[Biochemical, hematologic, immunologic and cytogenetic study of papillary dermatitis in fattened pigs]

Examinations were performed of 31 fattened pigs suffering from papular dermatitis (PD) and 33 fattened pigs without dermal changes (C) coming from the D. large pig-fattening farm and the production breeding herd of pigs. The weight of the pigs was from 95 to 105 kg. Both farms are sited in a mining area (intensive lignite extraction). The PD pigs, compared with the controls (C), had less total protein, cholesterol and calcium in their blood serum and increased concentrations of thyroxine (T4), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), vitamins A and E, inorganic phosphorus and potassium, and the higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. The PD pigs also had an increased leucocyte count in blood. In their peripheral lymphocytes the PD pigs had a significantly higher number of aberrant cells, 3.9 times higher number of chromosome breaks, slightly increased rate of sister chromatid exchanges, but half the number of chromosome exchanges of the C pigs. No differences between PD pigs and the controls were recorded in the response of the T-lymphocytes of peripheral blood to non-specific phytohaemagglutinin stimulation; neither were there any substantial differences in the concentration of serum immunoglobulins of the IgG, IgM and IgA classes. The PD and C pigs of both herds (the D. and M. farms) had low concentrations of all three serum immunoglobulins. The higher occurrence of PD in the D. herd, compared with the M. farm, is associated with a greater reduction of serum immunoglobulins (IgM by 38%, IgA by 25%, IgG by 15%).