BLOOD-SERUM CHARACTERISTICS OF NEWBORN PIGS - COMPARISON OF UNAFFECTED PIGS WITH PIGS BELONGING TO 5 MORTALITY GROUPS

The blood serum levels of glucose, hemoglobin, insulin, cortisol, albu min, alpha-fetoprotein, alpha2-macroglobulin f and s, alpha2-antitryps in inhibitor and alpha1-protease inhibitor were determined at birth in 5 clinically and morphologically identified mortality groups of pigs. These were compared with the levels observed in unaffected, apparentl y normal newborn unsuckled pigs. The blood serum profile of the pigs i n the stillborn intra partum, weak, splayleg and trauma groups, respec tively, as well as that of clinically normal splayleg littermates, dif fered significantly from that of the unaffected pigs. This was especia lly true for the levels of hemoglobin and the two macroglobulins. The importance of placental insufficiency causing chronic episodes of hypo xia which ultimately lead to a disturbance in organ development in the etiology of the mortality groups is discussed.