Can disbudding of calves (one versus four weeks of age) induce chronic pain?
Physiol Behav
; 199: 47-55, 2019 02 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30414886
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Calf disbudding is a welfare-relevant invasive husbandry procedure. While it is widely recognized that disbudding elicits acute pain, its chronic consequences are currently unknown.OBJECTIVES:
Primary aim of this study was to investigate whether disbudding leads to chronic pain in calves; secondary aim was to evaluate the influence of age at disbudding (1â¯week versus 4â¯weeks).METHODS:
Thirty-four Holstein bull calves, enrolled in a prospective, controlled, randomized trial, underwent either early disbudding (ED) or late disbudding (LD) or sham treatment (control) at 1 and 4â¯weeks of age. Pain scoring and quantitative sensory tests (von Frey filaments and algometry) were performed at regular intervals up to 105â¯days of life; neurophysiological determination of nociceptive reflex thresholds and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) up to 90â¯days. Data was analyzed with the Brunner and Langer model followed by post-hoc test, with level of significance set at 0.05.RESULTS:
Thirty-one calves completed the data collection. Signs of chronic sensitization were observed in 38% of disbudded calves (4 in ED and 4 in LD). Pain scores (until 105â¯days) and allodynia scores (until 60â¯days) were significantly higher while pressure thresholds (until 105â¯days) were significantly lower in both groups ED and LD compared to control. Late disbudded calves showed impairment of trigeminal CPM. Lower laser-evoked trigeminal reflex thresholds were found in clinically painful calves compared to control.CONCLUSIONS:
The sequelae of disbudding can extend beyond the acute post-procedural phase. Chronic trigeminal sensitization, independently from the age at disbudding can affect individual calves.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Cauterização
/
Dor Crônica
/
Cornos
/
Criação de Animais Domésticos
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Physiol Behav
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article