Osteoporosis in swine1

-Lorenzett M.P., Cecco B.S., Bianchi M.V., Cruz R.A.S., Linhares D.C.L., Guedes R.M.C., Driemeier D. & Pavarini S.P. 2022. Osteoporosis in swine. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 42:e07068, 2022. Setor de Patologia Veterinaria, Departamento de Patologia Clinica Veterinaria, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Goncalves 9090, predio 42505, Porto Alegre, RS 91540-000, Brazil. E-mail: sauloppvet@yahoo.com.br Forty-six pigs presented muscle weakness, hind limb paresis and paralysis, weight loss, lateral recumbency, and death in a clinical course of 7 to 10 days. Two pigs were necropsied and exhibited bone fragility, bone callus formation, and multiple fractures in the limbs, ribs, and vertebrae. Microscopically, there was a diffuse and marked decrease in thickness and number of trabeculae. These were disconnected, with a "free-floating" appearance, while the cortex of the long bones was thinned, with an increase of the cortical porosity by enlargement of Haversian canals and endosteal erosion and decreased osteoblastic activity. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry in liver samples revealed significant zinc overload (>2300ppm) and copper deficiency (<33.1ppm). In this communication, we present the first pathologic description of an outbreak of osteoporosis in pigs, and we also provide a brief review of metabolic bone diseases in pigs.