S. A. Goedegebuure

Osteochondrosis in six breeds of slaughter pigs. I. A morphological investigation of the status of osteochondrosis in relation to breed and level of feeding.

Summary The severity and extent of osteochondral lesions have been examined, macroscopically, radiographically as well as histopathologically, in six different breeds of pigs (Belgian Landrace (B), Duroc (D), Dutch Landrace (N), Dutch Yorkshire (G), Hampshire (H) and Piétrain (P)). In these pigs three different levels of feeding were used. Duroc pigs had significantly more severe lesions in the fore limbs than Dutch Landrace (N), Dutch Yorkshire (G), Hampshire (H) and Piétrain (P) pigs, while Belgian Landrace pigs (B) had significant more severe lesions than Dutch Yorkshire (G) pigs. The differences between breeds related more to the degree of severity of the lesions in the articular surfaces of the distal humerus and proximal radius-ulna and in the distal ulnar growth plate than to the presence of the lesions per se. In the hind limbs Belgian Landrace pigs (B) had significantly more severe osteochondral lesions than all other breeds, while Dutch Landrace pigs (N) had significantly more severe lesions than Duroc (D), Dutch Yorkshire (G), Hampshire (H) and Piétran (P) pigs. Pigs with the highest growth rate showed sginificantly more severe osteochondral lesions in the distal ulnar growth plate and in the medial fe,moral condyle than pigs with a more restricted growth rate.

Intravenous catheterisation of conventional pigs without application of antimicrobial agents

In six experiments 43 castrated male conventional pigs weighing 25-41 kg were catheterised by inserting a cannula via the jugular vein into the cranal caval vein. The catheters were taped to the spinal neck region where the tap stops were located. Antimicrobial agents were not applied. One pig died 32 hour after surgery from Porcine Stress Syndrome. The catheters remained patent for at least nine days in 38 of the remaining 42 animals (90%). In two animals the catheter by mistake was not inserted into the jugular vein. Two animals got catheters with a one-way blockage four days after surgery. In these animals autopsy revealed thrombosis and phlebitis of the occluded vein and a valve-like thrombus at the tip of the catheters. In seven of the 43 pigs the effects of anaesthesia, surgery and catherisation were followed using rectal temperature and haematological and some blood biochemical parameters for nine days after the surgery. It is concluded that this catheterisation technique, without application of antimicrobial agents, can be used well for experimental infections and pharmacokinetic studies.

Do gilts and barrows react similarly with respect to leg weakness and osteochondrosis

Clinical and pathological data concerning the degree of leg weakness and severity of osteochondral lesions in gilts and barrows have been compared. It became clear that the pathological condition of the distal part of the ulna and the medial femoral condyle of gilts was less severe than that of barrows. The clinical symptoms of leg weakness in gilts also tended to be less severe than those in barrows.

Osteochondrosis in six breeds of slaughter pigs. II. Data concerning carcass characteristics in relation to osteochondrosis.

Summary Coefficients of correlation have been calculated between morphological lesion scores of osteochondrosis that were made on the bones of porcine fore and hind limbs and some carcass characteristics. It was found that carcass length, as well as the relative weights of the hams were significantly correlated with the lesions that were observed in the proximal site of the femur and the medial femoral condyle. Despite these significant correlations, the values of the correlation coefficients were too small to be of any use for selection purposes. This applies the whole animal population, consisting of 6 breeds of pigs. It is shown that the coefficients of correlation between the morphological lesion scores of the femur and the relative weights of the hams in some of the individual breeds were much higher, implying a possibility for the prediction of osteochondrosis based on carcass characteristics.

Progressive neuronopathy in two Cairn terrier litter mates

Clinical, histopathological, and EM findings are described for two Cairn terrier litter mates, an 18-months-old male and an 11-month-old female with progressive neuronopathy. The initial clinical signs were characterized by hind limb weakness and ataxia, which deteriorated with exercise. These signs progressed over several months to tetraparesis. Pathological examination revealed extensive chromatolytic degeneration of neurons and moderate secondary Wallerian-type degeneration in the spinal cord and brain stem. Progressive neuronopathy can be differentiated clinically from globoid cell leukodystrophy, another progressive neurological disorder in Cairn terriers, by the exercise-induced deterioration of the neurological signs. Progressive neuronopathy occurs only in Cairn terriers and because of the similarity in age of onset and the occurrence in one litter, an inherited disease is suspected.

The effect of replacement of 0.30% sodium chloride by 0.43% sodium bicarbonate in rations of fattening pigs on leg weakness, osteochondrosis and growth.

The effect of replacing dietary sodium chloride by sodium bicarbonate on leg weakness, osteochondrosis and growth in young fattening pigs was studied in two experiments using 104 and 126 animals. The experimental pigs were fed 0.43% dietary sodium bicarbonate, which replaced the sodium chloride (0.30%), was present in the diets of the control groups. It was found that the clinical symptoms of leg weakness could be improved significantly in the experimental group which received bicarbonate. No positive effects on osteochondrosis, however, could be shown. The treated animals even tended to have more severe osteochondral lesions. Reasons for the negative tendency are discussed. Daily weight gain and food conversion were not influenced by the experimental bicarbonate diet excluding a chloride deficiency. Differences in carcass grading were not significant, although barrows fed the NaHCO3-containing diet tended to score better, while the carcass quality of the experimental gilts was slightly less in comparison to the control animals.

Dysphagia in Bouviers associated with muscular dystrophy; evaluation of 24 cases.

Twenty-four Bouviers with dysphagia were examined between October 1986 and October 1988. The type of dysphagia was characterised by the results from the clinical examination, the videofluorographic examination and the electromyographic recordings from the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal muscles. Electromyography indicated neurogenic as well as myogenic causes of dysphagia. Tissues from 10 dogs were available for histopathologic examination. In nine dogs there was a progressive muscular degeneration of the pharyngeal and/or esophageal muscles, resembling muscular dystrophy. In two of these dogs the same abnormalities were also noticed in the masseter and temporalis muscles and in the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. In one dog small areas with hyalin degeneration and fragmentation of muscle fibres were found in the cricopharyngeal muscle. No abnormalities in nerve tissue were found. Muscular dystrophy is a hereditary disease. The mode of transmission in these Bouviers is not yet known.