Cross-sectional survey of the occurrence of azotaemia in trade pigs in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was a cross-sectional survey that evaluated the occurrence of azotaemia in pigs slaughtered at Ikpa Abattoir, Nsukka, Nigeria. A total of 304 pigs were evaluated. The pigs were physically examined, and categorized based on sex, age and health status. Blood samples were collected from each of the pigs and assayed for biomarkers of azotaemia. Cut-off value (CoV) based on established reference limits in pigs for serum creatinine (sCr) [1.0 – 2.7 mg/dL] and serum urea (sUr) [21.4 – 64.0 mg/dL] was used to lassify the pigs as azotaemic or non-azotaemic. Results showed that 18(5.9 %) out of the 304 pigs were azotaemic based on sCr CoV, 14(4.6 %) had azotaemia based on sUr CoV, and only 8(2.6 %) had both sCr and sUr above the CoV. There was no significant association (p>0.05) between sex and the occurrence of azotaemia based on sCr CoV, but significantly more (p<0.05) females had sUr levels above the CoV. Significantly more (p<0.05) adults had azotaemia based on the sCr CoV, but significantly more (p<0.05) growers and fatteners had sUr levels above the CoV. Also, significantly higher (p<0.01) number of unhealthy pigs was azotaemic when compared to the healthy ones. Significantly more (p<0.05) females and young pigs had sCr levels below the lower reference limit (LRL) of 1.0 mg/dL, but none of the pigs had sUr levels below the sUr LRL. The occurrence of azotaemia in the pigs sampled ranged from 2.6 to 5.9 %, and was strongly associated with the health status of the pigs.