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Veterinarian explains birth defect of 'human-like' piglet in Negros Oriental


Veterinarian explains birth defect of 'human-like' piglet in Negros Oriental

A man from Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, was left baffled after his pet pig gave birth to a piglet that seemingly had "human-like" features.

In Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras" Thursday, AJ Cardinas said that the piglet looked different from the other piglets in the litter because its nose and ears resembled that of a human's.

"Siya ang iba sa lahat ng biik. Nagulat ako, mukhang tao ang ilong niya, then 'yung mata niya may eyelashes pa. Tenga niya parang baby," he said.

Veterinarian Dr. Aris Miclat has explained that the piglet had a birth defect called holoprosencephaly.

"This is a congenital malformation, which is technically a birth defect na nagkakaroon siya ng problema dun sa development ng brain. Imbes na mag-develop into two hemispheres ito ay nagkakaroon ng fusion. Therefore ito ay nag-l-lead sa malformed or missing craniofacial structures. Ito 'yung reason kung bakit nagmukha siyang parang isang tao," said Dr. Miclat.

Kuya Kim also shared that the birth defect may possibly be caused by genetic mutation or through the mother pig's exposure  to chemicals, pesticides, and more while pregnant.

Dr. Miclat added that the latter is possible, especially when the exposure happened during the piglet's development in the womb.

"Posible itong mangyari lalong-lalo na during that time of development nung animal na 'yun, dun na-expose 'yung ating inahin.  Diyan na ngayon nagkaroon ng teratological defect," he said. "Almost, always this particular case is fatal."

The piglet had only lived for four hours.

Moreover, the veterinarian refuted conjectures that the piglet may have been the product of interbreeding between a pig and a human.

According to Kuya Kim, Dr. Miclat said that while it's possible for two different species to breed, interbreeding between an animal and a human is impossible due to genetic differences.

— CDC, GMA Integrated News

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