Pneumocystis carinii in a Pig

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Abstract
A 10 wk old pig from a herd in which mortality had been 5% after weaning was studied. It had extensive necrotic cecitis and colitis. Escherichia coli was cultured from the lung. No bacteria were cultured from liver, spleen and kidney. Normal bacterial flora was obtained from the intestine. Nematode parasites were not found in the small intestine. There was moderate bronchopneumonia. Further study of the intraalveolar bodies was indicated because the site, morphologic appearance and staining reactions were consistent with those of P. carinii. A presumptive identification of pneumocystis was made on the basis of light microscopic morphology, staining characteristics and distribution of the organisms. EM confirmed this. Although formalin fixation was not optimal for fine structural study, enough features characteristic of the organism in rat and human tissues were preserved to allow identification. Although there has not been a great incidence of pneumocystis pneumonia in domestic animals, veterinary pathologists should be aware of the disease.

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