Swine Brucellosis might be considered the pig flu of wild hogs. All wild hogs don’t carry the bacteria that cause the disease, but some do. Although percentage wise the number of infected swine is one. The other ninety-nine percent should be fine, but they to might be contaminated with parasites or another disease. Sick or carrier hogs won’t necessarily die from Swine Brucellosis, but may pass it along to healthy ones. Humans can contract the bacteria or Genus Brucella Suis Biovar 1or 3 from the hogs, and should be wary about coming in contact with them. The human strain of Swine Brucellosis is Undulant Fever.
Humans can become infected through blood, urine, feces, any bodily fluids, and by eating uncooked or raw meat. It doesn’t seem to be readily transmitted through the air, but moreover by the touch of a sick animal. The passing of bacteria from one body to the next may place one at a higher risk of catching the illness from an open wound, rubbing the eyes or nose, and eating something without immediately washing the hands.
Symptoms of Swine Brucellosis might lead one to believe they have the flu with fever or without. Common everyday health problems such as an aching back, muscle weakness, swollen arthritic joints, headaches, fatigue, excessive sweating during sleep or night sweats can lead one to believe nothings wrong. Treatments include antibiotics. Some antibiotics may be prescribed together such as Doxycycline and Rifampin. Co-Trimoxazole, Tetracyclines, and Gentamicin.are other antibiotics the doctor may choose to prescribe. Even though humans can catch Brucellosis, it is very rare for a human to die from it and is at most a painful inconvenience.
Most domesticated pigs will not have Swine Brucellosis. It’s highly probable they will remain Brucellosis free unless they come into contact with a wild hog that has it. If a domesticated pig did get it then it would most likely be killed. Other pigs it came into contact with that tested positive for the disease would be killed to. Curing a diseased pig in most circumstances would be far from the owner’s mind if the cure cost more than the pig.
Three million plus wild hogs roam Texas and hunters find sport in killing them along with other animals. Hunters hold the highest possibility of exposure to Swine Brucellosis since they will be addressing the carcass. They will have to take the carcass in to a meat processing plant or they will clean the carcass themselves. The same level of cleanliness should be followed as that of a restaurant when handling the wild hog remains. Use gloves, don’t touch the mouth or face, wash the hands directly afterwards and use plenty of disinfectant.
