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OJVRTM
Online Journal of Veterinary Research©
Volume 13
(1):63-75, 2009. Redacted 2017.
Intersexuality in pigs: Impact on veterinary public
health and food safety
Cornillie P1 (DVM, PhD), Mortier V2 (Lic),
Verheyden K2 (MEng), Simoens P1 (Prof, PhD, HD), De
Brabander HF2 (Prof, PhD, PhD), Vanhaecke L2
(MEng, PhD).
1Department of Morphology, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University,2Research
group Veterinary Public Health and Zoonoses,
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Lab chemical analysis,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan
133, B-9820 Merelbeke. Pieter.Cornillie@UGent.be
Abstract
Cornillie P, Mortier V, Verheyden K,
Simoens P, De Brabander HF, Vanhaecke
L, Intersexuality in pigs: Impact on veterinary public
health and food safety, Onl J Vet Res 13(1):63-75,
2009. During a
routine inspection on a pig farm, nortestosterone was
detected unexpectedly in faecal samples of sows. An intersexual pig, held
responsible for this finding, was slaughtered and investigated. Macroscopic
inspection revealed a mainly female reproductive tract consisting of a normally
developed caudal part including a vagina, cervix and uterus, and on the left
side a normal ovary and uterine tube. However, on the right side a hypoplastic testis and epididymis were found together with
a well-developed plexus pampiniformis-like structure.
Histologically, no spermatozoa were found in this testis, but Leydig cells were numerous. Chemical analysis showed the
presence of 17β-nortestosterone in the urine,
fat, kidneys and testicular tissue, as well as the precursor noradrenostenedione in the urine, kidneys and testis. As
intersexuality is a frequent phenomenon in pigs, veterinarians who are
responsible for veterinary public health and food safety must be aware of this
phenomenon which may interfere with the control on the abuse of illegal growth
promoters.
Key words: Nortestosterone, Endogenous source, Hermafroditism, Intersex, Sus scrofa.