Prevalence and analysis of equine periodontal disease, diastemata and peripheral caries in a first-opinion horse population in the UK.

Equine dental disease remains a widespread affliction in domestic horses, with the potential to cause significant welfare problems. This retrospective study aimed to increase understanding of this aspect of equine health by examining dental records of 932 horses, taken from a 1-year period of first-opinion practice in south-western England and southern Wales. Three grossly-identifiable dental diseases were analysed: equine periodontal disease, diastemata and peripheral caries. The prevalence of active periodontal disease, diastemata and peripheral caries were 13.9%, 8.7% and 8.2%, respectively. Periodontal disease was more common in the mandibular than maxillary arcades (P<0.001) and in the premolar (06-08) than molar (09-11) cheek teeth (P<0.001). Diastemata were also observed more frequently in the mandibular than the maxillary arcades (P<0.001) and in premolar than molar cheek teeth (P<0.001). Peripheral caries were significantly more common in molar than premolar cheek teeth (P<0.001). A positive association was demonstrated between periodontal disease and diastemata (Exp(B)=4.22; P<0.001). Increasing age was a significant risk factor for periodontal disease (P<0.001) and diastemata (P<0.001). Sex was not conclusively established as a risk factor for any dental disease.

Application of ESEM to environmental colloids.

Environmental colloids are toxic or radioactive particles suspended in ground or surface water. These hazardous particles can facilitate and accelerate the transport of toxicants and enhance the threat to humans by exposure to pathogenic substances. The chemical and physical properties of hazardous colloids have not been well characterized nor are there standard colloid remediation technologies to prevent their deleterious effects. Colloid characterization requires measurement of their size distribution, zeta potential, chemical composition, adsorption capacity, and morphology. The environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) by ElectroScan, Inc., analyzes particle sizes, composition, and morphology. It is also used in this study to identify the attachment of colloids onto packing or rock surfaces in our development of a colloid remediation process. The ESEM has confirmed the composition of groundwater colloids in our studies to be generally the same material as the surrounding rock. The morphology studies have generally shown that colloids are simply small pieces of the rock surface that has exfoliated into the surrounding water. However, in general, the source and chemical composition of groundwater colloids is site dependent. We have found that an ESEM works best as a valuable analysis tool within a suite of colloid characterization instruments.