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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #79027
Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF WINTER TEAT END LESIONS OF DAIRY COWS

Author
item TIMMS, LEO - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item ACKERMANN, MARK - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item KEHRLI JR, MARCUS

Submitted to: American Dairy Science Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/23/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective of this investigation was to characterize the histological changes occurring on the teat ends of dairy cattle during winter following changes or drops in ambient temperature. Teat end biopsies were taken from 12 adult lactating Holstein cows with varying degrees of teat orifice lesions during November 1995 and February 1996. Lidocaine cream was applied to the distal teat end. After 30 minutes, teats were cleansed with 70% ethanol. A 1-2mm**3 region of epidermis and superficial dermis at the junction of the streak canal with the teat epidermis was excised from one teat of each cow. Tissues were immersed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for 24 hours then placed in 0.1% cacodylate buffer. Fixed tissues were processed for electron microscopy. Thick (1um) sections were stained with toluidine blue and examined with a light microscope. Thin sections were stained with lead citrate and uranyl acetate and examined with a Philips 110 transmission electron microscope. Gross lesions were characterized by marked thickening of the epidermis of the mucocutaneous junction of the teat orifice. These regions ranged from 1 x 2 mm (width and height) to 4 x 3 mm.