Intra-abdominal Abscesses in Two Göttingen Minipigs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Toxicological Pathology
• Animal Models

Background:

• Göttingen minipigs are valuable models in non-clinical safety and toxicity studies.
• Spontaneous disease is rare in barrier-bred Göttingen minipigs.
• Understanding background lesions is crucial for interpreting pre-clinical toxicity data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the occurrence of intra-abdominal granulomas/abscesses in Göttingen minipigs.
• To describe the histopathological findings associated with these lesions.
• To highlight the importance of recognizing spontaneous lesions in toxicological assessments.

Main Methods:

• Necropsy and gross examination of Göttingen minipigs.
• Histopathological evaluation of abdominal tissues.
• Special stains to identify microorganisms.

Main Results:

• Intra-abdominal granulomas/abscesses were observed in asymptomatic Göttingen minipigs.
• Microscopic findings included chronic inflammation, abscess/granuloma formation, and fibrotic encapsulation.
• Splendore-Hoeppli material was occasionally present.

Conclusions:

• Intra-abdominal granulomas/abscesses represent a spontaneous lesion in Göttingen minipigs.
• These findings can mimic or interfere with toxicity study interpretations.
• Awareness of this background pathology is essential for accurate toxicological risk assessment.