Vetdle Archive
Archive Case #191: Swine Influenza
Pig veterinary case - Easy - September 10, 2026
Clinical Clues
- Coughing and fever sweep through a grower-pig shed in an explosive outbreak.
- Within two days, nearly every pig in the shed appears affected.
- Most pigs remain standing but are dull, off feed, and breathing faster than normal.
- A harsh cough and serous nasal discharge are common throughout the group.
- The outbreak spreads rapidly but many pigs begin recovering within a week.
- This highly contagious viral respiratory disease causes abrupt herd outbreaks in pigs.
Diagnosis
Swine Influenza
This case is most consistent with Swine Influenza because the pigs have a very acute, rapidly spreading febrile respiratory outbreak with widespread coughing. The most important clues are the explosive herd pattern and fast spread, which make a chronic bacterial pneumonia less likely.
Learning review
Review the case evidence
Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this pig case supports the provided diagnosis, Swine Influenza, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.
Evidence checkpoints
Clues 1-2
- Clue 1: Coughing and fever sweep through a grower-pig shed in an explosive outbreak.
- Clue 2: Within two days, nearly every pig in the shed appears affected.
Clues 3-4
- Clue 3: Most pigs remain standing but are dull, off feed, and breathing faster than normal.
- Clue 4: A harsh cough and serous nasal discharge are common throughout the group.
Clues 5-6
- Clue 5: The outbreak spreads rapidly but many pigs begin recovering within a week.
- Clue 6: This highly contagious viral respiratory disease causes abrupt herd outbreaks in pigs.
Self-review prompts
- After clues 1-2, what evidence from this pig case shaped your initial interpretation?
- When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Swine Influenza?
- How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Swine Influenza?
Educational Use
Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.