Agreement among veterinarians evaluating gross lesions of lungs, livers, and nasal turbinates of pigs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate agreement between trained veterinarians and a reference inspector when recording gross lesions of lungs, livers, and nasal turbinates of pigs.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
10 veterinarians in workshop 1 and 11 veterinarians in workshop 2.


METHODS
Analysis of data obtained from 2 workshops in which veterinarians evaluated fresh tissues (30 lungs and 30 livers) and 100 slides of nasal turbinates previously evaluated by the reference inspector. Veterinarians independently recorded observations of gross lesions. Agreement was evaluated by percentage agreement, kappa or weighted kappa, and sensitivity and specificity, where relevant.


RESULTS
Agreement between veterinarians and the reference inspector was excellent for detecting consolidation of lung lobes typical of enzootic pneumonia (kappa = 0.81 and 0.87 for workshops 1 and 2, respectively) and white spots on livers (kappa = 0.76 and 0.78). Estimates of the extent of consolidation as a proportion of lung volume also agreed closely with reference values. Agreement was closer for veterinarians who had undergone repeated training and evaluation. Agreement was good for detecting nasal turbinate atrophy (weighted kappa = 0.63 and 0.68) and was poorest for detecting lesions of pleuritis (kappa = 0.39 and 0.44).


CONCLUSIONS
For most of the lesions evaluated, acceptable levels of agreement with reference scores were achieved after training of veterinarians to use standardized methods to record gross lesions. Standardization of veterinarians' recordings of gross lesions should improve the reliability and usefulness of data collected by inspection of slaughtered pigs.
Davies
P R
PR
Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, College of Veterniary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
Bahnson
P B
PB
Grass
J J
JJ
Marsh
W E
WE
Dial
G D
GD
D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy / Q000662:veterinary; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000473:pathology*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data