Which of the following is not a commonly reported manifestation of Salmonella infection in pigs?

• A. Acute septicemia
• B. Debilitating intestinal disease
• C. Respiratory disease
• D. Rectal strictures

Answer: (C)

Salmonella infections in pigs mainly present as problems of the gut or the bloodstream. You’ll see acute septicemia, especially with certain serotypes that cause systemic illness in piglets, and debilitating enteric disease with diarrhea and poor growth in other pigs. The organism tends to invade the intestinal mucosa and can spread via the blood, so enteritis and septicemia are the classic patterns. Rectal strictures can occur, but they’re relatively rare consequences of chronic intestinal inflammation rather than common findings. Respiratory disease, however, is not a typical manifestation of Salmonella infection in pigs because Salmonella does not primarily target the lungs; pneumonia is usually due to other respiratory pathogens or co-infections. So respiratory signs aren’t commonly linked to Salmonella infection in pigs, making them the best choice for not fitting the usual disease spectrum.