[Atrophic rhinitis: assessment of the longitudinal section of the head of pigs in the slaughter line for the determination of incidence and extent of concha atrophy].

UNLABELLED

Atrophic rhinitis (AR) is a disease which causes economic loss to the pig breeding industry in the Netherlands. Prospective studies were done to detect AR at the slaughter line. Longitudinal sections of nasal cavities, made and inspected at the slaughter line, were compared with transverse ones made at a later stage. By close visual inspection and using a 5 grade-system, atrophy of the turbinate bones, ranging from mild to severe, could be detected. However, when a speed slaughter line was used, it was hard to differentiate between normal and mild atrophy of the turbinate bones.

CONCLUSION

prevalence and severity of AR as observed on inspection of the longitudinal nasal cavity section at the slaughter line could be valuable in integrated surveillance of the animal and meat production chain.