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Article
Impact of Transmammary-Delivered Meloxicam on Biomarkers of Pain and Distress in Piglets after Castration and Tail Docking
PLOS ONE
  • Jessica L. Bates, Iowa State University
  • Locke A. Karriker, Iowa State University
  • Matthew L. Stock, Iowa State University
  • Kelly M. Pertzborn, Iowa State University
  • Luke G. Baldwin, Iowa State University
  • Larry W. Wulf, Iowa State University
  • C. J. Lee, Iowa State University
  • Chong Wang, Iowa State University
  • Johann F. Coetzee, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
12-1-2014
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0113678
Abstract

To investigate a novel route for providing analgesia to processed piglets via transmammary drug delivery, meloxicam was administered orally to sows after farrowing. The objectives of the study were to demonstrate meloxicam transfer from sows to piglets via milk and to describe the analgesic effects in piglets after processing through assessment of pain biomarkers and infrared thermography (IRT). Ten sows received either meloxicam (30 mg/kg) (n = 5) or whey protein (placebo) (n = 5) in their daily feedings, starting four days after farrowing and continuing for three consecutive days. During this period, blood and milk samples were collected at 12-hour intervals. On Day 5 after farrowing, three boars and three gilts from each litter were castrated or sham castrated, tail docked, and administered an iron injection. Piglet blood samples were collected immediately before processing and at predetermined times over an 84-hour period. IRT images were captured at each piglet blood collection point. Plasma was tested to confirm meloxicam concentrations using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Meloxicam was detected in all piglets nursing on medicated sows at each time point, and the mean (± standard error of the mean) meloxicam concentration at castration was 568.9±105.8 ng/mL. Furthermore, ex-vivo prostaglandin E2(PGE2) synthesis inhibition was greater in piglets from treated sows compared to controls (p = 0.0059). There was a time-by-treatment interaction for plasma cortisol (p = 0.0009), with meloxicam-treated piglets demonstrating lower cortisol concentrations than control piglets for 10 hours after castration. No differences in mean plasma substance P concentrations between treatment groups were observed (p = 0.67). Lower cranial skin temperatures on IRT were observed in placebo compared to meloxicam-treated piglets (p = 0.015). This study demonstrates the successful transfer of meloxicam from sows to piglets through milk and corresponding analgesia after processing, as evidenced by a decrease in cortisol and PGE2levels and maintenance of cranial skin temperature.

Comments

This article is from PLOS ONE 9 (2014); e113678, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113678. Posted with permission.

Rights
This is an openaccess article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Copyright Owner
The authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Jessica L. Bates, Locke A. Karriker, Matthew L. Stock, Kelly M. Pertzborn, et al.. "Impact of Transmammary-Delivered Meloxicam on Biomarkers of Pain and Distress in Piglets after Castration and Tail Docking" PLOS ONE Vol. 9 Iss. 12 (2014) p. e113678
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/chong-wang/49/