Rhinitis of pigs: A gross staining method for macroscopic examination of the nasal mucosa

A phloxine-alcian blue (PhAB) method has been used to stain the porcine nasal mucosa for macroscopic examination. Applied to either fresh or fixed specimens it stains respiratory epithelium dark blue and non-cilated epithelium, including the metaplastic epithelia of rhinitis, bright pink. The PhAB technique is simple, inexpensive and dependable, and is suitable for routine application in the post mortem room. Stained and fixed specimens may be preserved virtually indefinitely.