3 Life Technologies | Animal Health
Preparation
Cervical swab
In the case of loose housing, selected sows have to be restrained for sampling.
Make sure animals are properly restrained in an appropriate fashion by a
competent person.
Do not take samples in extensively overcrowded pens—pigs may panic and hurt
each other or the veterinarian during sampling.
• Ensure there is enough light in the work area.
• Use a sterile speculum for each sow.
• Use swabs of a diameter and length appropriate to the age of the pig (gilt vs.
sow). The stem of the swab should be made of plastic, which is less likely
to break than a wooden stem (pigs often show defensive movements during
sampling). The tip of the swab should be flocked with a synthetic fiber (e.g.,
Dacron) rather than with cotton, if PCR is the intended diagnostic test: cotton
fibers do not release a sufficient amount of swabbed material.
• For cultural testing, use swab containers with medium (e.g., Amies). For PCR
testing, use swab containers without medium. If both methods are required, take
two swabs from each pig and use the two different types of containers.
Semen
Only boars that have received appropriate training should be selected
for sampling.
• Make sure that the collection pen is clean and free of extraneous items, which
might distract the boar's attention away from the phantom.
• Avoid noise, pain, fear, etc., which can negatively influence the boar's behavior
for mounting the phantom.
Group size
Percentage of diseased animals within a group
5% 10% 20%
Number of samples (95% confidence level)
100 44 25 13
200 50 26 13
300 53 27 13
750 57 28 13
3,000 58 29 13
