Fig. 2.

A: Umbilicus from a 14 day old piglet lifted with support under the abdomen (Group 2). The piglet presented with an umbilical hernia. The depth, width, and length of the hernia measured 12, 25, and 14 mm, respectively. A skin ulceration (arrow) measuring approximately 9 × 5 mm was present on the ventral surface of the hernia. B: Umbilical hernia from the piglet in Fig. 2A viewed from the inside of the abdomen. The closure of the abdominal wall (*) is incomplete leaving an umbilical ring (arrow) at the entrance to the hernial sac. C: Omphalitis in a 14 day old piglet lifted with support under the abdomen (Group 2). The lesion was characterized by an abscess (arrows) located at the umbilicus. No lesions were apparent from the skin surface i.e. before opening the abdominal cavity. D: Histological image of omphalitis in a 14 day old piglet lifted by one hind leg (Group 1). An abscess (*) is present within the umbilicus. Part of the lesion is shown in higher magnification in Fig. 2E. Haematoxylin and eosin, scale bar 2200 μm. E: Higher magnification of the umbilical abscess shown in Fig. 2D. The abscess consisted of a centre of bacterial colonies (*), surrounded by a massive infiltration of neutrophilic granulocytes and granulation tissue. Haematoxylin and eosin, scale bar 150 μm. F: Histological image of omphalitis in a 14 day old piglet lifted by one hind leg (Group 1). A granuloma is present in the connective tissue of the umbilicus. The lesion is characterized by a centre of mineralization (*) surrounded by multinucleated giant cells, epithelioid cells, macrophages, and proliferating fibroblasts. Haematoxylin and eosin, scale bar 150 μm