Comparative Studies and Clinical Significance of the Spleens of Nigerian Indigenous Pig (Sus scrofa) and Goat (Capra hircus)

摘要

The mammalian spleen show peculiar histological differences. This study aims to compare the gross, histologic and histomorphometrics of the spleen of Nigerian indigenous pig, NIP (Sus scrofa) and West African Dwarf goat (WADG). Twenty spleens (10 each) from apparently healthy slaughtered adult pigs and goats were studied. Sections were neutral buffered formalin fixed and paraffin embedded for routine and special stains. Grossly, WADG spleen was quadrangular but slipper shaped in NIP. The difference in splenic length and weight in NIP (36.87±2.71cm and 180±17.32cm) was significant (P< 0.05) compared to WADG (9.2±0.77cm and 68±5.43cm). WADG has significantly thickened splenic capsule (1173±57.02μm) than NIP (271.8±17.08μm) (P<0.05). The distribution of white pulps was randomly even in WADG but somewhat clustered in NIP. There were dense population of white pulp in WADG. In conclusion, spleen of NIP and WADG showed relatively well defined histological features but more adaptive for immunological functions in the WADG.