Chitosan thread in the healing of the cecal wall of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) submitted to cecorrhaphy

The development and evaluation of synthesis materials are crucial to reducing the morbidity and magnitude of post-enterorrhaphy surgical complications. Despite the possibility of production, chitosan thread has not yet been used in enterorrhaphy, and its effects on intestinal healing have not been evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of chitosan thread on the intestinal wall repair of rabbits submitted to cecorrhaphy. For this, 42 rabbits were allocated into two groups with 21 animals. One group was submitted to cecorrhaphy with chitosan suture thread (CG) and the other with poliglecaprone suture thread (PG). The occurrence of postoperative complications, the intensity of edema, cellular response, formation of granulation tissue, as well as the deposition and maturation of collagen fibers, and the intensity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-α) expression, were evaluated during the intestinal wall repair process. The evaluations occurred on the 5th, 15th, and 25th postoperative (PO) days. The animals did not develop peritonitis, but adherence was observed in six animals from CG and seven from PG, with no difference between groups. The polymorphonuclear infiltrate showed higher intensity and higher amount of type III collagen fibers in CG on the 15th PO day. In contrast, a lower amount of type I collagen fibers was observed in CG samples on the 25th PO day. Therefore, the chitosan thread used for cecorrhaphy in rabbits results in minimal postoperative complications, presents biocompatibility, and bioactively assists the tissue repair process of the cecal wall, inducing minimal tissue reaction, stimulating the deposition of type III collagen fibers in the proliferative phase, with sustained VEGF-α expression, but with reduced deposition of type I fibers, indicating a delay in collagen maturation.

Association between bovine digital dermatitis and annual periods of lower pluviometric precipitation in Central Brazil

We aimed to follow the epidemiologic evolution of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) and other podal diseases grouped in a dairy farm in Central Brazil between the years 2010 and 2016. This study was carried out in a farm in Jataí, Goiás, Central Brazil, where the prevalence data of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) and other podal diseases, as well as the composition, history, and management of the herd, was collected. We analyzed the collected data into the two annual pluviometric precipitation values in Central Brazil: rainy season and dry season. The cumulative frequency for comparison of prevalence between seasons throughout the years was calculated from 2011 to 2016. The comparison was carried out by post hoc chi-square test with the Bonferroni correction adopting a level of significance of 5% (p < 0.05). BDD was not diagnosed at the property in 2010; however, the disease became endemic from 2011, which coincides with the arrival of new animals to the herd. The comparison of the accumulated frequencies for prevalence of the diseases in the herd between 2011 and 2016 revealed BDD, as well as the grouped nutritional and metabolic foot diseases, has the highest prevalence in the period of lower annual precipitation in Central Brazil, which occurs between May and October. For a better control of BDD, we recommend greater attention in cattle management in the dry season of the year in Brazil, as well as in any other place in the world in which rainfall is seasonal.

Microtomographic Parameters and Nanoindentation of the Hoof of Girolando Cattle

The aim of this study was to describe the microstructure of the pigmented and depigmented hoof capsule of Girolando cattle by bi- and tridimensional microtomography and nanoindentation, analysing the possible relation between these findings and the susceptibility of such animals to podal diseases. To carry out the microtomography and the nanoindentation, duplicated samples were collected from the dorsal wall, abaxial wall and pre-bulbar sole of the hoof capsule. Material collection was performed in 40 medial digits of thoracic limbs and 40 lateral digits of pelvic limbs. The bidimensional microtomography showed that the dorsal wall of the thoracic and pelvic limbs presented higher density, followed by the abaxial wall, and finally by the sole, with the lowest density. Moreover, the hoof capsule of cows of Girolando breed is a compact, non-porous material, and constituted by extratubular and intratubular keratin. By the tridimensional microtomography, it was possible to measure the angles of the corneal tubules in relation to the periople and the claws in the different regions of the hoof capsule, which were 90° for the dorsal wall, 55° for the abaxial wall and 70° for the sole. The tridimensional microtomography also showed corneal tubules of different diameters: 17, 51, 85, 119 and 153 μm. The nanoindentation test, when performed in different regions of the hoof capsule, did not reveal significant difference of Vickers hardness in the evaluated areas. However, we verified a larger elastic module of these regions on the transversal cut of the corneal tubules compared to the longitudinal cut.

Microstructure and Hardness of Buffalo's Hoofs

The aim of this study was to describe the microstructure of hoof capsules of the buffalo. In addition, the study emphasized the morphometric aspects of the horn tubules, the Vickers nanohardness of the dorsal and abaxial walls and sole of the digits of the thoracic and pelvic limbs of the buffalo. The abaxial wall in the thoracic and pelvic digits showed larger diameter of the horn tubules when compared to all dorsal wall and sole. In addition, the abaxial wall of the thoracic digits showed larger diameter of the horn tubules when compared with the pelvic digits. According to the three-dimensional microtomography, the dorsal wall was higher in density compared with the abaxial wall. The latter exhibited an intermediate density, while the sole showed the lowest density. The Vickers nanohardness test showed that there was no difference in hardness and resistance between the experienced regions. However, the elastic modulus was greater on the transversal section of the hoof capsule. In conclusion, the results of the current study show that modern technologies such as microtomography and subsequent imaging can be used to investigate details of the basic morphology in different regions of the buffalo's hoof.

Ultrasonography of the distal limbs in Nellore and Girolando calves 8 to 12 months of age

BACKGROUND

Ultrasonography can be used anywhere and allows rapid, noninvasive differentiation of soft tissue structures of the musculoskeletal system. The objectives of this study were to describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the structures of the metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal and the interphalangeal joints, the appearance of the growth plates of the distal metacarpus/metatarsus and of the proximal phalanx and to measure the cross-sectional dimensions of the DDFT and SDFT in Nellore and Girolando calves eight to 12 months of age.

RESULTS

In the longitudinal dorsal view the common digital extensor tendon and the digital extensor tendon were depicted as echogenic parallel fiber bundles located directly under the skin. The joint spaces appeared as anechoic interruptions of the hyperechogenic bone surfaces. The normal amount of synovial fluid could not be depicted. The growth plates were seen as anechoic interruptions of the bone surface proximal and distal to the fetlock joint space. In transverse sonograms of the distal palmar/plantar regions, the flexor tendons and branchs of the suspensory ligament were imaged as echogenic structures. The lumen of the digital flexor tendon sheath could not be imaged in these normal cattle. The thin digital distal annular ligament and the reversal of positions of the DDFT and SDFT could be appreciated. No significant differences were found between the cross-sectional measurements of the DDFT and the SDFT from Nellore and Girolando in any age, thoracic/pelvic limbs, right/left sides and lateral/medial digits.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study establish important ultrasonographic reference data of the normal structures of the distal limbs and the normal dimensions of the flexor tendons in Nellore and Girolando calves for use in clinical practice.

Stryphnodendron adstringens extract associated with the hooves trimming surgical procedure for the treatment of bovine digital dermatitis

Hoof care, lesion curettage, and application of 5 % Stryphnodendron adstringens bark extract (S. adstringens (Mart.) Coville) or 3 % copper sulfate on surgical wounds of cattle were carried out in this research. A total of 180 cattle with digital dermatitis were used. They were distributed into six groups of 30 animals each (GI, GII, GIII, GIV, GV, and GVI). In GI and GII, only the sick digit was trimmed; in GIII and GIV, both sick and healthy digits of the lesioned limb were trimmed; and in GV and GVI, all digits were trimmed. During the postoperative period, 5 % S. adstringens extract was applied in GI, GIII, and GV, and 3 % copper sulfate solution was applied in GII, GIV, and GVI. After 60 days of evaluation, the data were analyzed using the Chi-squared test (p  ≤  0.05). Both therapeutic protocols utilizing surgical curettage of the lesions were efficient for treating digital dermatitis. However, when the procedure is followed by the trimming of sick and healthy digits, the healing is optimized and a greater number of animals are rehabilitated.

A clinical trial to assess the use of sodium hypochlorite and oxytetracycline on the healing of digital dermatitis lesions in cattle

The increased frequency of diseases, especially those of the hoof, cause economic losses, such as premature culling of affected animals, decreased milk production, weight loss, reduced fertility, and the high costs of treatment. A great variety of hoof conditions may affect cattle, one of them is digital dermatitis. These conditions are probably due to multiple factorial diseases and present with similar clinical signs. Bovine lameness is typically treated by foot trimming and debridment of the lesions, coupled when necessary with systemic antibiotics and therapeutic footbaths, which results in a clinical cure in the majority of the cases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the topical action of sodium hypochlorite associated with the systemic use of oxytetracycline for the treatment of wounds clinically diagnosed as bovine digital dermatitis. One hundred and twenty Holstein cattle varying ages from 1 to 9 y and presenting the clinical signs of digital dermatitis, were used in this study. Group 1 (G1) received topical treatment with a 1% sodium hypochlorite footbath twice a day for 30 d and 4 treatments of parenteral oxytetracycline (10 mg/kg bodyweight, IM, q48h). Group 2 (G2) received only the topical treatment with 1% sodium hypochlorite, as described for G1. Group 3 (G3) received only with parenteral oxytetracycline, as described for G1. Group 4 (G4) was treated exclusively with a dicloro divynil pirrolidona, ortoiododimetil, para-nitofenil-fosforotioato in a vegetal tar-based ointment, immediately after the surgery. After 45 d, the recovery rates were as follows: G1, 86.67%; G2, 73.33%; G3, 56.67%; and G4, 50%. The surgical treatment of digital dermatitis with subsequent treatment with oxytetracycline systemically and 1% sodium hypochlorite topically was the most effective for the convalescence of cattle bearing wounds similar to digital dermatitis.

Local utilization of metacresolsulfonic acid combined with streptomycin in the treatment of actinomycosis

The effectiveness of combining metacresolsufonic acid with streptomycin in the treatment of actinomycosis, diagnosed either clinically or in the laboratory, was evaluated in 12 bovines and 2 equines. Eighty-seven percent of treated animals were considered clinically cured and did not show any signs of relapse after a six-month follow-up period. Therapeutic diagnosis by clinical observation was the procedure of choice when it was not possible to obtain laboratory diagnosis.

Comparative study of three surgical treatments for two forms of the clinical presentation of bovine pododermatitis

In this study, 1013 animals showing signs of clinical pododermatitis were examined and divided into five unevenly numbered groups. Affected animals in Groups I and II showed only signs of vegetative interdigital pododermatitis. The lesions were surgically removed and either protected with bandages (in Group I) or cauterized with incandescent iron (Group II). The animals in Groups III, IV, and V, showed signs of necrotic pododermatitis. These were treated with different protocols after the necrotic tissue was surgically removed: in Group III, the lesion was cauterized; in Group IV, the wound was protected with bandages; and in Group V, both the second and the third phalanges were amputated. There was a statistically significant relapse difference between Group III and Group V, as well as a difference among Group IV and Group V animals, and there were fewer relapses among the latter. The treatment used in Groups II and III proved to be efficient and inexpensive. Amputation of the phalanges was the treatment that resulted in fewer relapses among all protocols, despite its mutilating effect. The association of a local and parenteral treatment with an antibiotic agent, as well as the use of foot baths, contributed greatly to a fast recovery.