58 SWINE DISEASES 



Etiology. Fatty changes in the liver may be due to 

 excessive nutrition, diminished exercise, hereditary in- 

 fluences, long-continued fever, bacterial products, and 

 such chemical poisons as phosphorous. Fatty degen- 

 eration of hepatic tissue is sometimes observed in con- 

 ditions associated with malnutrition. 



Lesions. The liver is enlarged, gray or grayish-red 

 in color and lighter than normal in weight; when incised, 

 droplets of fat or oil may be observed on the knife. 

 Fatty changes are usually uniformly distributed in the 

 entire liver; however, in exceptional cases, one lobe 

 only may be involved. 



Symptoms. The evidence of fatty changes in the 

 liver are not characteristic. The condition may be 

 suspected in obese animals or those known to be affected 

 with chronic arsenic, antimony, or phosphorous poisoning. 



Treatment. There is no treatment that is of any 

 special value more than to correct the diet. 



Amyloid Changes 



Amyloid changes in the liver are rather uncommon 

 in swine. The cause is unknown. The affected liver is 

 larger, paler, and firmer than normal. The amyloid 

 areas are homogenous and translucent in appearance, 

 the amylaceous substances usually occurring in definite 

 foci, though they may be quite diffuse. This condition 

 may be associated with other diseases which tend to 

 mask any specific symptoms. One case of amyloid 

 change has been observed in a hog that clinically showed 

 no manifestation of disease and was in prime condition 

 at the time of slaughter. The amylaceous substance is 

 insoluble, and the condition is therefore probably incur- 

 able. 



Glycogenic Infiltration 



Glycogenic infiltration is a condition in which excessive 

 quantities of glycogen accumulate in the liver. This 

 condition is observed occasionally in the liver of slaugh- 

 tered swine. 



