Single-step production of autologous bovine platelet concentrate for clinical applications in cattle.

Platelet concentrate (PC) is an alternative therapy to treat mastitis in dairy cattle and is an alternative treatment for reproduction problems such as endometritis. Unfortunately, double-centrifugation processing methods described are time-consuming, require specialized laboratory equipment, and are usually done in a heterologous way, which risks herd health. To overcome this limitation, we evaluated single-step bovine PC processing methods readily applicable to a farm setting using an autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) production system. We investigated the hematologic findings, cytokines, and growth factors of the obtained PC samples. Autologous conditioned plasma was prepared using whole blood (WB) from 4 cows (group 1) using single-step centrifugation and 16 different processing methods. The 2 protocols that yielded the highest ratio of platelet to white blood cell (WBC) concentration were ACP-1 [720 × g (2,200 rpm), 5 min] and ACP-2 [929 × g (2,500 rpm), 3 min]. They were subsequently reproduced and compared using WB from 8 cows (group 2). Hematologic findings were quantified, IL-1ß (cytokine) and growth factors [platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß, bovine fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF)] were measured, and enrichment factors were compared between samples and processing methods. Hematological characteristics and platelet enrichment varied markedly among tested protocols and all were statistically different from WB. Protocol ACP-2 resulted in significantly greater platelet enrichment (mean 169% of WB) than ACP-1 (125% of WB). We found no significant difference between the 2 ACP preparation protocols with regard to leukocyte reduction (7.53-9.75% WBC compared with WB) or growth factor enrichment (124-125% PDGF, 95-100% TGF-ß, 102-104% b-FGF, and 56-74% IL-1ß compared with WB). In conclusion, both ACP protocols yielded a platelet concentration shown to promote healing for clinical applications in cattle, and the ACP-2 protocol resulted in a greater degree of platelet enrichment. Therefore, this protocol could be used for ACP production for clinical applications in cattle.

Eye enucleation and exenteration in -cattle: a retrospective study of 38 cases (2013-2020).

INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to describe clinical indications for eye enucleation and exenteration, the occurrence of complications and long-term outcome in cattle, and examine owners' attitude towards enucleation and exenteration and their satisfaction with the surgical outcome. Medical records from the two veterinary teaching hospitals in Switzerland were reviewed to identify cattle that underwent unilateral enucleation or exenteration between January 2013 and December 2020. Data extracted included medical history, ocular examination, clinical diagnosis, surgical procedure including anesthesia, suture material and pattern used, complications, and treatment thereof. Long-term follow-up was evaluated via national animal database inquiries to determine survival time and via owners' interviews with the use of a standardized questionnaire that included questions regarding the occurrence of complications and reason for culling, production performances and perceived quality of life after surgery, concerns, factors affecting the decision to proceed with surgery, and general satisfaction with the outcome. Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact tests and unpaired t-test were used to summarize the data and assess association between variables. Association was considered significant if p < 0,05. Thirty-eight cases were identified, with a median age of 5 years. More than half of the cases (55,3 %) were diagnosed with non-neoplastic ocular lesions represented by severe trauma with loss of globe content, globe rupture with history of infectious keratoconjunctivitis or hypopyon, or congenital malformations. The remaining cases were diagnosed with neoplastic lesions, including ocular squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), melanoma, or sarcoma. Complications following surgery were reported in 29 % of cases and included postoperative infection and recurrence of OSCC. There was no significant association between ocular diagnosis and the occurrence of postoperative complications or survival time. Surgery did not seem to influence the animals' postoperative production performance or the perceived quality of life. Most owners (92 %) were satisfied with the surgical outcome. The occurrence of postoperative complications leading to increased overall costs and culling was the main reason for lower owner satisfaction.

INTRODUCTION: La présente étude vise à décrire les indications cliniques de l'énucléation et de l'exentération de l'œil, la survenue de complications et le résultat à long terme chez les bovins et à examiner l'attitude des propriétaires vis-à-vis de l'énucléation et de l'exentération et leur satisfaction quant au résultat chirurgical. Les dossiers médicaux des deux hôpitaux universitaires vétérinaires de Suisse ont été examinés pour identifier les bovins qui ont subi une énucléation ou une exentération unilatérale entre janvier 2013 et décembre 2020. Les données extraites comprenaient les antécédents médicaux, l'examen oculaire, le diagnostic clinique, la procédure chirurgicale y compris l'anesthésie, le matériel et le patron de suture utilisés, les complications et leur traitement. Le suivi à long terme a été évalué en utilisant la base de données nationale sur les animaux afin de déterminer la durée de survie, et par d'entretiens avec les propriétaires à l'aide d'un questionnaire standardisé qui comprenait des questions concernant l'apparition de complications et la raison de la réforme, les performances de production et la qualité de vie perçue après la chirurgie, les réserves, les facteurs affectant la décision de procéder à la chirurgie et la satisfaction générale du résultat. Les données ont été résumées à l'aide de statistiques descriptives et les différences éventuelles entre les variables ont été analysées à l'aide de tests exacts de Fisher et de tests t non appariés. L'association a été considérée comme significative si p < 0,05. Trente-huit cas ont été identifiés, avec un âge médian de 5 ans. Plus de la moitié des cas (55,3 %) ont été diagnostiqués avec des lésions oculaires non néoplasiques causées par un traumatisme grave avec perte du contenu du globe, une rupture du globe avec des antécédents de kératoconjonctivite infectieuse ou d'hypopion ou des malformations congénitales. Les autres cas ont été diagnostiqués comme des lésions néoplasiques, notamment carcinome épidermoïde oculaire, mélanome ou sarcome. Des complications après l'opération ont été signalées dans 29 % des cas, notamment infection postopératoire et récidive du carcinome épidermoïde oculaire. Il n'y avait pas d'association significative entre le diagnostic et l'apparition de complications postopératoires ou la durée de survie. L'intervention chirurgicale n'a pas semblé influencer les performances de production postopératoires des animaux ni la qualité de vie perçue. La plupart des propriétaires (92 %) étaient satisfaits du résultat de la chirurgie. L'apparition de complications postopératoires entraînant une augmentation des coûts globaux et l'abattage des animaux était la principale raison de la baisse de satisfaction des propriétaires.

In vitro biomechanical properties of sole tissues: Comparison between healthy and ulcerated bovine claws.

Sole ulcers are reportedly one of the most prevalent diseases associated with lameness in dairy cattle, significantly affecting animal welfare and farm profitability. The degree to which sole soft tissues, healthy or ulcerated, are able to maintain their structure and function when subjected to compressive forces remains unknown. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to assess sole tissue biomechanics in healthy and ulcerated claws and to describe correlated histology. Cylindrical samples were harvested from zones 4 and 6, as described by the international foot map, from hind lateral healthy (n = 12) and ulcerated bovine claws (n = 8; animals n = 12). Tissue biomechanics and morphology were evaluated via compressive tests and hematoxylin-eosin-phloxine-saffron staining, respectively. A 2-sample t-test was used to compare zones' mechanical properties between healthy and ulcerated tissues, and the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was used to measure the effect of claw zone on histology. The fibril modulus (Ef) and permeability (k) respectively increased and decreased in ulcerated claws (Ef = 0.201 ± 0.104 MPa; k = 0.128 ± 0.069 mm2/MPa·s) compared with healthy claws (Ef = 0.105 ± 0.050 MPa; k = 0.452 ± 0.365 mm2/MPa·s) only for zone 6. Histology scores equal to or greater than 3 were associated with macroscopic presence of ulceration. A higher proportion of adipose tissue (30% or more) was associated with zone 6 compared with zone 4, but no difference was seen between healthy and ulcerated claws. Ulcerated claws had a higher prevalence of exostoses compared with healthy ones (33% vs. 8%). Sole soft tissues showed, as hypothesized, a viscoelastic behavior using unconfined compression testing, which, however, may not reflect in vivo loading conditions. Clinical and histological signs of sole ulceration were not associated with decreased strength of the supportive apparatus of the distal phalanx in zone 4 in this study.