Pyaemia in pigs.

Pyaemia is by far the most important cause of condemnation in pigs slaughtered in Singapore abattoirs. Between 1983 and 1987, 1757 from a total of 4,899,731 pigs were condemned by meat inspectors for pyaemia, accounting for 0.036% of the total condemnations. The common post-mortem findings of affected pigs during the 5-year period are presented. Abscesses were most commonly seen in the liver (22%), spleen (21%), gastrohepatic lymph node (20%) and bronchial lymph node (17%). Pseudomonas pseudomallei was the most predominant organism isolated, accounting for 39% of the pyaemic cases. The public health significance of abscesses in pigs is discussed with particular reference to melioidosis.