title: Arthritis in slaughter pigs.
abstract: Joints obtained from 192 pig carcases were examined by means of standard microbiological and macro- and histopathological procedures. Approximately 32% of the joints were considered normal; 35.5% showed lesions consistent with osteochondrosis and a non-specific synovitis was present in 24.4%. Only 6.1% of joints were arthritic and yielded either Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus spp. The remainder (2.3%) had periarticular lesions such as abscesses. The study emphasises that an accurate diagnosis and correct evaluation of pig carcases showing joint lesions, is absolutely essential if a high standard of meat inspection is to be obtained and unnecessary economic losses are to be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Collett
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Veary
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kruger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000662:veterinary; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000662:veterinary; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000209:etiology*