Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Published:

Histomorphological Studies of the Perinatal Pig: The Unaffected Pig

Histomorfologiska studier av grisar i perinatala perioden: den normala grisen

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 28, pages 93–104 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

In an attempt to further elucidate the causes of perinatal mortality in pigs, a histomorphological study of organs from normal 0.4 to 60 h old euthanized piglets and from perinatal dead/euthanized pigs belonging to different mortality groups was performed. The heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen, thymus, pancreas, thyroid and adrenal glands were studied; all sections were examined without previous knowledge of the cause of death. Different observations in the organs were judged according to a scale of 1 to 4 where 1 = none or significant and 4 = a high degree of specific organ characteristics. The percentage of the group examined that scored 3–4 was calculated for each organ characteristic, and with the help of covariance analysis adjusted for the linear effect of total body weight (at the time of death), age, gestation length, and litter size (all pigs born, alive or dead). This first report describes the observations for the euthanized normal animals.

Sammanfattning

I strävan att söka finna orsaker till perinatal dödlighet hos svin utfördes en histomorfologisk studie av organ från 0,4–60 timmar gamla avlivade normala grisar och från lika gamla perinatalt döda eller sjuka, dödade djur tillhörande olika mortalitetsgrupper. Hjärta, lunga, lever, njure, mjälte, thymus, pankreas, thyreoidea och binjurer studerades. Alla histologiska snitt undersöktes utan vetskap om respektive djurs dödsorsak. Graden av varierande observationer i organen noterades enligt en skala 1 till 4 där 1 angav ingen eller obetydlig och 4 höggradig förekomst av respektive iakttagelser. Procenten organobservationer graderade 3–4 inom de studerade grupperna djur fastställdes och justerades med hjälp av kovariansanalys för den liniära effekten av total kroppsvikt (vid dödstillfallet) ålder, dräktighetslängd, kullstorlek (alla födda grisar, levande eller döda). Denna första rapport beskriver iakttagelser hos avlivade normala djur.

References

  • Anderson OA: Zur Kenntnis der Morphologie der Schilddrüse. (Studies on the morphology of the thyroid gland). Arc. Anat. Entw. Anat. Abth. 1984, 117, 225–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon.: A survey of the incidence and causes of mortality in pigs. I. Sow survey. Vet. Rec. 1959, 71, 777–786.

  • Aron M: Indications apportées par la methode des injections hypophysaires sur le fonctionnement de la thyroide et ses tests morphologiques. (Studies on the function and morphology of the thyroid gland using injections with extracts from the hypophysis). Compte rende Soc. Biol. 1930, 103, 148–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bengtsson A-C, Svendsen J, Persson G: Jämförande undersökning av dräktiga suggor i 4 olika inhysningssystem: Beteendestudier och renhetsstudier. (Comparison of four types of housing for sows in gestation: Behaviour studies and hygiene studies). Report 36. Dept. Farm Buildings, Swedish Univ. Agric. Sci. Lund 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bille N, Nielsen NC, Larsen JL, Svendsen J: Preweaning mortality in pigs. II. The perinatal period. Nord. Vet.-Med. 1974, 26, 294–313.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bischoff MB, Richter WR, Stein RJ: Ultrastructural changes in pig hepatocutes during the traditional period from late foetal to early neonatal life. J. Cell. Sei. 1969, 4, 381–395.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Björklund N-E, Svendsen J, Svendsen LS: Histomorphological studies of the perinatal pig: Comparison of five mortality groups with unaffected pigs. Acta vet. scand. 1987, 28, 105–116.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bäckström L: Environment and animal health in piglet production. A field study of incidences and correlations. Thesis. Acta vet. scand. 1973, Suppl. 41, 1–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coussement W, Ducatelle R, Hoorens J: Subcutaan oedeem by pasgeboren biggen. (Subcutaneous edema of the newborn pig). Vlaams Diergen. Tijdsch. 1983, 52, 209–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeRoberties E: Cytological and cytochemical basis of thyroid function. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1949, 50, 317–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeRoth L, Downie HG: Evaluation of viability of neonatal swine. Canad. vet. J. 1976, 17, 275–279.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon WJ & Brown MB: (Editors). Biomedical Computer Programs, P. series, pp. 1–880, U.C.L.A. Press, Los Angeles 1977, revised 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominick MA, Carson TL: Effects of carbon monoxide exposure on pregnant sows and their fetuses. Amer. J. vet. res. 1983, 44, 35–40.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dvorák M: Adrenocortical function in foetal, neonatal and young pigs. J. Endocrinol. 1972, 54, 473–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards BL: Oedema in new-born pigs. Vet. Rec. 1961, 73, 540–543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friis C: Postnatal development of the pig kidney: Ultrastructure of the glomerolus and the proximal tubule. J. Anat. 1980, 130, 513–526.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Glastonbury JRW: Preweaning mortality in the pig. Pathological findings in piglets dying before and during partition. Austr. Vet. J. 1977, 53, 282–286.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gracey JF: Survey of pig losses. Vet. Rec. 1955, 67, 984–990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakkarainen J: Developmental changes of protein, RNA, DNA, lipid and glycogen in the liver, skeletal muscle and brain of the piglet. Acta vet. Scand. 1975, Suppl. 59, 1–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen KAA: Hândbog for svinehold. (Manual in swine production). Landbrugets Informationskontor, Tune, 1972, p. 1–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeppsson M, Svendsen J, Andréasson B: Beteendestudier pâ lösgäende och fixerade svinsuggor under samma skötsel-, utfodringsoch stallförhällanden. (Behaviour studies on loose and confined dry sows maintained under the same husbandry, feeding and stable conditions). Report 10. Dept. Farm Buildings. Swedish Univ. Agric. Sei., Lund 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kernkamp HCH: Birth and death statistics on pigs of preweaning age. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass. 1965, 145, 337–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kito H, Hosada S: Triple staining for simultaneous visulization of cell types in islet of Langerhans of pancreas. Successive application of argyrophil, aldehyde-fuchsin and lead-hematoxylin stains in a single tissue section. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 1977, 25, 1010–1020.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kühn M, Wesemeier H: Pathopenetische Schwerpunkte prä und neonataler Schädigungen beim Schwein. (Pathogenetic priorities of prenatal and neonatal damage to swine). Mh. Vet.-Med. 1984, 39, 551–555.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeBland CP Cit. by Platt BS, Stewart RJW: 1967.

  • Leman AD, Knudson C, Rodeffer HE, Mueller AG: Reproductive performance of swine on 76 Illinois farms. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass. 1972, 161, 1248–1250.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller ER, Ullrey DE, Ackerman I, Schmidt, DA, Luecke RW, Hoefer JA: Swine hematology from birth to maturity. II. Erythrocyte population, size and hemoglobin concentration. J. Anim. Sei. 1961, 20, 890–897.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrill CC: Studies on baby pig mortality. IX. Some morphological observations on the newborn pig, with special reference to hypoglycemia. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1952, 13, 171–180.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen NC, Christensen K, Bille N, Larsen JL: Preweaning mortality in pigs. I. Herd investigations. Nord. Vet.-Med. 1974, 26, 137–150.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Platt, BS, Stewart RJW: Experimental proteincaloric deficiency: Histopathological changes in the endocrine glands of pigs. J. Endocr. 1967, 33, 121–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy RW: Interfertility and neonatal mortality in the sow. I-IV. J. agric. Sei. 1960, 44, 1–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Randall GCB: The relationship between arterial blood pH and pCO2 to the viability of the newborn piglet. Canad. J. comp. Med. 1971, 35, 141–146.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro HA: Microscopy of human fetal lung and the diagnosis of postnatal respiration. Legal Med. Annual 1976, 39–52 (cited in Excerpta Med. 1978, 44, Sect. 5, Abs. No. 1814).

  • Svendsen J, Bille N: Reducing preweaning mortality. In: Diseases of Swine. 5th edition. Iowa State University Press. Ch. 67. Ames, Iowa 1981, pp. 729–736.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svendsen J, Bengtsson A-C: Produktionssystem för smagrisuppfödning: Ätgärder för att reducera antalet klämda och trampade grisar. (Production systems for farrowing piglets: Methods for reducing the number of piglets traumatized by the sow). Konsulentavd. rapporter, Allmänt 39, Swedish Univ.Agric. Sei., Uppsala, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svendsen LS: Organ weights of the newborn pig. Characterization and comparison of the organ weights of pigs dying within 48 hours of birth with those of unaffected, growing pigs: Stillborn intra partum pigs, weak pigs, splaylegpigs, splayleg and weak (splayweak) pigs and traumatized pigs. Acta vet. scand. 1982, Suppl. 78, 1–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svendsen J, Bengtsson A-C: Produktionssystem for smâgrisuppfodning: Nâgre résultat frân 5 ârs jämförande undersökning av olika inhysningsystem för dräktiga och digivande suggor. (Housing systems in piglet production: Comparative results from 5 years of investigations into different housingsystems for sows in gestation and sows at farrowing). Konsulentavd. rapporter, Allmänt 46, Swedish Univ. Agric. Sci. 16:1–16:15, Lund, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svendsen J, Svendsen LS, Bengtsson A-C: Reducing perinatal mortality. In” Diseases of Swine”, Sixth Edition. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa 1986, Ch. 71, pp. 813–825.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waibl H: Quantitative Untersuchungen am Schweinethymus. (Quantitative studies on the thymus of the pig). Zbl. Vet. Med. C. 1982, 11, 234–241.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valdès-Dapena MH: Histology of the Fetus and Newborn, p. 57 and p. 335. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Grant Nos. P111 och P139 from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (J. Svendsen) and by Grant No. 6000 1–5 from the National Veterinary Institute (N.-E. Björklund).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Pathology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala and the Department of Farm Buildings, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P. O. Box 624, S-220 06, Lund, Sweden

    N-E. Björklund, J. Svendsen & L. S. Svendsen

Authors
  1. N-E. Björklund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Svendsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. S. Svendsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Björklund, NE., Svendsen, J. & Svendsen, L.S. Histomorphological Studies of the Perinatal Pig: The Unaffected Pig. Acta Vet Scand 28, 93–104 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548260

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548260

Keywords

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147