Evaluation of hepatic lesions in livers from condemned pigs at the municipal slaughterhouse of Pasaje, Ecuador
Abstract
Ecuadorian pig farming is growing but faces significant sanitary challenges. Hepatic lesions detected in slaughtered pigs affect meat quality, food safety, and economic performance, highlighting management deficiencies and the need for specific local studies. The objective of this study was to characterize the macroscopic and microscopic lesions present in pig livers from animals slaughtered at the municipal abattoir of Pasaje, Ecuador. A total of 3,200 livers were inspected through official post-mortem evaluation, and 80 (2.5 %) showing visible alterations were selected for histopathological analysis. The main macroscopic lesions included hepatomegaly, discoloration, and fibrous adhesions, while microscopically, necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, fibrosis, hyperplasia, and congestion were frequently observed, showing patterns consistent with chronic liver damage. The marked presence of eosinophilic infiltrates associated with necrosis and bridging fibrosis suggests parasitic etiologies, likely linked to Ascaris suum infections and the development of “milk spot” lesions, recognized as a major cause of hepatic condemnation. These findings confirm that, although relatively low frequency, hepatic lesions represent a sensitive indicator for detecting health problems at the farm level and a source of economic loss, highlighting the role of post-mortem inspection as an epidemiological surveillance tool and the need to strengthen parasite control programs, biosecurity, and good management practices in pig production in the region.
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