Porcine agalactia: hematologic, serum chemical, and clinical changes during the preceding gestation
Nachreiner, R.F.; Ginther, O.J.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 33(4): 799-809
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 5062901 Document Number: 55598
Eight sows affected with agalactia were compared with 24 sows which were clinically normal. On day 60 of gestation, 3, 5, 3' triiodothyronine (T3) uptake was lower in the sows which developed agalactia than in the normal sows. Thyroxine (T4) concentration was lower on day 90 of gestation and the albumin to globulin ratio was lower on days 60 and 90 in the sows which developed agalactia. Just prior to parturition, sows which developed agalactia had more basophils, a higher concentration of haemoglobin, lower rectal temperatures, and slower respiratory rate and were standing more frequently than the sows which did not develop agalactia. Just prior to or during the acute stage of agalactia (day 1 or 2 after parturition), the affected sows had higher rectal temperatures, higher plasma cortisol concentration, higher serum urea nitrogen concentration, fewer eosinophils, higher haemoglobin, lower serum glucose, and higher serum protein concentration, and consumed less feed than did the normal sows. A transient decrease in total white blood cells and segmented and nonsegmented neutrophils occurred in the affected sows at 1 to 24 hours after parturition. The indes of free T4, caluculated from the total T4 and T3 uptake index, was lower in affected sows at 1 to 24 hours after parturition. There were no differences between the 2 groups of sows after parturition in frequency of vaginal discharge or in the weight of faeces defaecated daily. At slaughter of the sows on the 3rd day after parturition, the affected group had more mastitis and their ovarian follicular fluid weight was less.