2014-10-3 Liver and Skelet muscle of piglet

Contributor：Division of Laboratory Animal Resources,

University of Pittsburgh

Signalment： 3-month-old female Yorkshire Cross pig, Sus scrofadomesticus

History：She was found down and extremely weak two monthsafter arrival while other animals in same group had no clinicalsymptoms.

Gross pathology： Connective tissues throughout the body areedematous and bright yellow. The liver has multifocal tocoalescing pinpoint to 3 mm dark red foci, is enlarged, and flabby.

Laboratory results:Clinical chemistry reveals severely ictericserum, high potassium, ALT, ALP, and amylase. The CBC shows astress leukogram. Postmortem testing of hepatic seleniumconcentrations reveal levels as inadequate

Bovine Pathology Joko Susilo

Contributors morphologic Diagnosis: 1. Liver: Necrosis, acute, centrilobular to massive,

hemorhagic.2. Skeletal muscle: Degeneration and necrosis, acute,

multifocal, mild to moderate.

JPC Diagnosis:1. Liver, hepatocytes: Necrosis, centrilobular and

midzonal, diffuse, severe, with hemorhage andperiportal hepatocellular lipidosis.

2. Skeletal muscle: Degeneration and necrosis,multifocal, marked.

Contributor’s Comment: histopathologic findings included moderatemultifocal fat necrosis of the liver, and multifocal myocardial necrosis. In thepig, effect of Vitamin E / Selenium deficiency is sudden death, typically inyoung, fast growing weaners. Two principle presentations seen at arehepatosis dietetica (HD) and mulberry heart disease (MHD). HD ischaracterized by hemorhagic centrilobular to massive hepatic necrosis. MHD ischaracterized by fibrinoid necrosis and thrombosis of small vessels resulting inmicrohemorhages.

Conference Comment: Massive hepatic necrosis implies necrosis of the entirehepatic acinus – centrilobular, midzonal, and periportal hepatocytes. Seleniumand/or vitamin E deficiency is classically associated with massive hepaticnecrosis, a disease in pigs known as “hepatosis dietetica”.

In addition to vitamin E and selenium deficiencies, other differentials forhepatic necrosis consideration include blue-green algae, Amanita(mushrooms), Cestrum diurnum, Xanthium sp. (cocklebur), iron dextran,aflatoxin, fumonisin B1, sporidesmin and pyrrolizidine alkaloids.