed piglets immediately; gradually increase feed amounts and divide into 3-4 meals per day.

Prevention: Start feeding piglets early from 3 days old. Feed piglets 3 times daily from 3-6 days of age, with 3-hour intervals. Remove excess feed after each session for sows or pigs over 15kg.
Gradually wean piglets over 4 days following the 3-5-7 formula.
During weaning, administer one of the mentioned antibiotics and digestive enzymes to the entire group for 3-5 days.
Delay weaning for weak piglets or in very cold weather.
Technical Consultant – VINAVETCO
Dr. Trần Văn Bình