DURHAM, Maine — Maine agricultural officials are monitoring an increase in pig illnesses and deaths in western parts of the state, and concern is rising among local farmers whose livestock may be at risk.
The Division of Animal and Plant Health Program at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry recently sent out an alert to inform the public and provide an update on the spike in cases.
"Between mid-July and mid-August, DACF AH has received several reports of juvenile pigs with diarrhea (sometimes bloody) that become sick and, in some cases, die," the alert stated.
The state agency said that sicked or dead pigs have come from multiple farms, are generally between the ages of 2 and 4 months, and weighed less than 50 pounds.
One of the sickened pigs tested positive for Lawsonia, a bacterium that causes porcine proliferative enteropathy. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea.
Swine dysentery and intestinal spirochetosis are two other bacterial illnesses that cause similar symptoms, and both spread through feces.
A spokesperson for the department said the agency was waiting for further test results and expected to have the report back next week.
The increase in illness and death is raising concern among pig farmers like Steve Sinisi of Old Crow Ranch in Durham.
“[Porcine proliferative enteropathy] is a disease that is treatable," Sinisi told NEWS CENTER Maine. "You can vaccinate for it, but if you don’t know you have it, it can be too late by the time you realize you do. This is a big deal, and this can spread very quickly, very easily.”
Sinisi said his farm hasn't been impacted but said knows of other farmers who have already lost pigs or won't be able to compete in agricultural fairs.
You can click here for a list of recommendations on how to protect your pigs.