C-reactive protein quantification in porcine saliva: a minimally invasive test for pig health monitoring.
Study objectives were to investigate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) in pig saliva could be quantified using an adapted, time-resolved immunofluorometry assay (TR-IFMA), and to determine whether the assay could distinguish healthy from diseased animals. The test method had intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of 5.75% and 9.73%, respectively, the limit of detection was 0.47ng/mL and the coefficient of determination was 0.98. Analysis of CRP concentrations in paired serum and saliva samples from 50 pigs gave a positive correlation (r=0.702, P<0.01) and the salivary CRP concentration was able to distinguish healthy from diseased animals in 62 samples from pigs with naturally occurring or experimentally-induced inflammation. The results suggest that this minimally invasive, straightforward and sensitive assay may be useful in pig health and welfare monitoring.
Gutiérrez
A M
AM
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
Martínez-Subiela
S
S
Eckersall
P D
PD
Cerón
J J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors
D002097:C-Reactive Protein