Acute behavioural responses to tail docking in piglets – Effects of increasing docking length?

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-186
Author(s):  
Mette S. Herskin ◽  
Pierpaolo Di Giminiani ◽  
Birthe M. Damgaard ◽  
Karen Thodberg
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Behavioural Changes ◽  
Tail Docking ◽  
Neuroma Formation ◽  
Production Conditions ◽  
Pain Responses

AbstractBackground and aimTail docking has been suggested as an animal model of neuropathy and pain based on findings of relations between the degree of neuroma formation and the docking length. We examined effects of docking length on behaviour of piglets during and 6 h after tail docking.MethodsPiglets were tail docked 2–4 d post-partum. We used 53 piglets and four treatments: intact (I), removal of either 25 (Q), 50 (H) or 75% (T) of the tail. The piglets were kept with sow and littermates under production conditions, and docked using a gas-heated instrument. Behaviour was observed during docking and for the following 6 h.ResultsTail docking led to behavioural changes, the magnitude of which to some extend depended on docking length. Increased docking length led to increased intra-procedural vocalization score (0, 0.6 ± 0.2, 1.4 ± 0.2 and 1.4 ± 0.2 for I, Q, H and T, respectively, P<0.001). In the initial 6h, increased docking length led to increased time spent in the heated creep area (2 ± 1%, 15 ± 6%, 18±8% and 30±6% for I, Q, H and T, respectively; P<0.05). Piglet posture was affected as well, showing that increased docking length led to decreased lying (71 ± 2%, 68 ± 2%, 61 ± 2% and 61 ± 2% for I, Q, H and T, respectively, P<0.01) and increased time spent active (24 ± 2%, 23 ± 2%, 32 ± 2% and 30 ± 3% for I, Q, H and T, respectively, P< 0.05). Pain specific behaviours such as trembling or tail flicking were registered and occurred in 5 ± 1% and 9 ± 1% of observations. However, no effects of docking length could be shown.ConclusionsPiglets responded behaviourally to tail docking. Increasing docking length led to increased pain responses such as intra-procedural vocalizations, hiding behaviour and reduced rest, indicative of increased pain. These results confirm earlier reports suggesting that tail docking might be suitable as an animal model for neuropathy and pain.

Preliminary investigations of behavioural and physiological responses to castration in horses

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 ◽  
pp. 12-12
Author(s):  
R. A. Eager ◽  
J. Price ◽  
E. Welsh ◽  
N. K. Waran
Keyword(s):  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Physiological Indicators ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Welfare Issue ◽  
Recent Debate ◽  
Equine Welfare ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Pain Responses

Behavioural responses to pain are highly species specific and reflect varying strategies for survival. As prey animals, horses may fail to show obvious pain responses, instead masking pain to reduce predation through selection as the weakest of a group (Anil et al., 2002). Price et al. (2002) identified disagreement amongst vets regarding pain assessment and management in horses. This was highlighted by recent debate concerning the existence of post-castration pain and the necessity for analgesia in equines (e.g., Capner 2001; Green 2001). While optimal assessment and management of pain is an important equine welfare issue, the behaviours of horses in response to pain are poorly defined (Raekallio et al. 1997) and the relevance of physiological indicators not confirmed. Palpation or human interaction tests, used in other species (e.g. Holton et al 1998), have yet to be validated in horses. This study aimed to identify and quantify potential behavioural indicators of post-castration pain in horses.

Estradiol alleviates depressive-like symptoms in a novel animal model of post-partum depression

2001 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liisa A.M Galea ◽  
Jennifer K Wide ◽  
Alasdair M Barr
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Post Partum Depression

Neuroinflammatory and behavioural changes in Atp7b knockout mice, an animal model for Morbus Wilson

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (S 01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.N Löschmann ◽  
D Terwel ◽  
E Hoffmann ◽  
T Cantz ◽  
H Schöler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Morbus Wilson ◽  
Behavioural Changes

Efficacy of precisely injected single local bolus of lignocaine for alleviation of behavioural responses to pain during tail docking and castration of lambs with rubber rings

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 ◽  
pp. 210-218
Author(s):  
Alison Holdhus Small ◽  
Ellen Caroline Jongman ◽  
Dominic Niemeyer ◽  
Caroline Lee ◽  
Ian G. Colditz
Keyword(s):  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Tail Docking

Long-term hyperalgesia and traumatic neuroma formation in tail-docked lambs

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Larrondo ◽  
H Bustamante ◽  
E Paredes ◽  
C Gallo
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Inflammatory Process ◽  
Visual Observation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Histopathological Changes ◽  
Traumatic Neuroma ◽  
Tail Docking ◽  
Infra Red ◽  
Neuroma Formation

This study aimed to determine if tail-docking induces long-term hyperalgesia, chronic pain and histopathological changes in tail stumps of tail-docked lambs. Fifty male lambs of 45 days of age were randomly allocated in two groups. One group of 25 lambs was tail-docked using a hot cautery iron and a second group of 25 lambs was subjected only to handling as a control group (undocked lambs). Prior to tail-docking and at intervals of 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after the procedure, infra-red thermography (IT) and mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) tests were carried out in both lambs' tails/stumps, and animals were weighed. In addition, the visual degree of inflammation of tail stumps was evaluated. Finally, animals were slaughtered in a commercial slaughterhouse and tail sections of ten lambs from each group were examined histopathologically. Tail-docking was associated with an inflammatory process according to IT and visual observation in tail stumps at 15 and 30 days post-docking. Tail-docked lambs had lower MNTs than undocked lambs at all evaluated times after tail-docking, indicating the presence of long-term hyperalgesia. Also, traumatic neuroma formation was found in tail stumps of 2/10 tail-docked lambs, and 6/10 presented neuromatous tissue development. It is concluded that tail-docking induces acute and chronic pain in lambs, initially through inflammation, and then via long-term hyperalgesia and traumatic neuroma formation. These long-term findings would have negative implications for the animal welfare of tail-docked lambs.

Rapid-stretch injury to peripheral nerves: implications from an animal model

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (5) ◽  
pp. 1537-1547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Mahan ◽  
Wesley S. Warner ◽  
Stewart Yeoh ◽  
Alan Light
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Peripheral Nerves ◽  
Temporary Increase ◽  
Nerve Injuries ◽  
Muscle Weight ◽  
Stretch Injury ◽  
Tapered Beam ◽  
Mild Reduction ◽  
Sciatic Functional Index ◽  
Neuroma Formation

OBJECTIVERapid-stretch nerve injuries are among the most devastating lesions to peripheral nerves, yielding unsatisfactory functional outcomes. No animal model has yet been developed that uses only stretch injury for investigation of the pathophysiology of clinical traction injuries. The authors’ objective was to define the behavioral and histopathological recovery after graded rapid-stretch nerve injury.METHODSFour groups of male B6.Cg-Tg(Thy1-YFP)HJrs/J mice were tested: sham injury (n = 11); stretch within elastic limits (elastic group, n = 14); stretch beyond elastic limits but before nerve rupture (inelastic group, n = 14); and stretch-ruptured nerves placed in continuity (rupture group, n = 16). Mice were injured at 8 weeks of age, comparable with human late adolescence. Behavioral outcomes were assessed using the sciatic functional index (SFI), tapered-beam dexterity, Von Frey monofilament testing, and the Hargreaves method. Nerve regeneration outcomes were assessed by wet muscle weight and detailed nerve histology after 48 days.RESULTSPost hoc biomechanical assessment of strain and deformation confirmed that the differences between the elastic and inelastic cohorts were statistically significant. After elastic injury, there was a temporary increase in foot faults on the tapered beam (p < 0.01) and mild reduction in monofilament sensitivity, but no meaningful change in SFI, muscle weight, or nerve histology. For inelastic injuries, there was a profound and maintained decrease in SFI (p < 0.001), but recovery of impairment was observed in tapered-beam and monofilament testing by days 15 and 9, respectively. Histologically, axon counts were reduced (p = 0.04), muscle atrophy was present (p < 0.01), and there was moderate neuroma formation on trichrome and immunofluorescent imaging. Stretch-ruptured nerves healed in continuity but without evidence of regeneration. Substantial and continuous impairment was observed in SFI (p < 0.001), tapered beam (p < 0.01), and monofilament (p < 0.01 until day 48). Axon counts (p < 0.001) and muscle weight (p < 0.0001) were significantly reduced, with little evidence of axonal or myelin regeneration concurrent with neuroma formation on immunofluorescent imaging.CONCLUSIONSThe 3 biomechanical grades of rapid-stretch nerve injuries displayed consistent and distinct behavioral and histopathological outcomes. Stretch within elastic limits resembled neurapraxic injuries, whereas injuries beyond elastic limits demonstrated axonotmesis coupled with impoverished regeneration and recovery. Rupture injuries uniquely failed to regenerate, despite physical continuity of the nerve. This is the first experimental evidence to correlate stretch severity with functional and histological outcomes. Future studies should focus on the pathophysiological mechanisms that reduce regenerative capacity after stretch injury.

Information depends on context: behavioural response to chemical signals depends on sex and size in crayfish contests

Behaviour ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Wofford ◽  
Phillip M. LaPlante ◽  
Paul A. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Relative Size ◽  
Chemical Signals ◽  
Behavioural Response ◽  
Orconectes Rusticus ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Behavioural Changes

Securing information about oneself or an opponent can be crucial to update the likelihood of winning a contest and the relative costs of continuing or escalating. This information can subsequently reduce costly errors. However, information encoded in signals exchanged by opponents can differ based on context. We sought to unravel these differences by pairing male and female crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) under varying sex and size conditions. A pre-optimized technique was used to visualize a well-studied contest signal in crayfish (i.e., urine). Behavioural responses were quantified prior to and after the release of that signal. There was a characteristic de-escalation of behavioural intensity after an opponent released urine. However, behavioural changes after the release event were dependent on the sex and the relative size of the opponents. Urine also significantly altered both sender and receiver behaviour, but lack of behavioural differences suggests urine plays a role in both opponent and auto-communication.

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