Microstructure of the hoof capsule of pigmented and partial albino buffaloes.

In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM), microtomography (MCT-2D and MCT-3D) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) were used to generate parameters of the microstructure of the hoof capsule of pigmented and partial albino buffaloes. Seventy-two digits of adult pigmented buffaloes and 16 of partial albino buffaloes were used and equally divided into thoracic and pelvic limbs and medial and lateral claws. Fragments of 10 mm × 10 mm of the dorsal wall, abaxial wall and pre-bulbar sole were collected. The parametric assumptions were tested using a Shapiro-Wilk test (normality). The independent t-test was used to compare the means at a 5% significance level. AFM demonstrated that the hoof surface of pigmented buffaloes presented with higher average surface roughness (Ra) and root mean square roughness (Rms) (p < 0.05) than the hoof surface of partial albino buffaloes. MCT-2D revealed that pigmented buffaloes had extra tubular keratin with a higher density than intratubular keratin. No pores were observed in the hoof capsule of the buffalo digits. MCT-3D demonstrated that pigmented buffaloes have a higher percentage of large and intermediate horn tubules than partial albino buffaloes. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Partial albino buffaloes showed a statistically higher number of horn tubules/mm2 than pigmented buffaloes (p < 0.05). EDXRF revealed a higher amount of sulphur (S) in the hoof capsule of pigmented buffaloes, and the partial albino buffaloes presented a higher number of minerals such as calcium (Ca), potassium (K), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu).

New perspectives in a microstructure study of the bovine and bubaline claw.

The techniques of microtomography (Micro-CT), confocal laser scanner microscopy (CLSM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), nanoindentation - Vickers hardness (Nano-VH) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) are undeniably important to the modern study of bovine podiatry. These techniques are also employed in engineering, physics and in the assessment of biomaterials used in reconstructive or experimental surgeries in bovine and bubaline claws. Although studies involving these analyses are still inconspicuous in veterinary medicine, these technologies represent a new paradigm in this area, enabling the development of new lines of research. The objective of this review is to gather information about the microstructural aspects of bovine and bubaline claws, concerning the intratubular and extratubular keratin, which is responsible for the physical and mechanical structure of the claw capsule. This study elucidates different methods used to evaluate the hooves of healthy and sick animals through a micrometric analysis and nano-scale analyses. We would like to emphasise that the described techniques can be applied to study other species.

Ocular echobiometry and head measurements in Jersey cattle from different age groups.

A longitudinal study was conducted to identify the morphological development of eyes and head of Jersey cattle at different ages. A total of 48 healthy Jersey cattle, 1 to 58 months of age, were included in the study. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed to identify healthy cattle to form the age groups: GI (1- to 11-month-old), GII (16- to 24-month-old) and GIII (25- to 58-month-old). The animals were physically restrained and examined by transcorneal ultrasound of both eyes; the axial length (AxL), corneal thickness (CO), lenticular thickness (L), depth of the anterior (AC) and vitreous (VC) chambers were evaluated. The cranial measurements obtained included the total, cranial, and nasal lengths and widths. Subsequently, the cephalic index (CI) was calculated. The AxL (GI: 2.83 cm; GII: 3.16 cm; GIII: 3.24 cm), AC (GI: 0.44 cm; GII: 0.53 cm; GIII: 0.53 cm), L (GI: 0.88 cm; GII: 1.01 cm; GIII: 1.04 cm) and VC (GI: 1.44 cm; GII: 1.55 cm; GIII: 1.59 cm) increased (p ≤ .001) according to age, but the CO (GI: 0.07 cm; GII: 0.08 cm; GIII: 0.08 cm) (p > .05) did not. The total length (GI: 30.83 cm; GII: 43.29 cm; GIII: 44.15 cm), cranial length (GI: 18.11 cm; GII: 23.82 cm; GIII: 22.69 cm), nasal length (GI: 12.72 cm; GII: 19.47 cm; GIII: 21.46 cm) and nasal width (GI: 26.22 cm; GII: 33.82 cm; GIII: 34.00 cm) increased (p < .001), and the CI (GI: 85.66 cm; GII: 78.15 cm; GIII: 77.02 cm) decreased (p < .001). The AxL correlated positively (p < .001) with the cranial length and width and negatively with the CI (p > .05). The ocular biometry of Jersey cattle correlates with their cranial measurements at different ages. With increasing age, the eyes and the head grow, establishing growth curves similar to those of other mammals.

Effect of biotin supplementation on claw horn growth in young, clinically healthy cattle.

The effects of orally administered biotin supplementation on the growth of claw horn in young, clinically healthy cattle were analyzed. Twelve, 1-year-old Girolando cattle were randomly assigned to receive either 12.5 mg of diluted powdered biotin (GI) or a control treatment (GII) for 40 consecutive days. Cattle in the GI group showed an average hoof growth of 11.3 +/- 0.72 mm, while those in GII had an average hoof growth of 7.2 +/- 0.78 mm. The results confirmed the positive effect of biotin supplementation on the growth of angle and length of the dorsal hoof wall, hoof sole length, and on resistance to wearing, in young cattle extensively managed.

Use of the n-butyl cyanoacrylate adhesive and the polyglactine thread suture for corneal rhaphy in rabbit (Oryctolagus cunicullus).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cicatricial repair of perforating cornea in rabbits, by using the N-butyl cyanoacrylate adhesive compared to the 910-polyglactine thread suture through macroscopic and histological assays. Corneas from 18 adult rabbits were perforated and subsequently occluded with N-butyl cyanoacrylate synthetic adhesive (right cornea) or by separated single points using the 910-polyglactine thread (left cornea). The rabbits were divided into groups containing three animals per group. Examination after 7, 15, and 30 days post-operative showed that both the synthetic adhesive and the suture were efficient in the occlusion of the surgical wounds, thus stabilizing the intra-ocular content. The N-butyl cyanoacrylate adhesive was shown to be superior to the 910-polyglactine suture thread with regards to the evolution and the organization of the healing process.