Evaluation of skin erythema by use of chromametry and image analysis of digital photographs after intradermal administration of histamine in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the degree of erythema during an induced erythematous reaction, the histamine skin test reaction, can be assessed objectively by use of chromametry and image analysis of digital photographs. ANIMALS: 9 pet dogs (6 Golden Retrievers and 3 yellow Labrador Retrievers). PROCEDURE: Histamine phosphate was injected intradermally, and erythema of the wheal reaction was evaluated during the hour that followed. This was done by use of clinical scores, chromametry, and image analysis of digital photographs. Method reproducibility was tested for visual evaluation of printouts of digital photographs and for image analysis of the same photographs. RESULTS: The coefficient of variation of the technically derived erythema values was < 10%. The reproducibility of image analysis was high and the range of agreement between observers narrow. Using chromametry, it was not possible to differentiate between various degrees of erythema intensity as visually perceived. In contrast, use of image analysis of digital photographs enabled discrimination of slight erythema from moderate and marked erythema. The dynamics of reaction measured by chromametry followed the clinical observation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Chromametric values are comparable to those obtained by visual inspection. As the result of standardized conditions, chromametry is preferred over digital photography.     

Infrared skin temperature measurements for monitoring health in pigs: a review

Infrared temperature measurement equipment (IRTME) is gaining popularity as a diagnostic tool for evaluating human and animal health. It has the prospect of reducing subject stress and disease spread by being implemented as an automatic surveillance system and by a quick assessment of skin temperatures without need for restraint or contact. This review evaluates studies and applications where IRTME has been used on pigs. These include investigations of relationships between skin, ambient and body temperatures and applications for detecting fever, inflammation, lesions, ovulation, and stress as well as for meat quality assessment. The best skin locations for high correlation between skin temperature and rectal temperature are most likely thermal windows such as ear base, eye region and udder. However, this may change with age, stressors, and biological state changes, for example, farrowing. The studies performed on pigs using IRTME have presented somewhat discrepant results, which could be caused by inadequate equipment, varying knowledge about reliable equipment operation, and site-specific factors not included in the assessment. Future focus areas in the field of IRTME are suggested for further development of new application areas and increased diagnostic value in the porcine and animal setting in general.     

Effects of social isolation and restraint on adrenocortical responses and hypoalgesia in loose-housed dairy cows

Effects of social isolation or restraint, applied outside the home pen, on adrenocortical and nociceptive responses were examined in 28 loose-housed dairy cows. Treatments lasted 15 min and consisted of social isolation in novel surroundings or restraint by the head in a test pen. A control treatment was applied in the test pen as well. Each cow was exposed to all treatments in a balanced order, with 3 to 4 d between treatments. Compared with the control treatment, social isolation in novel surroundings led to increased plasma concentration of cortisol (P < 0.001) as well as to indications of hypoalgesia [posttreatment lack of decrease in latency to respond toward nociceptive laser stimulation, a tendency for decreased frequency of kicking in the pauses between laser stimulations (P = 0.06), and an increased proportion of leg moving (least possible active response) after treatment (P = 0.04)]. Indications of hypoalgesia were also observed after restraint (reduced kicking in response to laser stimulation, P = 0.04); however, the indications were to a lesser extent than after social isolation, and restraint treatment did not lead to increased plasma concentration of cortisol. For control and restraint treatment, an initial increase (P < 0.02) in plasma concentration of cortisol was found, suggesting effects of pretreatment factors such as handling. No correlations between adrenocortical and nociceptive responses toward social isolation were found. The results confirm earlier reports stating that nociceptive changes induced by environmental challenges can be shown in dairy cows, even when they are kept in groups and removed from the home pen during the study of stress responses. However, testing outside the home pen seemed to affect the nociceptive and adrenocortical responses, thereby suggesting that care should be taken to avoid effects of pretreatment situational factors.     

Behavioral reactivity of cattle toward novel food: effects of testing time and food type of neighbors

In order to improve methods to investigate individual variation in responses of cattle toward novel food, the influence of food type offered to neighbors and time of testing were investigated in tethered heifers. Twenty-four Danish Friesian heifers were used in two 2 x 3 factorial experiments, using 8 kg of a mixed ration (grass silage and concentrates) and 4.5 kg of carrots as a novel food. The factors were 1) time of testing: heifers tested at usual feeding time (1000) vs after 30 min with access to their usual food; and 2) food type of neighbors: either no food, novel food, or usual food. During the 30-min period with novel food in front of them, the behavior of the experimental heifers was video recorded. Testing at usual feeding time led to a tendency to increase the latency to eat the mixed ration (P = 0.08), a tendency to reduce intake of the mixed ration (P = 0.08), increased frequency and duration of sniffing carrots (P = 0.1 and P = 0.02, respectively), increased duration of sniffing the mixed ration (P = 0.05), and decreased frequency and duration of disturbance from neighbors (carrots: P = 0.0002 and P = 0.003). The food type of the neighbors did not have major influence on the behavioral reactivity. For both the mixed ration and carrots, the frequency of eating was increased when the neighbors got novel food rather than their usual food (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02). However, the frequency and duration of disturbance from neighbors was increased when no food was offered to the neighbors (carrots: P = 0.001; mixed ration: P = 0.01 and P = 0.09, respectively). It is concluded that time of testing is an important factor for the behavioral response toward novel food, leading to increased responses when tested at the usual feeding time compared with testing after 30 min of access to usual food. The minor effects of food type of neighbors indicate that it is possible to perform individual testing in a home environment, where the animals have limited possibility for contact with neighbors.     

Locomotion scores and lying behaviour are indicators of hoof lesions in dairy cows

Locomotion scoring, lying behaviour and lesion recording during hoof trimming are all ways of evaluating hoof health in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between these measures in a random sample of 1340 cows from 42 Danish dairy herds. The hypothesis was that locomotion scoring and/or the monitoring of lying behaviour could be used as tools to identify cows with hoof lesions, either of the horn or of the skin. Cows were locomotion scored, lying behaviour recorded and data on hoof lesions seen during hoof trimming collected. The results were analysed using logistic regression with hoof lesion as the outcome and locomotion score (1-5), mean duration of lying bouts, parity and lactation stage as explanatory variables. This analysis was undertaken for all types of lesions, for hoof horn lesions only and for skin lesions only. Odds of all hoof lesions and of skin lesions increased with increasing locomotion score and increasing mean duration of lying bouts. Odds of horn lesions also increased with increasing locomotion score, but there was no significant association between horn lesions and the mean duration of lying bouts. It was concluded that locomotion scoring and duration of lying bouts may be used as tools in the management of hoof health in dairy herds.     

Fertilizer Amendment of Mining-Impacted Soils from Broken Hill, Australia: Fixation or Release of Contaminants?

The aim of the study was to appraise various types of phosphate fertilizers (bone meal, superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and potassium orthophosphate) for immobilizing metals and metalloids in mining-impacted soils from Broken Hill, Australia. Soils were rich in metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd) and metalloids (As and Sb) which were mainly contained in minor to trace amounts of coronadite [PbMn₈O₁₆], kintoreite [PbFe₃(PO₄)₂(OH,H₂O)₆], Pb, and Zn sulfides and sulfates (possibly sphalerite, galena, and anglesite) as well as in unidentified soluble metal-bearing phases. Phosphate stabilization experiments were conducted as kinetic column leaching experiments, and chemical and mineralogical changes were assessed using elemental, sulfur isotope, and XRD analyses as well as electron microprobe phase mapping. The application of phosphate fertilizer to the metal-contaminated topsoils led to mineralogical changes, including the formation of secondary metal-bearing phosphates. The elemental concentrations of leachates were used as a criterion to assess the performance of phosphate treatments. Potassium orthophosphate fertilizer was the most effective amendment for Cd stabilization; superphosphate and triple superphosphate fertilizers were the most effective amendments for Pb stabilization. By contrast, the release of As, Cu, Mn, Sb, and Zn were not significantly suppressed, and in several cases, increased, using bone meal, superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and potassium orthophosphate amendments. This study indicates that in situ phosphate stabilization of mining-impacted soils at Broken Hill would most likely be a complex and impractical undertaking in residential areas due to the risk of substantial metal, metalloid, phosphate, and sulfate release.     

Reproducible hairy root transformation and spot-inoculation methods to study root symbioses of pea

Pea has lagged behind other model legumes in the molecular study of nodulation and mycorrhizae-formation because of the difficulty to transform its roots and its poor growth on agar plates. Here we describe for pea 1) a transformation technique which permits the complementation of two known non-nodulating pea mutants, 2) a rhizobial inoculation method which allows the study of early cellular events giving rise to nodule primordia, and 3) a targeted fungal inoculation method which allows us to study short segments of mycorrhizal roots assured to be infected. These tools are certain to advance our knowledge of pea root symbioses.     

The development of skin,claw and teat lesions in sows and piglets in farrowing crates with two concrete flooring materials

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate lesions in sows and their piglets kept on two flooring materials – bare concrete and concrete coated with polyurethane containing sand. In total, 13 lactations on concrete and 11 on polyurethane were evaluated. The severity of skin lesions was scored and teat and claw lesions were recorded. The sand-filled coating was rougher compared to the concrete floor. Larger litter sizes were associated with a higher proportion of wounded teats in sows. Only seven of the 230 piglets had no skin lesions. The piglet skin lesions generally healed, since the number of more severe lesions decreased (p<0.001) and the number of less severe lesions (p<0.001) increased over time. Piglet lesions were associated with daily weight gain and litter size. The number of skin lesions on sows and piglets did not differ between animals kept on concrete and polyurethane-covered flooring. However, piglets kept on the latter flooring had more frequent claw lesions. On both types of flooring the majority of the piglets had skin lesions. Piglets had more claw lesions on polyurethane coating due to its roughness. In addition to the possibility of lower weight gains in piglets due to severe lesions, pig skin lesions are themselves a severe welfare problem in this type of housing system.