Elsevier

The Veterinary Journal

Volume 168, Issue 3, November 2004, Pages 317-322
The Veterinary Journal

Urolithiasis in finishing pigs

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2003.09.006Get rights and content

Abstract

Urolithiasis in sows and neonatal pigs is well-known, but information on its occurrence and impact in finishing pigs is sparse. This study reports three outbreaks of urolithiasis in finishing pigs. In one herd, no symptoms were observed, whereas in the other herds the presence of calculi caused obstruction of the urinary tract resulting in death. Using infra-red spectroscopy, the predominant mineral-type found in the uroliths was calcium carbonate (calcite). Only small amounts of calcium oxalate (<1%) could be detected. A high urinary pH, small abnormalities in the mineral composition of the feed and insufficient drinking water were the most important risk factors identified. To prevent urolithiasis, it is important to ensure adequate water intake, to provide a balanced mineral diet, and to avoid urinary tract infections.

Introduction

Urolithiasis is well recognised in both companion and farm animals (Radostits et al., 1999). In castrated male ruminants, obstructive urolithiasis can cause considerable economic loss due to mortality and treatment costs (Radostits et al., 1999), but there are very few reports of the condition in pigs.

Yellow amorphous sediment is sometimes found in the urine and in the bladder of sows. The sediment seems to be of no clinical significance and can be prevented by increasing water intake. Crystalluria has been implicated as a risk factor for urinary tract infections in sows since it can cause cystitis and pyelonephritis (Carr et al., 1991; Wendt et al., 1996). Wendt et al. (1996) experimentally reproduced the disease by feeding diets high in phosphorus and restricting the water supply. In boars, obstructive urolithiasis was reported to have caused the death of a six year old Piétrain (Baumgartner and Loupal, 1983).

Uric acid and urate crystals are frequently found in the kidneys, ureters and bladder of neonatal piglets, probably due to increased purine catabolism following low nutrient intake after birth (Windsor, 1977; Kakino et al., 1998). Affected piglets have splayed legs and appear depressed; later they become paralysed, comatose, and finally die. Cases of obstructive urolithiasis in weaned pigs have been reported by Sim (1979) and Smyth et al. (1986). Sim (1979) considered that a dramatic increase in mortality rate of recently weaned pigs was probably due to major imbalances in the diet, although the composition of the calculi was not determined. Biochemical analysis of the uroliths of two pigs in the case described by Smyth et al. (1986) did not show a consistent pattern, but xanthine and oxalate were found in both. The problem was solved by increasing the salt level in the creep diet and by installing a second nipple drinker in each pen. In the same study, Smyth et al. (1986) showed that the uroliths of one 11-week-old pig that had died due to obstructive urolithiasis, consisted of oxalate and carbonate. In finishing pigs, a single Japanese study (Inoue et al., 1977) reported calcium carbonate uroliths as a cause of obstructive urolithiasis. The associated changes in the bladder wall included degeneration of the mucosa and smooth muscle.

We report here three different outbreaks of urolithiasis in finishing pigs, raised under commercial conditions in Belgian herds.

Section snippets

Case A

The first case occurred in a 400-sow herd with 800 finishing pigs. All sows were Seghers hybrids inseminated with Piétrain semen. The piglets were weaned at four weeks of age and moved to a nursery until they were 10-weeks-old (∼20 kg liveweight). During the nursery period, weaners received feed (meal) by means of a wet feeding system. Finishing pigs were raised on fully slatted concrete floors with 12 pigs per pen and received a commercial starter meal from 20 to ∼45 kg liveweight and a

Case B

The second case occurred in a farrow-to-finish pig herd of 50 crossbred sows (Belgian Landrace × English or Finnish Landrace). The sows were inseminated with Piétrain semen. Piglets were weaned at four weeks of age and housed in a nursery unit with 12 pigs per pen until they were 10–12 weeks of age (∼20 kg liveweight). They were fed dry meal, and there was one nipple drinker (1 L/min) per pen. Finishing pigs were housed with 12 pigs per pen on a fully-slatted concrete floor and were fed a

Case C

This was a farrow-to-finish herd of 200 sows and 1500 finishing pigs. The sows were commercial hybrids (Hypor and Danbred) inseminated with semen from Piétrain boars. Piglets were weaned at four weeks of age and moved to nursery facilities until ∼35 kg liveweight (14 weeks). Nursery and finishing pigs were fed meal ad libitum. There was one drinking nipple per pen in the nursery (11 pigs/pen) and in the finishing unit (11 pigs/pen). Pigs were seen to use the drinking nipples. The drinking water

Discussion

Signs of the presence of urolithiasis were not obvious and varied between the three herds. Chalky sediment was observed on the floor and in the urine in herds A and B, whereas an increase in mortality was reported in herd C. Typical clinical signs of obstructive urolithiasis such as decreased appetite, frequent and/or painful urination with anuria and progressive abdominal distention in the cases of bladder rupture (Drolet and Dee, 1999) were not observed by staff responsible for herds B and C.

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