Overview and Clinical Importance
This study guide covers medicine for porcine (swine), avian (poultry and pet birds), and exotic companion animals (rabbits, ferrets, reptiles, and small mammals). These species represent important segments of veterinary practice in production medicine, backyard farming, and companion animal care.
High-YieldDomain 4 (Medicine) is the LARGEST BCSE domain with 50-55 questions (approximately 25% of the exam). Understanding species-specific diseases, their pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment is essential for exam success.
BCSE Relevance: Questions frequently test knowledge of economically important diseases in food animals, zoonotic concerns, and unique physiological considerations of exotic species that affect diagnosis and treatment.
| Feature |
Details |
| Etiology |
PRRS virus (PRRSV) - RNA virus, Arteriviridae family. Two species: PRRSV-1 (European) and PRRSV-2 (North American) |
| Transmission |
Direct contact with infected pigs, contaminated semen, aerosol (up to 9 km reported), fomites (needles, boots, vehicles), insects (mosquitoes, flies) |
| Clinical Signs - Reproductive |
Late-term abortions, mummified fetuses, stillbirths, weak-born piglets, increased preweaning mortality, irregular estrus return |
| Clinical Signs - Respiratory |
Dyspnea, coughing, pneumonia in growing pigs, slow growth, increased susceptibility to secondary infections |
| Diagnosis |
PCR (gold standard for acute cases), serology (ELISA for herd screening), virus isolation |
| Treatment/Control |
No effective treatment; MLV vaccines reduce clinical signs but do not prevent infection; herd closure and exposure programs; biosecurity |
| Feature |
Details |
| Etiology |
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) - Alphacoronavirus, similar to TGE virus but no cross-immunity |
| Clinical Signs |
Profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, anorexia. Neonates: up to 100% mortality in piglets less than 7-10 days old |
| Pathophysiology |
Virus destroys villous enterocytes causing villous atrophy, leading to malabsorptive diarrhea |
| Diagnosis |
PCR of feces or intestinal contents, immunohistochemistry on intestinal tissue |
| Control |
Feedback protocols (exposing gilts to infected material), vaccination, strict biosecurity, environmental decontamination |
| Feature |
Details |
| Etiology |
African swine fever virus (ASFV) - large DNA virus, family Asfarviridae. Only DNA virus transmitted by arthropods |
| Transmission |
Direct contact, soft ticks (Ornithodoros), contaminated pork products, fomites. Survives months in cured meats |
| Clinical Signs - Acute |
High fever (40-42 degrees C), hemorrhages (skin, lymph nodes, kidney, GI), cyanotic ears, sudden death, mortality up to 100% |
| Diagnosis |
PCR, virus isolation, ELISA for antibodies - performed ONLY at approved laboratories |
| Control |
NO vaccine available (unlike CSF). Immediate reporting, quarantine, depopulation, movement restrictions |
SECTION 1: PORCINE (SWINE) MEDICINE
Swine medicine encompasses both production animal health and disease surveillance for foreign animal diseases. The US swine industry produces over 120 million pigs annually, making disease prevention and early detection critical for both animal welfare and economic stability.