Open AccessIdentification of predisposing and risk factors associated with gastric lesions in pigs
Author(s) -
Olugbenga Adeshola Omotosho,
G. O. Ayoade,
Benjamin Obukowho Emikpe,
Oyeduntan Adejoju Adediran,
Emmanuel Chibuike Uwalaka
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
asian pacific journal of tropical disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.208
H-Index - 33
ISSN - 2222-1808
DOI - 10.1016/s2222-1808(15)60939-2
Subject(s) - identification (biology) , medicine , environmental health , biology , botany
Objective: To identify some predisposing and risk factors of gastric lesions in pigs in\udSouthwestern Nigeria.\udMethods: Pre-slaughter animal assessment and post-slaughter stomach evaluation were\udconducted on pigs presented for slaughter in three major abattoirs in Southwestern Nigeria.\udThe factors assessed included animal characteristics, environmental and management factors\udand infection. The gross lesions encountered in 480 stomachs were graded using standard\udtechnique. Stomach contents were assessed and subjected to parasitological studies while\udstomach tissue sections were used for histopathology evaluation. The data obtained were\udanalyzed using Chi-square, One-way ANOVA and percentages. Significance was determined at\udP < 0.05.\udResults: There was no significant association between breed, weight at slaughter, location of\udthe farm of origin and occurrence of gastric lesions in pigs. Sex and stomach content volume\udwere identified as associated risk factors while abattoir findings and evidence of stomach\udinfection suggests that unhygienic feeds, stressful husbandry practices, stressful pre-slaughter\udhandling, internal parasites and Helicobacter species infection are important predisposing\udfactors.\udConclusions: This study documents some factors that are contributory to the occurrence of\udgastric lesions in pigs in Southwestern Nigeria and identifies the need for improved animal\udwelfare