Xavier C, Eugenio F A, Gondret F, Nørgaard J Vaerum, Metges C C, Oster M, Ollagnier Catherine
Swine Research Unit, Agroscope, 1725 Posieux, Fribourg, Switzerland.
PEGASE, INRAE, Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, Saint-Gilles, 35590, France.
BMC Vet Res. 2025 May 21;21(1):366. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04738-4.
The collection of blood samples allows the monitoring of animal health and can be achieved by puncture or catheterization of specific veins. However, this process raises ethical concerns regarding animal welfare. As an alternative to traditional invasive blood collection methods, we tested the use of kissing bugs (Dipetalogaster maxima, a blood-sucking insect) and devices derived from human medicine, such as vascular imaging (VeinViewer) and prick lancets used for finger pricking. These methods were compared against the catheter collection method, which is considered the gold standard method for repeated blood sampling. The blood collection methods were tested in six female Large White pigs at four time points. Methods were compared for ease of collection, animal stress indicators, and obtained concentrations of plasma cortisol and glucose.
Among the methods, the catheter and insects were the least stressful, followed by the prick lancet, and the VeinViewer. The VeinViewer was the most stressful, mainly because the pig had to be restrained with a snout rope. According to the operators, the VeinViewer and prick lancet sampling were the most difficult methods to perform, whereas catheter and kissing bug sampling were easier. However, kissing bug sampling took up to 50 min compared to other methods (2-3 min). The method of sampling has a significant effect on glucose concentrations, with lower concentrations obtained with prick lancet (6.1 mg/dL, p < 0.05) and kissing bugs (73.8 mg/dL, p > 0.05) compared to the catheter method (93.2 mg/dL) and the VeinViewer (94.7 mg/dL). Glucose concentrations obtained by catheter were significantly correlated with those obtained by the VeinViewer (r = 0.47) or kissing bugs (r = 0.54). Differences in cortisol levels were less pronounced, with only the prick lancet method showing lower concentrations (2.9 ng/dL, p < 0.05) compared to the other methods (catheter 19.3 ng/dL, kissing bugs 20.8 ng/dL, and VeinViewer 20.4 ng/dL). Significant Spearman's correlations were observed between cortisol concentration of samples obtained by catheter and VeinViewer (r = 0.64) or prick lancet (r = 0.52).
These findings underscore the reliability of catheterization as the gold standard, although the prick lancet appears promising to reduce pig's stress. However, the method could be further refined, both in terms of animal acceptability and especially analytical procedures.
采集血样有助于监测动物健康，可通过穿刺特定静脉或使用导管来实现。然而，这一过程引发了有关动物福利的伦理问题。作为传统侵入性采血方法的替代方案，我们测试了使用猎蝽（大双蚤蝽，一种吸血昆虫）以及源自人类医学的设备，如血管成像仪（静脉观察仪）和用于手指采血的采血针。将这些方法与导管采血法进行比较，导管采血法被认为是重复采血的金标准方法。在六个时间点对六头雌性大白猪进行了采血方法测试。比较了各方法在采血难易程度、动物应激指标以及所获血浆皮质醇和葡萄糖浓度方面的差异。
在这些方法中，导管采血法和昆虫采血法造成的应激最小，其次是采血针采血法，静脉观察仪采血法造成的应激最大。静脉观察仪采血法应激最大，主要原因是猪必须用口鼻绳进行约束。据操作人员称，静脉观察仪和采血针采样是最难操作的方法，而导管采血法和猎蝽采血法较容易。然而，与其他方法（2 - 3分钟）相比，猎蝽采血法耗时长达50分钟。采样方法对葡萄糖浓度有显著影响，与导管采血法（93.2毫克/分升）和静脉观察仪采血法（94.7毫克/分升）相比，采血针采血法（6.1毫克/分升，p < 0.05）和猎蝽采血法（73.8毫克/分升，p > 0.05）所获葡萄糖浓度较低。导管采血法所获葡萄糖浓度与静脉观察仪采血法（r = 0.47）或猎蝽采血法（r = 0.54）所获葡萄糖浓度显著相关。皮质醇水平差异不太明显，只有采血针采血法所获浓度低于其他方法（导管采血法19.3纳克/分升、猎蝽采血法20.8纳克/分升、静脉观察仪采血法20.4纳克/分升，采血针采血法2.9纳克/分升，p < 0.05）。导管采血法所获样本的皮质醇浓度与静脉观察仪采血法（r = 0.64）或采血针采血法（r = 0.52）之间存在显著的斯皮尔曼相关性。
这些发现强调了导管采血法作为金标准的可靠性，尽管采血针采血法在减轻猪的应激方面似乎很有前景。然而，该方法在动物可接受性尤其是分析程序方面仍可进一步完善。
