Necrotic hepatitis - Atlas of swine pathology
Where: digestive system, liver
Possible causes: AnthraxBotulismClostridium perfringensHepatitis E virusClostridium difficileClostridium novyi
This image corresponds to a necrotic liver with gas bubbles in the hepatic parenchyma of a recently sudden death sow giving a spongy, “aero-chocolate bar” appearance.
Caution must be taken during post-mortem since it must be done soon after the animal has died otherwise the bacterium that lives in the intestine will colonise the liver and accelerate the decomposition, particularly if the carcass is kept in warm environments. This could lead to misdiagnosis.
Clostridium novyi is the most likely cause of this lesion.
The breeding herd was treated with penicillin-like antibiotics and the herd was vaccinated against Clostridium novyi.
