Pygomelia and True Hermaphroditism in a Nine Week Old Large White Piglet Case Report

Abstract

A nine weeks old female Large White piglet which was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, with a complaint of extra limbs was diagnosed with pygomelia and concurrent true hermaphroditism based on gross morphologic features, radiography, exploratory laparotomy and histopathology of the malformed organs. The piglet had two well-developed extra hind limbs consisting of the femur, tibia, fibula and the phalanges. Radiographically, the accessory limbs were attached to the ischium through a rudimentary pelvic bone. The supernumerary limbs were smaller than the normal appendages, but contained equal digits. The anal orifice was observed cranial to the right supernumerary limb. Caudal to the left supernumerary limb a rudimentary penis was observed. Two oval shaped fibrous masses were palpated in the inguinal canal of the piglet. In addition, there was a transparent tubular tract measuring 24 cm in length which contained serous fluid. The right kidney was rudimentary measuring 2.10 cm, while the left kidney appeared hypertrophied measuring 6.10 cm. The histology of the left kidney showed dysplastic areas of undifferentiated mesenchymal stroma in the cortex and medulla with the presence of groups of immature glomeruli in the cortex. The tubules in the medulla were scanty in number and had atypical epithelium. The adrenal glands had normal architecture with ectopic adrenal tissue in the adrenal capsule, while the ovaries and uterus were normal. It was concluded that the complex anomalies in the piglet might be as a result of a complex mode of inheritance.

Keywords

• hermaphroditism
• intersex
• pigs
• pygomelia