Tail biting induces a strong acute phase response and tail-end inflammation in finishing pigs.
The extent of inflammation associated with tail biting in finishing pigs was evaluated. Tail histopathology, carcass condemnation and the concentration of three acute phase proteins (APPs), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid-A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp), were examined in 12 tail-bitten and 13 control pigs. The median concentrations of APPs were higher (P<0.01) in bitten (CRP 617.5mg/L, range 80.5-969.9; SAA 128.0mg/L, 6.2-774.4; Hp 2.8g/L, 1.6-3.5) than in control pigs (CRP 65.7mg/L, 28.4-180.4; SAA 6.2mg/L, 6.2-21.4; Hp 1.2g/L, 0.9-1.5). There was a tendency for APP concentrations to rise with the histopathological score but the differences were only statistically significant between some of the scores. Five (42%) bitten cases and one (8%) control pig had partial carcass condemnations owing to abscesses (P=0.07). The results show that tail biting induces an inflammatory response in the tail end leading to an acute phase response and formation of carcass abscesses.
Heinonen
Mari
M
Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Pohjoinen Pikatie 800, 04920 Saarentaus, Finland. mari.heinonen@helsinki.fi
Orro
Toomas
T
Kokkonen
Teija
T
Munsterhjelm
Camilla
C
Peltoniemi
Olli
O
Valros
Anna
A
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000662:veterinary*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D013623:Tail / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein