Chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in swine

Frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes were investigated in 56 swine from 3 herds (I, breeding sows; II and III, fattening pigs). The mean frequencies of aberrant cells (AB.C.) were 3.58 +/- 1.59%, 2.10 +/- 1.52% and 6.20 +/- 3.21%, respectively. The mean numbers of SCEs per cell were 7.73 +/- 0.86, 6.51 +/- 0.89 and 7.06 +/- 1.47, respectively. A significant difference was found between the herds under study with regard to the number of aberrant cells but not the SCE frequency. In a parallel study, the presence of aflatoxin B1, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloromethylmethane (DDT), lindane, mercury, lead and cadmium in the environment of fattening pigs was investigated. The total exposure to mutagens of pigs from herd III with a mean frequency of 6.2% AB.C., was markedly higher than that of herd II with the mean frequency of 2.1% AB.C.