Surgical Correction of Atresia Ani in Piglets: A Case Series from Anambra State

Atresia ani is a congenital defect involving the absence or imperforation of the anal opening and is one of the most frequently reported surgical emergencies in neonatal pigs. This case series documents the presentation, surgical management, and postoperative outcomes of atresia ani in piglets diagnosed at selected pig production farms and veterinary clinics in Anambra State, South East Nigeria, from January 2023 to June 2024. Twenty-two confirmed cases were included based on clinical presentation of abdominal distension, absence of defecation within 24 hours of birth, and identification of a blind anal membrane. Surgical correction was performed using the perineal approach under local infiltration anesthesia. Types I and II were the most common anatomical variants, comprising 82% of cases. Seventeen piglets survived the immediate postoperative period, and fourteen reached weaning age with satisfactory gastrointestinal function. Mortality was associated primarily with peritonitis from delayed presentation and concurrent systemic illness. Affected litters showed a familial clustering pattern, suggesting a possible hereditary predisposition in certain sow lineages on the surveyed farms. Recommendations include the culling of sows with repeated production of affected offspring and the routine neonatal inspection of all piglets within the first 12 hours of birth. This case series adds to limited published literature on congenital gastrointestinal defects in pigs in South Eastern Nigeria. Keywords: atresia ani, congenital defect, piglet surgery, Anambra State, neonatal pig.