Cases of Pig Poisoning Encountered Naturally in Smallholder Farms in Nairobi and Its Environs

Abstract

Systematic necropsies were conducted on 84 pig carcasses presented to Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology between June 2004 and June 2007. Affected farms were visited in order to gather epidemiological data. Four pigs (4.8%) were diagnosed as poisoning cases. The first pig was found dead and at autopsy, 1litre of watery fluid in thoracic cavity was encountered. A commercial feed was responsible for the poisoning. The second was a boar that had nervous signs, at post mortem, it had fluid in thoracic cavity and pericardial sac and infiltration of mononuclear cells into meninges and acidophilia of cortical neurons, microscopically. Swill and lack of water caused the poisoning. The third pig was found trembling and at necropsy, pale kidneys were embedded in gelatinous edema. Histopathology revealed protein material in tubules. Swill supplemented with Amaranthus spp caused the poisoning. The fourth pig that had respiratory distress, at necropsy, gastric and gallbladder edema; and hepatomegaly were observed. Self-formulated feeds were the cause of poisoning. Poisoning cases exist in pig farms, but toxicological analyses to determine the actual toxicant are needed. These cases were associated with poor husbandry and farmers should be educated on good husbandry practices to avoid such losses.