Veterinary Services

Postmortem examination of a four-day-old piglet revealed severe peritonitis with fibrinous and fibrous adhesions between the intestines which formed a centrally necrotic mass in the region of the umbilicus.  The history indicated that the sow had developed a vaginal discharge before farrowing seven days late and had produced only seven poorly or non-viable piglets.  The SAC C VS proposed that the peritonitis was due to omphalophlebitis which had started in utero.

Alimentary tract disorders

Faecal samples were submitted from two nursery units sampled as part of improvement actions under the zoonosis national control plan.  Salmonella Typhimurium was cultured from 16 of 19 samples from one unit and 25 of 29 samples from the other. The SAC C VS advised on strategies to control salmonellosis and minimise environmental contamination.

Musculoskeletal conditions

A boar was euthanased on account of recumbency and hind limb pain.  Necropsy revealed septic arthritis affecting the stifle joints and a marked ventral deviation of the spinal column associated with a bony enlargement in the region of thoracic vertebrae five to eight.  Despite the spinal deformity, there was no compression of the spinal cord, thus the septic arthritis was considered to be of greater significance in relation to the clinical history.