62 SWINE DISEASES 



tions hepatitis of swine has not been made a subject of 

 special investigation 3 . 



Acute Parenchymatous Hepatitis 



Acute parenchymatous hepatitis is a destructive 

 inflammation involving the liver cells. 



Etiology. Chemic poisons derived from the bowel 

 and carried to the liver by way of the portal vein is a 

 frequent cause of this condition. Bacterial infection, 

 entering the liver by way of the portal vein, hepatic 

 artery, hepatic vein, umbilical vein, or hepatic duct is 

 a common cause of hepatitis. The Distoma or liver 

 flukes, the larval form of Stephanurus dentatum, and 

 other parasites produce hepatitis. 



Lesions. The liver becomes enlarged and loses its 

 sharp outlines; it is darker in color, gorged with blood, 

 and is more friable than the normal liver. There may 

 be small hemorrhagic areas. 



Symptoms. Icterus is usually the first and fre- 

 quently the only evidence of the disease. The affected 

 swine may show symptoms of pain when defecating or 

 when moving about. 



Treatment. Laxatives may produce some relief. 

 The proper diet should be given and the animals made 

 comfortable. 



Suppurative Hepatitis 



Suppurative hepatitis as a primary condition is not 

 very common in swine. 



Etiology. This condition is, as a rule, the result of 

 bacterial infection, although parasites of various kinds 

 may produce it. The infection in the liver is usually 

 secondary and metastatic. Pyogenic Staphylococci and 

 Streptococci are the most 'common infecting agents, 



3 An enzootic hepatitis of young pigs occurred in Russia and was 

 investigated by Semmer. This disease has also occurred in eastern 

 Prussia, where it has been very fatal. The cause of this condition is 

 probably a coccus which is thought to gain entrance into the umbilicus 

 at the time of farrowing. The affected liver is enlarged, nodular and 

 variegated in color. 



