Occurence of tail and ear bite injuries in a Hungarian complex pig farm

Abnormal oral manipulation, such as tail-, ear-, and flank-biting are among the most serious behaviour problems in modern pig husbandry. They not only affect the welfare of animals, but also have economic consequences. The prevalence of tail-, ear-, and flank-bite damage was estimated in a 1200 sow farrow-to-finish commercial farm in Hungary were pigs grouped by age. A total of 16,023 individuals were observed, of which 4,679 were housed in the batteries and 11,344 were housed in the fattening barns. In the batteries, the prevalence of tail-bitten and ear-bitten piglets in the different age groups ranged from 2.6 to 15.18%, 10.77 to 56.87%, respectively. The likelihood of tail injuries increased with the age of the animals, while the likelihood of ear injuries gradually decreased with piglet?s age. No flank injuries were observed in piglets from the batteries. In the fattening barns, the prevalence of tail and ear injuries in the different age groups was between 2.73 and 6.1%, and between 3.38 and 58.16%, respectively. Flank biting appeared only in older animals, from 156 days of age, at a much lower frequency (1.96 to 3.26%) than the other injuries studied. Some elements of the housing and feeding technology applied in this farm could enhance the occurrence of abnormal oral bite behaviour in pigs. Changing from wet to granulate feed and replacing the grid flooring with solid flooring covered with straw litter could lead to a decline in the incidence of biting.

Epidemiology and structure of traumatic injuries of ear in the Karachay-Cherkessk Republic

The growth of emergencies, increased traffic and overall technological progress led to an increase in the number of traumatic injuries, including the organ of hearing. The lack of information on the structure and prevalence of traumatic injuries of the organ of hearing makes it difficult to plan and increase the effectiveness of the organization of specialized care for such victims. To study the prevalence and structure of traumatic injuries of the hearing organ in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the medical records of patients with various ear injuries who were treated in the departments of the Karachay-Cherkess Republican Clinical Hospital over the past three years were analyzed. The prevalence of traumatic injuries of the organ of hearing and its structure was determined according to the data of hospitals of the republican hospital. There was a tendency toward an increase in patients with ear injuries in all age groups. Maintaining the predominance of mechanical trauma, with an increase in the number of victims with baro- and acoustic trauma. The features of damage to the structures of the organ of hearing are examined and it is emphasized that the mechanism of trauma determines the tactics of the victim. The scale of hearing injuries and their consequences require a more in-depth study of their regional characteristics, risk factors to develop all possible preventive measures.

Self-ear cleaning practices and the associated risk of ear injuries and ear-related symptoms in a group of university students

Self-ear cleaning is the insertion of objects into the ear canal to clean it, a widespread practice that has the potential to compromise its integrity as a natural, selfcleansing mechanism, and a risk factor for possible injuries. The practice is common among young adults and highest in university than any other graduates. This study aimed to determine the self-ear cleaning practices and associated risk of injury and related symptoms in undergraduate students at KwaZulu-Natal University. The descriptive survey utilized a self-administered questionnaire. Of the 206 participants that responded, 98% engaged in self-ear cleaning, with 75% indicating that it was beneficial. The commonest method (79.6%) being the use of cotton buds, with an associated injury rate of 2.4%. There was no statistically significant associations between those who used or did not use cotton buds and the symptoms experienced. The complications indicate that self-ear cleaning does pose a risk for injury, necessitating more community information and education.