Haemophilus parasuis - causal agent of Glasser's disease - as primary infectious agent in the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) in piglets

Haemophilos parasuis as a commensal organism colonizes the upper respiratory tract of pigs with a conventional health status. Under special conditions this bacterium can cause severe systemic disease, characterized by fibrinous polyserositis, arthritis and meningitis. Since the introduction of gilts with high health status into sow herds with a wider spectrum of Haemophilus parasols serovars increased, own observations in practice have shown that the occurence of the chronic respiratoric form of Glasser's disease in young piglets rises. In the following, observations in practice are described and interpreted by data from literature. Symptoms, examination, epidemiology and treatment are highlighted. For Haemophilus parasuis and for other infectious agents involved the impact on the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) is evaluated.