Melanosis uberis in the Nebrodi’s black pig: an unusual finding at the slaughterhouse

Melanosis uberis is a rare congenital anomaly observed in pigs and bears. The authors describe the presence of the melanosis uberis observed at the slaughterhouse in Nebrodi Black pigs.. Macroscopically the abdominal and sternal fat showed disseminated miliary foci of grey or black colour. Histological examination permit to observe the presence of melanocytes in the fat and in the connective tissue located around the ducts and the secretory tissue of the mammary gland. Pigmentus free or phagocytized by macrophages were also observed. This anomaly is considered congenital, not correlated to endogenous or exogenous causes that seems not induce pathological conseguences in the mammary tissue that is however atrophic and inactive. No lesion in the associated lymph nodes were detected. The authors make a point on this anomaly because it is rare and the diagnose could be problematic only by macroscopical examination