Occurrence and correlates of liver damage and dysfunction in Pigs in Umudike, South-east, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluated the occurrence of liver damage and dysfunction in on-farm pigs reared in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. The study was a cross sectional survey. Seven piggeries in Umudike were purposely selected to geographically cover the study area. A total of 151 pigs in seven piggeries were evaluated for liver damage and liver dysfunction. Each of the pigs was subjected to physical examination and based on the physical examination was categorized as apparently healthy or physically unhealthy. Blood samples were collected from the ear vein of each pig into clean labelled sample bottles. The blood was allowed to clot and serum for clinical biochemistry was obtained by centrifugation. The serum was immediately (within 24 hours of collection) evaluated for markers of hepatocellular damage, hepatosynthetic ability and hepatobiliary function following standard spectrophotometric methods. The results obtained were compared with established reference limits and cutoff points. The percentage occurrence of liver damage based on hepatocellular integrity markers (AST and ALT) ranged from 3.97% to 5.96% while the occurrence of liver damage and dysfunction based on hepatobiliary markers (ALP and Bilirubin) ranged from 0% to 5.30%. Based on markers of hepatosynthetic ability, the occurrence of liver damage/dysfunction ranged from 3.97% to 25.82%. When the markers of liver damage/dysfunction were combined, the occurrence of liver damage/dysfunction ranged from 2.65% to 4.64%. For all the markers, the occurrence of liver damage/dysfunction was significantly (p< 0.01) associated with the physical health status of the pigs. It was concluded that the occurrence of liver damage and dysfunction in surveyed pigs ranged from 2.65% to 4.64%, when the markers were combined as commonly done clinically. The occurrence was significantly associated with the physical health status of the pigs.