Histopathological Characterization of Tail Injury and Traumatic Neuroma Development after Tail Docking in Piglets

Sandercock, DA; Smith, Stuart F.; Giminiani, Pierpaolo Di; Edwards, Sandra A.

doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2016.05.003

Cited by 47 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In addition, tail docking is conducted routinely to prevent tail biting in pigs, but it does not completely eliminate tail biting (Hunter et al, ), especially when pigs are housed in high density and barren environments (Amdi et al, ; Statham, Green, & Mendl, ). Tail docking could cause traumatic neuromas and chronic infection (Herskin, Thodberg, & Jensen, ; Sandercock, Smith, Giminiani, & Edwards, ). The pig's tail has some biological functions, such as expressing its normal behavior and emotional status (Houpt, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of tail docking and/or teeth clipping on behavior, lesions, and physiological indicators of sows and their piglets

Zhou

et al. 2019

Animal Science Journal

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To evaluate effects of tail docking and/or teeth clipping on sows and their piglets, a total of 24 sows and their 302 piglets at 3 days of age were randomly allocated to one of four treatments: teeth clipping and tail docking (TCTD), teeth clipping (TC), tail docking (TD), or intact teeth and tail (Intact). Behavior of piglets and sows, lesions on the body and tail of piglets and sows' teats were inspected. Heart rates of processed piglets were increased (p < .01) during the procedures. Teeth clipping decreased body surface temperature (p < .01) of piglets during and after the procedures but tail docking did not (p > .01). Processed piglets spent more (p < .05) time lying alone and playing/fighting than sham‐processed piglets. Tail docked piglets spent less (p < .01) time standing than tail sham‐docked piglets. Intact teeth increased (p < .05) the avoidance behaviors of sows. Teeth clipping decreased (p < .05) the lesion scores on the anterior, middle, and posterior teats. Taken together, piglet teeth clipping had more impact on sows and their piglets than tail docking did in the lactation period based on our findings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of tail docking and/or teeth clipping on behavior, lesions, and physiological indicators of sows and their piglets

Zhou

et al. 2019

Animal Science Journal

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“…Previous investigations in animals have identified the formation of neuromas following tail amputation in dogs 17 , lambs 18 and pigs 19–21 . Currently, data on long-term behavioural and physiological consequences of the effect of tail amputation in non-neonatal subjects are lacking in these particular species, however evidence of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia following tail amputation has been reported in non-neonatal mice 22, 23 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of short- and long-term mechanical sensitisation following surgical tail amputation in pigs

Giminiani

Edwards

Malcolm

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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Commercial pigs are frequently exposed to tail mutilations in the form of preventive husbandry procedures (tail docking) or as a result of abnormal behaviour (tail biting). Although tissue and nerve injuries are well-described causes of pain hypersensitivity in humans and in rodent animal models, there is no information on the changes in local pain sensitivity induced by tail injuries in pigs. To determine the temporal profile of sensitisation, pigs were exposed to surgical tail resections and mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) were measured in the acute (one week post-operatively) and in the long-term (either eight or sixteen weeks post-surgery) phase of recovery. The influence of the degree of amputation on MNTs was also evaluated by comparing three different tail-resection treatments (intact, ‘short tail’, ‘long tail’). A significant reduction in MNTs one week following surgery suggests the occurrence of acute sensitisation. Long-term hypersensitivity was also observed in tail-resected pigs at either two or four months following surgery. Tail amputation in pigs appears to evoke acute and sustained changes in peripheral mechanical sensitivity, which resemble features of neuropathic pain reported in humans and other species and provides new information on implications for the welfare of animals subjected to this type of injury.

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“…Peripheral neuromas occur in 10-25% of human amputees, and are generally formed after injury or surgical procedures, resulting in neuropathic pain, residual limb pain, functional impairment and psychological distress (Rajput, Reddy & Shankar 2012), increasing sensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimulation (Toia et al 2015;O´Reilly et al 2016;Yao et al 2017). Histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of neuroma in the tail stump of docked pigs one month after tail docking, characterized by marked nerve sheath and axonal proliferation (Sandercock et al 2016). Moreover, another study in pigs identified age at time of the procedure as a factor that may influence the development of neuropathic pain (Di Giminiani et al 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Mechanical/thermal sensitivity and superficial temperature in the stump of long-term tail-docked dairy cows

Troncoso

Herzberg

Meneses

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Background. Tail docking of dairy cows is a painful procedure that affects animal welfare. The aims of this study were first to evaluate the response to mechanical and thermal stimulation, and second to determine the superficial temperature of the stump of tail-docked dairy cows. Methods. One hundred and sixty four dairy cows were enrolled. From these, 133 cows were assigned to the tail-docked group (TD) and 31 cows were selected as control animals (C). The following sensory assessments to evaluate pain in tail-docked cows were performed. Sensitivity of the tail region in both groups of animals was evaluated using a portable algometer. Cold and heat sensitivity assessment was performed using a frozen pack (0ºC) and warm water (45ºC), respectively. Pinprick sensitivity was evaluated using a Wartenberg neurological pinwheel. Superficial temperature was evaluated using a thermographic camera. All sensory assessments and superficial temperature were evaluated in the ventral surface of the tail stump (TD) and tail (C). Results. Analysis revealed a significant effect of condition on the pressure pain threshold with significantly lower values necessary to obtain a withdrawal response in TD cows (5.97±0.19 kg) compared to C cows (11.75±0.43 kg). Chi Square test revealed that there was a significant association between heat sensitivity and condition with 29.3% of TD cows responding positively. Nonetheless, no association was found between condition and cold sensitivity. Similarly, after pinprick sensitivity test was performed, 93.2% of TD cows elicited a positive response to stimulation. This sensory testing was significantly associated with the condition. There was a significant effect of condition on superficial temperature, where TD cows had significantly lower temperature (26.43±0.27 ºC) when compared to C animals (29.86±0.62 ºC). Discussion. Pressure pain threshold values in both groups of animals were higher that those previously reported for tail docked pigs, sows and cows. In contrast, pinprick stimulation evaluates the presence of punctate mechanical hyperalgesia/allodynia, usually related to traumatic nerve injury, and this association may reveal that it is possible that these animals developed a disorder associated to the development of a tail stump neuroma and concurrent neuropathic pain, previously reported in tail-docked lambs, pigs and dogs. Thermal sensitivity showed that tail-docked cows responded positively only to heat stimulation. These findings suggest that long-term tail-docked cows could be suffering hyperalgesia/allodynia, which may be indicative of chronic pain. Lower superficial temperature in the stump may be associated to sympathetic fiber sprouting in the distal stump, which can lead to vasoconstriction and lower surface temperatures. Further studies are needed in order to confirm neuroma development and adrenergic sprouting.

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Histopathological Characterization of Tail Injury and Traumatic Neuroma Development after Tail Docking in Piglets

Cited by 47 publications

References 28 publications

Effects of tail docking and/or teeth clipping on behavior, lesions, and physiological indicators of sows and their piglets

Effects of tail docking and/or teeth clipping on behavior, lesions, and physiological indicators of sows and their piglets

Characterization of short- and long-term mechanical sensitisation following surgical tail amputation in pigs

Mechanical/thermal sensitivity and superficial temperature in the stump of long-term tail-docked dairy cows

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