title: Influence of tongue inspection during cysticercosis diagnosis on some behavioral and physiological stress measures in pigs (Sus scrofa domestica).
abstract: To evaluate the level of stress induced by the tongue inspection method during cysticercosis diagnosis in pigs at 60 and 90 kg, 27 animals were assigned to one of three experimental groups. In the first group (T1), pigs were held with a snout noose. In addition, animals in T2 were subjected to tongue inspection, while in T0, none of the procedures described above were performed. Resistance to be handled and serum cortisol concentration were higher (P < 0.05) than those from T0 in T1 and T2 groups, for 60- and 90-kg pigs. Time to return to the feeder observed the same pattern than previous variables in 60-kg pigs, but T1 and T0 were similar (P > 0.05) for the heavier animals. T2 did not build up a significant amount of stress with respect to T1, where only more (P > 0.05) vocalizations were emitted by 90-kg pigs. It was concluded that the use of snout noose induces major changes in some behavioral and physiological measures of stress in swine, while the opening of the mouth including tongue inspection does not contribute significantly to this effect.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001 Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, CP62210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez-Torres
authors.forename: Fernando Iván
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Flores-Pérez
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orihuela
authors.forename: Virginio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: Reyes
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: Jaime J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Solano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001835:Body Weight; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006339:Heart Rate; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone