3 Life Technologies | Animal Health
Depending on the body weight of the pigs, personal preferences, and capabilities,
there are at least three different routes to access the lower airways of pigs. For the
transoral route, pigs should be anesthetized; for the transtracheal route, pigs must
be anesthetized. In the case of pulse feeding (e.g., liquid feeding systems), do not
anesthetize pigs for at least 1 hour after feeding to avoid cardiovascular shock.
Ensure there is enough light in the work area, which should also be spacious. Use a
sterile collection tube for each pig (5–12 mL).
Sampling technique TOR
1. Place the pig in the correct position, which is characterized by a straight vertebral
column, front legs directed towards the hip, and rear legs directed to the elbows. The
head should be lifted in such a way that the epiglottis is on the same horizontal level
as the hip joint.
2. Carefully pull the tongue straight out of the mouth using one hand.
3. With the other hand push the spatula towards the epiglottis and place the tip in the
rima glottidis.
Body weight
Transoral
lavage (TOR)
Flasshoff
(1996)
Transnasal
lavage (TNR)
Nienhoff &
Bossow (2004)
Transtracheal
lavage (TTR)
Nienhoff et al.
(2006)
5–80 kg 60–120 kg 5–40 kg
Equipment •Spatula
(Miller F4)
•Light
•Endotracheal
tube
4.5 x 220 mm/
6.5 x 290 mm
• Lavage catheter
3 x 500 mm/
4 x 600 mm
•Iron snare
•Lavage catheter
0.7/1.3 x >950 mm
•Permanent needle 12G,
2.7 x 50 mm
•Nutrition tube
1.5/2.1 x 500 mm
Anesthesia
+
– +
Invasiveness
– – +
Contamination w/ S. suis
+ +++ –
Contamination w/
H. parasuis
+ + –
Preparation
