Abstract
To prepare models of osteochondrosis and osteoarthrosis as etiological factors for leg weakness, which is frequent among locomotory disorders in pigs, we conducted an induction study using 5% papain solution and examined its clinical symptoms and cartilage lesions.
The body temperature and clinical symptoms subsided after 3 days. Mild lameness persisted until Day 14. However, macroscopically observed cartilage lesions serially deteriorated, and the areas of cracking and erosion expanded.
Experimental models prepared by the infusion of papain solution into the knee may play an important role in the establishment of future techniques to diagnose osteochondrosisor osteoarthrosis-related leg weakness.
