A novel technique for the collection of antemortem tonsil biopsies from unanaesthetized swine

A novel biopsy technique for harvesting tonsillar tissue from unanaesthetized swine was developed, using conventional restraint and a mouth speculum. After application of a local analgesic, a disposable dermal biopsy punch was used to collect the tissue. The technique was applied to a total of 112 swine from three herds, with animals ranging in weight from 10 to 225 kg. Sixty-one days later, a second sample was collected from 19 of the pigs. All 131 samples were prepared for histopathology in neutral buffered formalin and were sectioned and stained using routine methods at a commercial diagnostic laboratory. All biopsies were examined histologically for the presence of tonsillar (lymphoid) tissue. Of the 131 samples examined, 129 (98.5%) contained tonsillar tissue. The two samples that did not contain tonsillar tissue contained salivary gland tissue and were from small pigs (11 and 19.5 kg). This technique is a reliable method for harvesting tonsillar tissue from unanaesthetized swine of various sizes. It represents a valuable diagnostic tool for veterinarians, especially in the diagnosis of lymphotropic pathogens such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.