Pathological lesions in the right and left porcine lung: evaluation of an alternative method for scoring pneumonic lesions based on right lung examination.

Plucks from 2,372 sows, gilts and slaughterswine (originating from 3 independent sources) were evaluated for presence and severeness of 6 different pathological entities. Results were calculated for each of the lungs separately and compared to the combined findings of both lungs. Both qualitatively (comparing relative test sensitivities) and quantitatively (comparing lung scores), the right lung results were more optimal than the left lung outcomes and relatively consistent among the 3 data sets. The over-all right lung relative sensitivities for the detection of catarrhal pneumonia or chronic pleuritis were 81.3% and 72.0%, respectively. The over-all differences in the right minus left lung scores for the 2 lesions were +13.0% and +9.0%, respectively. The necessary sample size of right lungs to detect at least 1 lung with catarrhal pneumonia or chronic pleuritis is presented along with a method for calculating confidence intervals.