Pathology of gastro-intestinal discorders in piglets
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Date
2003
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Journal ISSN
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Centre of Excellence in Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence and
pathological disorders of the gastro-intestinal system of piglets. The results of
the present investigation and evaluation of the data from the records revealed a
high incidence of gastro-intestinal disorders to the level of eighty eight per cent.
A detailed systematic examination of fifty piglet carcasses brought for autopsy
during the period of investigation was conducted and the gross and
histopathological lesions were studied in detail and were classified based on age
and sex. Higher incidence of gastro-intestinal lesions was recorded in piglets
aged 10-20 days and their possible causes are described. Vascular and
degenerative changes were the predominant lesions, followed by inflammation.
Among the inflammatory changes, catarrhal gastro-enteritis was the most
prevalent lesions observed. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella were isolated from
such cases and are suspected as the possible pathogenesis has been described.
Viral etiology was also suspected in certain cases as the infiltrating cells appeared
predominantly Iymphocytes. Besides these ulcers were recorded in the stomach
and the intestinal tract. Salmonella cholerae suis was isolated from the intestinal
ulcers. Bacterial isolations were obtained in the intestine, liver, heart blood and
sow's milk. A total of 17 bacterial isolations were obtained from 11 animals.
Their role in the causation of gastro-intestinal disorders have been explained.
Coincident with various gastro-intestinal disorders, liver of 30 cases and
mesenteric lymph nodes of 28 cases revealed variety of vascular, degenerative
and inflammatory lesions. In one case 'with suppurative hepatitis, Salmonella
cholerae suis was isolated. The variable degrees of lymphoid depletion,
degeneration and necrosis of lymphoid follicles of mesenteric lymph nodes and
the Iymphocytes of Peyer's patches indicated immunosuppression. The vascular
and degenerative lesions, without any evidence for infections etiology observed
in the gastro-intestinal tract and liver suggested the involvement of some toxic
factors. Further the higher incidence of the disorders in the young ones, the
isolation mostly of the resident flora of the intestinal tract and the lymph node
changes indicated the necessity for an in depth study on the role of factors like
immune status of the animals and eo-pathogens in the causation of gastro-
intestinal disorders in piglings,
Description
PG
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