Porcine Forebrain Vacuolization Associated with Wasting in Pigs: A Novel Pathological Outcome Associated with Vitamin–Mineral Deficiency?
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Author
Ruiz-Riera, E.
Canturri, A.
Lehmbecker, A.
Cuvertoret, M.
Lopez-Figueroa, C.
Baumgärtner, W.
Domingo, M.
Publication date
2023-07-10ISSN
2076-2615
Abstract
The term wasting refers to a clinical sign used to describe a physical condition characterized
by growth retardation, usually of multifactorial origin. The objective of the present study was to
describe for the first time a pathological process characterized by forebrain neuropil vacuolization
in pigs showing wasting without conspicuous neurological signs. To characterize the lesions pathologically, affected and non-affected pigs from eight of these farms were investigated. Histologically,
the most consistent lesion was neuropil vacuolization of the prosencephalon, mainly located in the
thalamic nuclei and in the transition between the white and grey matter of the neocortex (40/56 in
sick and 4/30 in healthy pigs). In the most severe cases, the vacuolation also involved the midbrain,
cerebellar nuclei and, to a lesser extent, the medulla oblongata. Vacuolization of the forebrain was
associated with pigs experiencing marked emaciation and growth retardation. Although the specific
cause of the present case remained unknown, the preventive use of multivitamin and mineral complexes in drinking water ameliorated the condition, strongly suggesting a metabolic origin of the
observed condition.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
619 - Veterinary science
Pages
15
Publisher
MDPI
Is part of
Animals
Citation
Ruiz-Riera, E., E. Vidal, A. Canturri, A. Lehmbecker, M. Cuvertoret, C. Lopez-Figueroa, W. Baumgärtner, M. Domingo, and J. Segalés. 2023. "Porcine Forebrain Vacuolization Associated with Wasting in Pigs: A Novel Pathological Outcome Associated with Vitamin–Mineral Deficiency?" Animals 13 (14): 2255. doi:10.3390/ani13142255.
Program
Sanitat Animal
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2555]
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