Experimental reconstruction of teat cutaneous wound by ear skin graft in dairy cattle

Teat lacerations are serious injuries that endanger the survival of a cow within the herd. In excessive lacerations, the wound should be left to heal by second intention healing process. However, tissue contraction during healing can change the alignment of the teat, creating problems for machine milking. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the transplantation of the full-thickness free skin graft in excessive teat lacerations. Four healthy, non pregnant, mixed Holstein-Friesian dairy cows with normal teats were used in the study. Under local anesthesia, a rectangular full thickness excision [2 Cmx2 Cm] was made on the lateral surface of the proximal part of the right and left fore teats of each cow, and simultaneously a rectangular full-thickness free skin graft [1.5 Cmx1.5 Cm] was harvested from the inner surface of the left pinna. The graft was then meshed and transplanted to the left teat defect. During a three-week study, the wound healing was evaluated clinically and at the end of the study, histopathologic samples [H andE staining] were taken from both wounds. The results of this study demonstrated that in non grafted wounds, severe wound contraction caused a deformity in normal anatomical structure of the teats. However, in grafted wounds successful graft take was recorded in all wounds, and the teats restored their functional and anatomical structure with satisfactory cosmetic appearance. According to the result of present study, it can be concluded that using full thickness free mesh skin graft can be considered a suitable method for treatment of excessive teat lacerations

Computed tomographic anatomy of the abdominal region of cat

The purpose of this study was to identify the anatomic structures of the abdominal region of cat through computed tomography [CT] to be used by veterinary radiologists, clinicians and surgeons. The abdominal region of four cats were scanned twice, with and without using contrast medium in a same position, using high-resolution imaging protocol. Slice intervals were 11 mm and were adjusted so that each vertebra was sectioned at least once. CT cuts taken with and without contrast were compared for accurate identification of specific anatomic structures. Two animals were fixed by routine anatomical method and dissected for use as reference models. Finally, important structures and landmarks were identified and labeled on the CT images

Prevalence of cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in diary calves in Kerman, Southeastern Iran

Faecal samples from 291 dairy calves from 10 dairy herds in Kerman were examined to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were identified by using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique in 63 [21.63%] calves. Calves were grouped according to their age as follows: <3 months, 3-6 months and 6-9 months. Cryptosporidium infection was detected in 28.2, 20.6 and 13.09%, of the calves in the respective age groups. A significant age-associated decrease in the detection rate of Cryptosporidium infection [P<0.05] was found. Cryptosporidium infection was detected in 11 of the 30 [36.66%] diarrhoeic and 52 of the 261 [19.92%] non-diarrhoeic calves. There was a significantly [P<0.05] higher prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in diarrhoeic than in non-diarrhoeic calves