Ala-Kurikka Eve, Munsterhjelm Camilla, Bergman Paula, Laine Taina, Pekkarinen Henna, Peltoniemi Olli, Valros Anna, Heinonen Mari
1Research Centre for Animal Welfare, Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
2Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, Saarentaus, 04920 Mäntsälä, Finland.
Porcine Health Manag. 2019 Nov 20;5:25. doi: 10.1186/s40813-019-0132-y. eCollection 2019.
A high rate of euthanized and spontaneously dead sows causes production losses and likely indicates underlying welfare problems. Identification of predisposing factors to on-farm deaths requires a thorough understanding of the causes. Post-mortem examination is needed for a proper diagnosis. The aims of this descriptive study were to determine causes of spontaneous deaths and euthanasia in sows in a convenience sample of Finnish herds and to describe pathological findings in the locomotor system and in teeth and gums.
This study described post-mortem findings in 65 sows found dead or euthanized on 15 farms. All but one of the sows presented with two or more pathological findings. The majority of primary pathologic-anatomic diagnoses (PAD-1) were inflammatory. The most prevalent diagnoses were arthritis and peritonitis (9% of sows each). The locomotor system was the body part most commonly affected by lesions. Findings in the locomotor system unassociated with death were present in 85% of the animals, additionally 29% of PAD-1 s concerned the locomotor system. The prevalence for both degenerative joint disease and tooth wear was 71%. Farmers had noted clinical signs within 30 days of death in every euthanized sow and in half of the spontaneously dead ones. The farmer's impression of the cause of death agreed at least partly with the PAD-1 in 44% of the cases.
Multiple pathologies were the norm in the present animals. This may indicate an extended course of illness and therefore also an unnecessary delay in medical treatment or euthanasia. The prevalence and clinical relevance of the most common disorders, including degenerative joint disease and tooth wear, need to be elucidated.
大量母猪被实施安乐死或自然死亡会导致生产损失，这可能表明存在潜在的福利问题。要确定农场内死亡的诱发因素，需要全面了解其原因。进行尸检才能做出准确诊断。本描述性研究的目的是确定芬兰猪群便利样本中母猪自然死亡和安乐死的原因，并描述运动系统以及牙齿和牙龈的病理发现。
本研究描述了在15个农场发现死亡或被实施安乐死的65头母猪的尸检结果。除一头母猪外，所有母猪都有两项或更多项病理发现。大多数主要病理解剖诊断（PAD - 1）为炎症性。最常见的诊断是关节炎和腹膜炎（各占母猪的9%）。运动系统是最常出现病变的身体部位。85%的动物存在与死亡无关的运动系统发现，另外29%的PAD - 1与运动系统有关。退行性关节病和牙齿磨损的患病率均为71%。农民在每头被安乐死母猪以及一半自然死亡母猪死亡后30天内都注意到了临床症状。在44%的病例中，农民对死亡原因的判断至少部分与PAD - 1一致。
在当前这些动物中，多种病变是常态。这可能表明病程延长，因此也可能意味着在医疗或安乐死方面存在不必要的延迟。包括退行性关节病和牙齿磨损在内的最常见病症的患病率及其临床相关性需要阐明。
