Long-time evaluation of biological effects of transponders implanted subcutaneously in the midway region of the left neck in four goats

Publication Type

Journal contribution (peer reviewed)

Authors

Steffl M, Nautscher N, Schweiger M, Amselgruber WM

Year of publication

2014

Published in

J Vet Sci Med Diagn

Band/Volume

3/3

DOI

10.4172/2325-9590.1000142

Study Background: Electronic identification of livestock animals is currently a major topic within the food producing industry. Contrary to small ruminants, cattle and pig, passive injectable transponders are recommended as a secure method of pets and horse identification but evaluations about the long-time biological effects of transponders are generally lacking.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the long-time effects of microchip transponders injected subcutaneously in the midway region of the left neck in four goats up to nine years after implantation. The migration behaviour of the transponder and the extent of tissue reaction caused by the implant were examined macroscopically and histologically after anatomical perfusion fixation of animal bodies.

Results: Our results showed that in neither case the microchip transponder could be identified in the subcutaneous tissue of the left neck. Microchip transponders were detected in intra- or intermuscular positions within the superficial neck muscles. Nodular white lesions surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule were found only in one animal on the lateral and medial side of the musculus (m.) cleidooccipitalis and m. omotransversarius, respectively. Histological examinations revealed minor pathological changes in three of four goats examined. Pathological alterations in the surrounding tissue of the transponder included sings of variable extent of muscular degeneration, perivascular and interstitial inflammation, and intermuscular fibrosis, respectively.

Conclusion: In conclusion, our results confirm that the implantation site for meat production species should not be designed subcutaneously in the left neck region because of enormous difficulty to recover the microchip transponders. For scientific purposes however, microchip transponders implanted subcutaneously in the midway region of the left neck are found to be a reliable and secure method of goat identification without causing significant impairment to health. Further studies in a larger population of animals will be necessary to verify our results.