Peritoneal Fluid Analysis on Intraoperative Samples in 32 Clinically Healthy Female Companion Pigs and Transabdominal Samples From 10 Clinically Ill Companion Pigs.

BACKGROUND

Published descriptions of expected findings for laboratory analysis of peritoneal fluid (PTF) from companion pigs are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To describe routine PTF analysis results from clinically healthy and ill companion pigs.

METHODS

Intraoperative PTF was collected prospectively from 32 healthy, sexually mature companion sows during ovariohysterectomy, and PTF analyses from 10 clinically ill companion pigs, with fluid collected transabdominally, were identified retrospectively. Clinically ill pigs had peritonitis (n = 4), uterine neoplasia (n = 4), end stage renal disease (n = 1) or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC, n = 1). Analysis included total nucleated cell concentration (TNCC), total protein by refractometry (TP-ref), and differentials of nucleated cells.

RESULTS

In PTF from healthy pigs, TNCC was commonly < 10 000/μL (range 190-14 670/μL) and TP-ref was < 6.0 g/dL, with percentage differentials predominated by mononuclear cells (macrophages, lymphocytes, and individualized mesothelial cells) with < 15% neutrophils and < 10% eosinophils. Pigs with peritonitis or uterine neoplasia had TNCC similar to that of healthy pigs, but with higher percentages of neutrophils, often > 50%, and lower percentages of large mononuclear cells, often < 25%. Most pigs with neoplasia had tumor-associated inflammation, likely contributing to higher neutrophil percentages. Two patients with peritonitis and one with DIC had higher TP-ref than the healthy pigs.

CONCLUSIONS

PTF fluid from companion pigs with peritonitis or uterine neoplasia, particularly with concurrent inflammation, may have similar TNCC but increased proportions of neutrophils compared to healthy sows. Therefore, in contrast to some other large animal species, high percentages of neutrophils in PTF may warrant evaluation for peritonitis or abdominal neoplasia in pigs, regardless of the TNCC.