The intestinal tract and the Peyer’s patch dimensions of Wild boars (Sus scrofa L., 1758) and Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa f.domestica). An allometric comparison

Abstract

Since about 10,000 years process of domestication has led the domestic pig to become strongly dissimilar from its ancestor, the Wild boar. This affected structure and physiology of nearly all organs. This paper deals with a comparative study about intestine and Peyer’s patch (important elements of the Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue) in Wild boar and domestic pig. Small intestine of domestic pig is consistently more developed and Peyer’s patch even more. Implications and causes are discussed.