Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE)

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Transmissible gastroenteritis

PATHOLOGY DESCRIPTION

Transmissible gastro-enteritis (TGE) is an acute highly contagious disease of pigs caused by virus from the Coronaviridae family, Coronavirus genus. The disease is characterised by profuse diarrhoea and vomiting. There is high morbidity and mortality in piglets.

SYMPTOMS

Sows

In acute outbreaks the most striking feature is the rapidity of spread
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Adult animals show varying degrees of inappetence and usually recover over a 5 to 7 day period.

Piglets

In the sucking piglet the disease is very severe.
Acute watery diarrhoea.
Almost 100% mortality within 2 to 3 days in piglets under 7 days of age due to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
There is no response to antibiotic therapy.
The most striking feature is the wet and dirty hairy appearance of all the litter due to the profuse diarrhea

Weaners & Growers:

When the virus is introduced into a finishing herd for the first time there is rapidly spreading, vomiting and watery diarrhea, eventually affecting almost all the animals.
Disease disappears spontaneously over a 3 to 5 week period.
Mortality is usually low.
The main effect on the individual growing pig is dehydration which is resolved in about a week.