A study of acute "short-wind" (pneumonia) in village pigs of Papua New Guinea.

Observations were made over a 12-month period in two villages of the incidence and nature of an acute pneumonia syndrome of village pigs. A detailed ante-mortem and post-mortem examination was made of seven pigs with acute pneumonia, "short-wind". The principal ante-mortem findings were gross malnourished stunted young pigs with severe respiratory embarrassment. Post-mortem examination revealed acute bacterial pneumonia, superimposed on existing chronic enzootic and lungworm pneumonia. No single bacterial species was constantly isolated, Pastuerella spp. and Staphylococcus were the most frequently isolated. The pathogenesis of the disease is discussed. It is suggested that enzootic pneumonia is not a significant limiting factor in traditional pig husbandry. Low nutritional status and heavy nematode infections resulting in increased susceptibility to bacterial pneumonia of pigs are thought to be responsible for the high incidence and mortality from acute pneumonia.