Search

Experimental and spontaneous infections with Corynebacterium suis in sows were investigated. In early stages animals show no clinical disorders or only for a short time. However, there are already marked changes in urinary samples (hematuria, proteinuria, leukocyturia, gross alterations). Using an endoscope mucosal irritations can be seen mainly on the floor of the bladders. In chronic cases alterations in urine are more pronounced. If a pyelonephritis is present in addition to the cystitis, general signs of illness are evident including anorexia, emaciation, anemia, subnormal body temperature and abortions. Bladders demonstrate an erosive and ulcerative, hemorrhagic cystitis on the whole mucosal surface. Uremia appears only in late stages of the disease.

With a flexible scope the examination of the bladder is possible at the standing sow without anaesthesia. When using a non-flexible scope general anaesthesia with a supplementary spinal anaesthesia is necessary in order to avoid lesions of the urinary tract and damage of the instrument. For a systematic inspection the bladder must be emptied and filled with air. The state of the bladder can be estimated by the colour of mucosa, the condition of visible blood vessels and of the mucosal surface. To prevent infections careful disinfection of the scope as well as antibiotic treatment of the bladder is important. There were good correlations between endoscopic findings in sows with cystitis and parameters of urinalysis especially for sensory parameters, proteinuria, leukocyturia and significant bacteriuria. An advantage of cystoscopy is the possibility to survey beginning or chronic symptoms of cystitis, even when urine is nearly unchanged.

The influence of protein content in feed, of reduced and increased water-intake, of different hygienic situations and of antibiotic feed-medication on urine contents was controlled in healthy and cystitis diseased sows. It could be shown, that the urinary quality of healthy and ill sows was influenced in the same direction by exogenous factors. The amount of water-intake shows the greatest influence. Its rinsing effect on the quantity of relevant parameters of the urine examination (bacterial count, protein content, cell content) can induce misleading findings. Therefore the evaluation of the urinary status should be completed by anamnestic information, especially concerning increased or reduced water-intake.