THE HEMORRHAGIC BOWEL SYNDROME (HBS) OF PIGS - CLINICAL, PATHOLOGICALAND ETIOLOGIC ASPECTS

In an analysis of autopsy findings from 16 384 pigs (1980-90) 436 case s of haemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) were found (2.66% of autopsies) . In most cases fattening pigs (in the weight of 25-100 kg) were affec ted. HBS was significantly more frequent in females. Intestinal volvul us was confirmed in 56.2% of all cases of HBS, however by more careful examination between 1988 and 1990 even in 80% of cases. In most cases the degree of torsion was 180-degrees and the direction as seen with the pig lying on its back was anticlockwise. Clinical history as repor ted by owners revealed limited information: sudden death of one or sev eral pigs within three months, association with whey feeding not uncom mon. Significantly more cases of HBS were seen during spring and on mo ndays. Numerous yeasts could be detected in mucosal impression smears of ileum, colon and caecum. Additional analyses in six farms suffering from big losses due to HBS suggested that several environmental and m anagement factors may be involved pathogenetically: feeding only once a day of excessive amounts of a liquid diet, especially whey (a highly fermentable substrate), poor hygiene of liquid diets (high bacterial counts and yeast concentrations). In mixed breeding and fattening unit s, the aforementioned factors could be responsible also for sudden dea ths in dry sows caused by colonic bloat often associated with intestin al rupture and torsions of the stomach and/or the spleen.