Visualization of tonsil-oral-scrubbing collection using a lighted cable and histopathological characterization of sample composition

Tonsil-oral-scrubbing (TOSc) can retrieve fluids from the sow’s oropharyngeal and tonsillar area without snaring and shows comparable porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus RNA detection rates to tonsil scrapings. This descriptive study used an endoscope-like cable with light to visualize the collection process and histopathology to characterize TOSc sample composition. Video showed that the soft palatine tonsils were reached after the TOSc collector passed the hard palate. Histopathology revealed the presence of squamous mucosal cells and small clusters of immune cells in TOSc samples. This study will help train farm staff and veterinarians on proper TOSc sample collection from sows.