[Lesions in slaughtered animals. IV. Decubital lesions in pigs (author's transl)]

Bacteriological studies (bacteriological examination in conformity with Meat Inspection Regulations) were done in 315 pigs. Examination was positive for bacteria in 58.4 per cent of these slaughtered pigs. The likelihood of bacteriological examination being positive increased with the diameter of the decubital lesion, 39.8 per cent being positive when the diameter was less than 5 cm and 69.2 per cent being positive when the diameter was greater than or equal to 5 cm. In 95.1 per cent of the animals in which examination was positive for bacteria, C. pyogenes or haemolytic streptococci were isolated from the splenic tissues. The presence of a decubital lesion was usually associated with disturbances of locomotion in the slaughtered animal. Inflammatory lesions such as (poly)arthritis of the extremities and vertebral abscesses were frequently observed. Of twenty-six pigs showing a decubital lesion unaccompanied by other pathological findings, ten animals (38.5 per cent) were found to be positive on bacteriological examination. It is concluded that the presence of a decubital lesion in a slaughtered pig should be regarded as an objective criterion for bacteriological examination of the animal in question.