[A simple immunologic skin test in piglets]

A simple immunological skin test was carried out on 73 weaned piglets at a weight of 15 to 30 kg. Bristles on the piglets' back were shaved off and 0.1-ml amounts of four substances were injected intradermally. These were an isotonic solution of sodium chloride (900 micrograms NaCl in 0.1 ml), histamine (100 mu g in 0.1 mu l), phytohaemagglutinin (200 mu g in 0.1 ml), and a staphylococcus lysate (STAVA). The sites of administration of the substances were 5 cm apart. The dermal reaction was evaluated 20 minutes, 24 and 48 h after the i.d. administration. The size of the papule (measured after 20 min) and the size of the induration (after 24 and 48 h) were measured in two perpendicular directions and the mean value was calculated from the measured data. The average size of the papule was 8.1 mm 20 min after administration of sodium chloride (NaCl) and 19.6 mm 20 min after administration of histamine (HIS). The average size of induration after the administration of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was 13.1 mm after 24 h and 11.0 mm after 48 h. The average size of the papule was 11.1 mm 20 min after the administration of STA, the average size of induration was 10.6 mm 24 h after administration of STA and 8.5 mm after 48 h. Piglets that had papule larger than 15 mm 20 min after HIS administration (after subtracting papule size after NaCl administration) were regarded as piglets susceptible to states of allergy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)