Atrophic Rhinitis

21.4.1 Atrophic Rhinitis This is an infectious disease of pigs that destroys the nasal bones, and sometimes deforms the jaw bones of pigs. There may be several causes of this problem, but one principal cause is a bacteria called “Bordetella bronchiseptica.”

Symptoms:

 Symptoms may begin with sneezing, but later the nasal and jaw bones may become deformed and the animal may not be able to chew properly.

Diagnosis:

 Based on symptoms (i.e. a deformed snout) or, when the animal is slaughtered, evidence of destroyed/deformed nasal bones.

Treatment:

 There is no treatment once the animal has a deformed snout.

Prevention:

 Controlling or preventing a problem in a herd involves a combination of good sanitation, good ventilation, and sulfonamides in the feed. In some countries, vaccine is available. Farmers should avoid buying pigs from a herd with a problem of atrophic rhinitis.