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Practice tip
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Non refereed |
Blood sampling boars
Cate E. Dewey,
DVM, MSc, PhD; Susy Carman, DVM, PhD
CED: Department
of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph,
Guelph, Ontario, Canada. SC: Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph,
Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Corresponding author: Dr Cate E. Dewey, Department
of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph,
Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1; Tel: 519-824-4120, Ext 54070; E-mail: cdewey@uoguelph.ca
Cite as: Dewey
CE, Carman S. Blood sampling boars. J Swine Health Prod. 2006;14(5):267-268.
 Also
available as a PDF.
We have Dr. Darwin Reicks to thank for revolutionizing
the way we obtain blood samples from boars in Ontario. Last year, he taught
us to collect from the ear vein while the boars were
ejaculating,1 using the method published in this issue
of the Journal of Swine Health and
Production.2
We wanted to follow his lead, but needed a sample of sufficient
size for both a polymerase chain reaction test and a PRRS ELISA
test. Instead of swabs, the 500-µL serum collection tubes produced
by Sarstedt (Microvette 500 with serum clotting activator,
Catalogue #20.1343.100; Sarstedt Inc, Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
were perfect for our use. They provided sufficient serum for the
two tests and were easy to use in the field. Our methods are
described and illustrated in Figures 1 through 6. At the
laboratory, centrifuge the vial in a microcentifuge to harvest 250
to 500 µL of serum.
Figure 1: Label the 500-µL serum collection
vial with a pre-glued paper label.
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Figure 2: Wait until the boar begins to ejaculate.
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Figure 3: Hold off the ear vein until it becomes
obvious.
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Figure 4: Puncture the vein with a 20-gauge
needle.
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Figure 5: Take the top off the serum collection
vial and collect blood, either by letting the blood drip into the vial
or by scooping the blood off the ear. Fill the vial past the white line,
all the way to the rim.
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Figure 6: There will be sufficient blood to
fill a second vial if required. After samples have been collected, put
pressure on the ear to reduce the chance of a hematoma forming.
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References
*1. Reicks DL. An overview of blood collection strategies for
boar studs. Iowa State University 13th Annual Swine
Disease Conference for Swine Practitioners. Ames, Iowa;
2005.
2. Reicks DL, Muñoz-Zanzi C, Rossow K. Sampling of adult boars
during early infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory
syndrome virus by polymerase chain reaction using a new blood
collection technique (blood-swab method). J Swine Health
Prod. 2006;14:258-264.
*Non-refereed reference
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