Jezie A. Acorda

Evaluation of wound healing of the teatwith and without low level laser therapy in dairy cattle by laser doppler flowmetry in comparison with histopathology, tensiometry and hydroxyproline analysis

Perforated teat wounds in eight lactating Holstein-Friesian cows were closed by four suture patterns with or without low level laser therapy (LLLT). Wound healing was evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), tensiometry and hydroxyproline analysis, and compared with histopathological examination. The three-layer pattern provided the best healing of the entire teat. Mucosal hyperplasia was observed in Gambee and continuous two-layer pattern while eversion of the skin, presence of suture tracts and a greater amount of granulation tissue were observed with the continuous and interrupted two-layer patterns. The epidermis in LLLT groups more closely resembled the normal epidermis, and collagen fibres were denser, thicker and better arranged in LLLT than in non-LLLT groups. LDF, tensiometry and hydroxyproline analysis correlated well with histopathological examination. The results suggest that LDF, a more rapid, less invasive and painless procedure, can replace tensile strength measurement or hydroxyproline analysis to assess the progress of teat wound healing.

Comparative evaluation of fatty infiltration of the liver in dairy cattle by using blood and serum analysis, ultrasonography, and digital analysis

Blood samples were collected from 158 Holstein-Friesian cows and analysed for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and ornithine carabamoyltransferase activities and glucose, total bilirubin, triglyceride, cholesterol-ester and non-esterified fatty acids concentrations. Ultrasonography of the liver was performed, and hepatic ultrasonograms were evaluated subjectively or analysed digitally, and liver samples were examined histopathologically. The diagnostic rates for the different tests were compared. Of the 158 animals, 117 had a normal liver and 41 had fatty infiltration of the liver. For diagnosis of fatty infiltration, digital analysis had the highest sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values, followed by ultrasonography.

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY ON SUTURED WOUNDS OF THE TEAT IN DAIRY CATTLE

Perforating wounds were made on the cranial surface of 32 teats in eight dairy cattle. The teats were distributed into eight groups with four kinds of suture patterns. The used suture patterns were Gambee in Groups A and E, continuous 2-layer (Cushing for submucosal layer, continuous horizontal mattress for intermediate layer and skin) in Groups B and F, separated 2-layer (simple continuous for mucosal layer, vertical mattress for intermediate layer and skin) in Groups C and G, and 3-layer (simple continuous for mucosal and intermediate layers, simple interrupted for skin) in Groups D and H. The wounds of Groups E, F, G and H were subjected to 3.64 J/cm2 dose of low-level laser, using a helium-neon system with an output of 8.5 mW, continuous wave at 632.8 nm. Histopathologically, healing was different between various suture patterns and between low level laser therapy (LLLT) and non-LLLT-groups. The results suggest that the 3-layer pattern was the best and LLLT could accelerate healing of perforating wounds of the teat in dairy cattle.