On the farm, several lethargic pigs were found in a pig herd aged between 10 and 18 weeks and some deaths occurred within the herd, followed by continued mortality.
Close observation showed that some pigs were lethargic, had pale skin, were coughing and had dark blood mixed in their feces. Apart from these few symptoms, there were almost no other clear signs.
▲ (Photo 1) Lesion from gastric ulcer ▲ (Photo 2) Lesion from gastric ulcer
Following the autopsy of the dead pig, the pig’s body was pale, and when the stomach was opened, it was found to contain a large amount of blood clots such as blood clots (Photo 1-2).
Additionally, deep ulcers have been observed around the part of the esophagus leading to the stomach. Some surrounding areas had reliefs and erosions and were stained by digestive juices.
The intestines of most pigs were normal, but the intestines of some had congestion and bleeding, and pneumonia was confirmed in some.
In this case, death was caused by a gastric ulcer, caused by anemia and bleeding due to rapid rupture of local blood vessels within the ulcer. Gastric ulcers (stomach bleeding) are a common problem on many pig farms around the world.
stomach ulcers in pigs
Gastric ulcers in pigs can occur at any age. It occurs particularly frequently in breeding pigs before and after farrowing, which are sensitive to stress, and in breeding/fattening pigs.
Gastric ulcer is an important lesion that represents one of the main causes of death in breeding pigs and growing/fattening pigs. Stomach damage affects fattening performance, including reduced weight gain, and in severe cases leads to death, causing serious economic losses to livestock farms.
Gastric ulcers occur mainly in the last part of the esophagus, where the esophagus and stomach meet and around the cardia of the stomach[giunzione della pars esofagea e del cardias dello stomaco].
Since strong digestive juices, such as stomach acids, come out of the stomach, mucus is secreted by the stomach lining to protect the stomach, preventing stomach damage. However, because this area does not secrete mucus, it cannot protect against stomach acid.
▲ (Photo 3) Aspects of gastric ulcer lesions
If this area continues to be affected by stomach acid, the stomach epithelium will undergo parakeratosis and erosion, eventually progressing to ulcerative lesions (Photo 3).
▲ (Photo 4) Intragastric bleeding due to gastric ulcer
When a stomach ulcer begins, bleeding occurs inside the stomach (Photo 4).
If bleeding in the stomach progresses slowly, symptoms of anemia such as depression, lethargy, loss of appetite and weakness appear, and pale skin gradually appears. Also, dark red stools appear due to internal bleeding.
In the case of a pig dying from an acute gastric ulcer, the skin appears very pale due to rapid blood loss due to intragastric hemorrhage, but the pig appears to be in good shape.
Causes of stomach ulcers in pigs
Common causes of gastric ulcers in pigs include environmental stress and difficulties such as high temperature stress in summer, large daily temperature swing during seasonal changes, stress from feeding management such as evacuation, lack of drinkers and feeders, ventilation, reduction of feed intake and particle contamination in feed: if it is too small, the causes are numerous, including pathological problems such as respiratory diseases.
● Nutritional causes: Vitamin E, selenium deficiency, mineral deficiency, etc.
● Physical causes: Feed particle size (fine feed particles: the finer the particles, the more numerous), pelleted feed
● Specification management: Long fasting times, lack of drinking water, inconvenient feeding and watering facilities (installation of troughs adequate for the number of animals, lack of feeding places), irregular feeding, lack of drinking water, high stocking density such as evacuation, stress from movement, combat, ventilation
● Infection factors: Porcine respiratory complex syndrome (PRDC), febrile diseases (swine erysipelas, swine fever, etc.), etc.
● etc : Inadequate breeding environment (high temperature, temperature deviation, etc.)
① The intake of fine-grained feed and the form of pellets influence (liquidity of gastric contents, speed of passage of food through the stomach, presence or absence of feed in the stomach). Fine-grained feed and pelleted feed make the stomach contents more fluid, reducing the time it takes for the stomach to empty and increasing the risk of developing gastric ulcers.
▲ (Photo 5) Size of feed particles. The risk increases when the feed is too coarse.
② Gastric ulcers can occur due to cessation of feed intake or decrease in feed intake. In particular, failure to consume feed or reduced feed intake due to summer heat stress are also associated with the development of gastric ulcers. For this reason, many gastric ulcers occur in summer and many deaths occur due to them.
③ Antipyretics can further promote gastritis and stomach ulcers. Aspirin can damage the stomach lining and further increase the risk of stomach ulcers if given over a long period of time.
④ When feed intake is not regular due to diseases such as porcine respiratory complex syndrome (PRDC)
It can promote the development of stomach ulcers.
⑤ Gastric ulcers can also occur in pigs infected with Helicobacter suis, the causative agent of gastric ulcers (incidence rate: 2% in lactating piglets, 30% in piglets, 80% in fattening periods and 100% in adult pigs).
Prevention and management of gastric ulcers
① To prevent stomach ulcers, improve the pig housing environment to minimize stressors such as temperature and humidity management, adequate ventilation and cooping.
② Check the type and type of feed processing, such as switching from pellet feed to powdered feed.
③ Check the water supply line and drinker to ensure that the pig can drink enough water – prevent stomach bleeding or cystitis / improve feed intake
④ Minimize stress: Secure breeding space to prevent emigrants and co-breeding
⑤ Management of ongoing illness problems
⑥ Additional supplements such as vitamin E and selenium
Gastric ulcers are known to occur frequently in summer and cause harm, including death, to pigs and fattening sows. However, in some farms, gastric ulcers continue to occur even in the months of November and December.
Because these gastric ulcers cause serious damage to pig farms, including reduced productivity, farms must identify the cause, make immediate improvements, and exercise special care and careful livestock management to prevent a recurrence.
■ References
1) Guide to the identification and diagnosis of pig diseases
2) Swine diseases, XI edition
3) Pig health
4) Manual of Swine Medicine
▣ Cho Jeong-jun, veterinarian
Sojeong Animal Hospital
▣ Requests
If you have any questions about the above manuscript, please contact the author via email.
Author’s email: jungjoon26@naver.com
▣ Source
Korean don with pork and fork January 2024 Issue 403p
#stomach #ulcers #continue #today #summer
