ABSTRACT Odontogenic abscesses and Ludwig’s angina are infections commonly seen by maxillofacial surgeons. Both infections have periapical or periodontal origin and caused by oral bacteria. Ludwig’s angina is an aggressive and fast spreading infection compared to odontogenic abscess. The origin and the responsible bacteria of these infections are similar but the development and response is different in patients. There is no comprehensive study that has investigated the bacterial and host factors involved in the development of there infections. The aim of this study was to compare the presence of bacteria and enzymes in to the pus samples collected from patients with odontogenic abscess and Ludwig’s angina. Furthermore, various haematological and immunological tests were also compared between the two study groups. Forty two patients presenting with localized odontogenic abscesses and 15 with Ludwig’s angina were selected. Patient was examined according to standard protocol and history was recorded. Bloods were collected for haematology and immunology tests and pus was collected for microbiology and enzymatic tests. The results showed that highly virulent bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and black pigmented bacteroides were prevalent, increase in c-reactive protein, white blood cell count, IL6 and decrease in urea, circulating immune complexes and IgE in patients with Ludwig’s angina. Development of Ludwig’s angina could be due to the aggressive bacteria, their byproducts and low immune response compared to the odontogenic abscesses.

Conventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been widely applied to clinical analysis studies due to its non-invasive property. Proton MR spectroscopy complements conventional MR imaging by enabling better lesion characterization. Thus, proton MR spectroscopy is used to assist in the differential diagnosis of intracranial pathologies. LCModel is a reliable and user-friendly post-processing tool which is used to analyse absolute concentrations in our thesis. Our phantom are solution of alanine (Ala), cytosolic amino acids (AAs), lactate (Lac), and n-acetyl aspartate (NAA) in a spherical flasks of glass. We used three basis sets with difference echo time (TE) to experiment. We also performed a retrospective study of subjects with brain abscesses referred during a span of 10 years. All subjects underwent conventional MR imaging and in vivo proton MR spectroscopy, and subjects are classified four groups according to the spectrum characteristics described in the literatures. In this thesis, phantom experiments as well as GAVA simulation are included for the basis sets comparison. Then, abscesses subjects are analyzed by LCModel using these basis sets and compared with clinical diagnosis. Our result shows that using GAVA simulation as the basis sets may provide better consistency among all metabolites and thus achieve more reliable quantification of magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / Purpose: To assess the value of postoperative CT scans in the management of severe cervicofacial infections or deep neck abscesses. Patients and Methods: Thirteen patients underwent post-operative contrast enhanced CT scans after initial incision and drainage followed by a tracheostomy. As per surgical protocol, the CT scans were taken with radiopaque surgical drains in situ from the brain down to the mediastinum and chest/lungs. Data were collected on the presence of abscesses, their location, the location of surgical drains and presence of other pathology. Results: The most common initially affected space was the submandibular space (69%), followed by the submental space (62%). Almost half of the cases studied had two spaces affected and slightly less than a third had three spaces affected. Slightly more than half (54%) of the patients were in good health generally. More than a third (38.5%) of the patients were HIV positive, and thus immuno-compromised. The mean time lapse between the CT and surgery was 2.61 days (SD = 1.56). In the majority (69.23%) of post-operative scans a residual pus collection was found. In just over a quarter (30.8 %) of the patients no residual pus collection was detected on the postoperative CT scan, while in seven patients (53.8%) affected fascial spaces were missed by the surgeon. These spaces included the submasseteric, anteriormediastinum and parotid spaces. Almost half (44.15%) of the patients required a repeatincision and drainage. Conclusion: This study demonstrates clinical value of post-operative CT scans in severe cervicofacial infections. This study also advances the argument for acquisition of preoperative CECT scans for all patients with severe cervicofacial infection.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Sanjeev K. Narayanan / Fusobacterium necrophorum is a Gram-negative, anaerobic, and rod-shaped to pleomorphic bacterium. It is frequently associated with necrotic infections of animals and humans. It is a major bovine pathogen and causes hepatic abscesses, foot rot, and necrotic laryngitis (calf-diphtheria). Liver abscesses in feedlot cattle and foot rot in beef and dairy cattle are of significant economic importance to the cattle industry. Fusobacterium necrophorum is classified into two subspecies, subsp. necrophorum and subsp. funduliforme. The subsp. necrophorum is more virulent and isolated more frequently from bovine hepatic abscesses than subsp. funduliforme. Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Gram-negative bacteria play an important role in their adhesion to host eukaryotic cells and hence, help in the establishment of infection and disease. Our objectives were to characterize OMPs of the two subspecies of F. necrophorum and assess their role in adhesion to bovine cells. Electrophoretic separation of extracted OMPs of subsp. necrophorum showed a total of 19 bands. Four bands of 38, 40, 60 and 74 kDa were more prominent than others. The OMPs of subsp. funduliforme showed a total of 20 proteins bands, of which, five were prominent (37.5, 58, 70, 140 and 150 kDa). The 40 kDa band was prominent in subsp. necrophorum while 37.5 kDa band was prominent in subsp. funduliforme. The human strains of F. necrophorum subsp. funduliforme had more heterogeneous banding patterns than the bovine strains of subsp. funduliforme. The role of OMPs in adhesion was studied using bovine endothelial cell line (EJG cells). A significant decrease in the attachment of subsp. necrophorum and subsp. funduliforme to bovine endothelial cell line (EJG cells) was observed when the cell line was preincubated with the OMPs of each subspecies. Treatment of the bacterial cells with trypsin also decreased their binding. In addition, when each subspecies was incubated with the polyclonal antibody produced against their OMPs before adding them to endothelial cells, there was a significant reduction in the bacterial attachment and the inhibition was subspecies specific. A 40 kDa OMP of subsp. necrophorum was identified that binds to the bovine endothelial cells with high affinity. The protein when preincubated with the endothelial cells, lead to a significant decrease in the bacterial binding to the endothelial cells. The N-terminal sequencing of the protein indicated similarity to FomA, an outer membrane protein of Fusobacterium nucleatum, an oral pathogen of humans. In summary, OMPs of F. necrophorum subsp. necrophorum and subsp. funduliforme differ from each other and they play a significant role in binding to bovine endothelial cells. We identified a 40 kDa OMP in subsp. necrophorum that binds to the bovine endothelial cells with high affinity and have a potential role as adhesin.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Evan C. Titgemeyer / Seven ruminally cannulated heifers approximately 225 kg initial BW were used in a 7 × 4 Youden square design to determine the effects of different levels of limonene on ruminal Fusobacterium necrophorum populations. Treatments included: 1) control, 2) limonene at10 mg/kg diet DM, 3) limonene at 20 mg/kg diet DM, 4) limonene at 40 mg/kg diet DM, 5) limonene at 80 mg/kg diet DM, 6) CRINA-L (a blend of essential oil components) at 180 mg/kg diet DM, 7) tylosin at 12 mg/kg diet DM. Each period included 11 d with 10 d washouts between periods. Samples were collected on d 0 (before treatment initiation), 4, 7, and 10 for measuring F. necrophorum by most probable number (MPN) method using selective culture medium. Results indicate that CRINA-L (P = 0.52) and tylosin (P = 0.19) did not affect ruminal F. necrophorum populations. Limonene linearly decreased (P = 0.03) F. necrophorum populations, and the optimal dietary concentration for limonene was 40 mg/kg DM. Limonene did not affect ruminal degradation rate of lysine, NH3 concentration, or VFA profiles in ruminal fluid. Limonene was useful for reducing ruminal concentrations of F. necrophorum. It may have potential to control liver abscesses, although further research will be needed to assess the effect of limonene under feedlot conditions.

O presente trabalho avaliou a influência de lesões de caudofagia em suínos na terminação sobre o ganho de peso, variáveis sanitárias, ocorrência de lesões e condenações ao abate. O estudo foi realizado em quatro propriedades (PROP) de terminação de suínos. Para cada suíno com lesão de caudofagia foram selecionados dois controles, totalizando a avaliação dos seguintes números de animais: PROP1: 87; PROP2: 33; PROP3: 60; PROP4: 132. As lesões na cauda foram classificadas conforme o grau de severidade (escore de 0 a 4, sendo 0 normal e a severidade aumentando até os graus 2 e 3, e como grau 4 para lesões cicatrizadas). A cada uma de 4 a 6 avaliações (conforme a idade inicial do 1o diagnóstico do problema), os animais eram pesados e as lesões na cauda avaliadas. Em todas as propriedades, foi observada uma recuperação das lesões de caudofagia na terceira avaliação. Nas PROP 1 e 3, animais com lesões de escore 3 (severas) tiveram menor ganho de peso (P<0,05) comparados aos animais de escore 0. Além disso, na PROP3, animais com escore 3 foram menos pesados (P<0,05) ao abate do que aqueles de escore 0. A chance de animais com escore 3 terem artrite e apresentarem nódulos subcutâneos e/ou abscessos foi 25,5 e 30,4 vezes maior, respectivamente, em comparação aos animais com escore 0. Tanto animais com escore 2 (moderado) quanto os com escore 3 apresentaram maiores chances (P<0,05) de terem abscessos ou lesões pulmonares (pleurite e pneumonia embólica) em comparação aos animais sem lesão de cauda. Houve desvio ao Departamento de Inspeção Federal (DIF) de 21,6% (62/287) das carcaças, de animais com lesões e controles, sendo que a caudofagia foi a causa de 66,1% das condenações. Animais com lesões de escore 2 e 3 apresentaram 6,0 e 9,3 vezes maiores chances de terem suas carcaças desviadas ao DIF, respectivamente, comparados aos animais de escore 0. Os animais com lesões de caudofagia representaram 63,0% das carcaças que tiveram destino “não exportável” e 75,0% das carcaças com outros destinos. Considerando os percentuais aproximados de perdas relativas definidas pelo frigorífico visitado para as categorias de condenação (não-exportável, embutido, conserva e graxaria), isto representaria a perda de 15,58 animais (total de 18,12% entre os 86 animais que foram diagnosticados com caudofagia na granja). Isso permite concluir que, nas condições desse estudo, de cada 5 animais que são visualizados com canibalismo na terminação vai ocorrer a perda total de 1 no frigorífico. A esse prejuízo devem ser somados os animais que foram sacrificados nas granjas ou que vieram a morrer devido aos problemas causados pelas complicações das lesões na cauda. No estudo atual, foi possível determinar que, entre todos os que haviam apresentado lesões de canibalismo nas granjas, apenas dois mantinham lesões detectáveis externamente por ocasião do abate, o que pode ser explicado pela ocorrência muito precoce das lesões de caudofagia nos casos observados. Por outro lado, no abate desses animais do grupo com caudofagia, mas sem lesões externas no abate, foi observado um grande número de condenações por abscessos e lesões pulmonares. Isso sugere existir uma dicotomia entre as situações de campo e de frigorífico, reforçando a necessidade de uma melhor ligação entre esses contextos para estimar adequadamente o seu impacto. / The present work assessed the influence of tail biting lesions in finishing pigs in relation to weight gain, health, occurrence of lesions and carcass condemnation at slaughter. The study was carried out in four finishing units (PROP) and the following number of animals were assessed: PROP1: 87; PROP2: 33; PROP3: 60; PROP4: 132. To each animal with tail biting two controls were selected. Tail lesions were classified according the degrees of severity (scores from 0 to 4, 0 classified as normal and severity increasing until the degrees 2 and 3, and degree 4 meaning healed lesions). In each one of 4 to 6 visits (depending on the age of the 1st diagnosis of the problem), the animals were weighed and tail lesions assessed. In all farms, healing of tail lesions was observed in the third evaluation. In PROP 1 and 3, injured animals with score 3 showed smaller weight gain (P<0,05) when compared with animals with score 0. In PROP3, animals with score 3 were lighter (P<0,05) at slaughter than those with score 0. The chance for animals with score 3 to show arthritis and subcutaneous nodules and/or abscesses was 25,5 and 30,4 times higher, respectively, when compared with animals with score 0. Animals with scores 2 (moderate) and 3 (severe) had higher chances (P<0,05) of having abscesses or lung lesions (pleuritis and embolic pneumonia) when compared to animals without tail lesions. Trimming was observed in 21,6% (62/287) of the carcasses of injured and controls, and tail lesions corresponded to 66,1% among condemnations. Animals with lesions of scores 2 and 3 presented 6,0 and 9,3 higher chances of having trimmed carcasses, respectively, when compared with animals with score 0. Animals with tail lesion represented 63,0% of the carcasses with “non exportable” destination and 75,0% of the carcasses with other destinations. Considering the percentile of losses in each category defined by the slaughterhouse visited in this work (non exportable, processed, preserve and grease), this would represent a total loss of 15,58 animals (loss of a total of 18,82% among 86 animals with cannibalism). In the conditions of this study, this would mean that from 5 animals diagnosed with cannibalism in the finishing period, one would be totally wasted at the slaughter time. To this damage must be added the animals that were euthanazied in the herds or those died due to complications of tail injuries. In the present study, an individual diagnosis was performed in the farms of all animals with external lesions suggestive of tail cannibalism and all affected animals were followed at slaughter. Because of this, it was possible to observe that between all animals diagnosed with cannibalism at farm level, only two remained with lesions externally detectable at slaughter, what could be explained by the precocity of the lesions present in the cases analyzed by us. On the other hand, at the slaughter of this group of animals of the cannibalism group but without external lesions at slaughter, a great number of condemnations occurred by abscesses and lung lesions. This suggests that there is a dicotomy between slaughter and field situations, reinforcing the need for a better liaison between these contexts, to be able to adequately assess its impact.

Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive and nondestructive technique and ideally suited for applications in clinical studies. In addition to the information of human anatomy provided by MRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) also provided a noninvasive method to investigate the metabolites in the body and is therefore regarded as a valuable method to examine tumors and disorders especially for the brain applications. To diagnose pyogenic brain abscess from other diseases is very important for clinic treatment. Cytosolic amino acids, lactate, alanine and acetate have been recognized as potential abscess markers, especially amino acids. LCModel is a well-known and reliable post-processing tool for MRS which can provide objectively quantitative of metabolite concentration. In this thesis, we would use LCModel to analyze the spectra of amino acids and further to identify and quantitate these metabolites. And we hope that the method would benefit more precisely noninvasive diagnosis and treatment of pyogenic brain abscess. However, due to the possibly poor SNR of in vivo proton MR spectroscopy, it might be difficult to identify these metabolites. In this study, we would validate the accuracy of LCModel in the analysis of amino acids. We used GAVA-simulated resonance spectra with different level noise as our input signals and analyzed by LCModel to understand the influence of concentrations and SNR caused by different level noise. Our goal is to find an optimally reliable method to help the clinic diagnosis of abscess patients.

O presente trabalho avaliou a influência de lesões de caudofagia em suínos na terminação sobre o ganho de peso, variáveis sanitárias, ocorrência de lesões e condenações ao abate. O estudo foi realizado em quatro propriedades (PROP) de terminação de suínos. Para cada suíno com lesão de caudofagia foram selecionados dois controles, totalizando a avaliação dos seguintes números de animais: PROP1: 87; PROP2: 33; PROP3: 60; PROP4: 132. As lesões na cauda foram classificadas conforme o grau de severidade (escore de 0 a 4, sendo 0 normal e a severidade aumentando até os graus 2 e 3, e como grau 4 para lesões cicatrizadas). A cada uma de 4 a 6 avaliações (conforme a idade inicial do 1o diagnóstico do problema), os animais eram pesados e as lesões na cauda avaliadas. Em todas as propriedades, foi observada uma recuperação das lesões de caudofagia na terceira avaliação. Nas PROP 1 e 3, animais com lesões de escore 3 (severas) tiveram menor ganho de peso (P<0,05) comparados aos animais de escore 0. Além disso, na PROP3, animais com escore 3 foram menos pesados (P<0,05) ao abate do que aqueles de escore 0. A chance de animais com escore 3 terem artrite e apresentarem nódulos subcutâneos e/ou abscessos foi 25,5 e 30,4 vezes maior, respectivamente, em comparação aos animais com escore 0. Tanto animais com escore 2 (moderado) quanto os com escore 3 apresentaram maiores chances (P<0,05) de terem abscessos ou lesões pulmonares (pleurite e pneumonia embólica) em comparação aos animais sem lesão de cauda. Houve desvio ao Departamento de Inspeção Federal (DIF) de 21,6% (62/287) das carcaças, de animais com lesões e controles, sendo que a caudofagia foi a causa de 66,1% das condenações. Animais com lesões de escore 2 e 3 apresentaram 6,0 e 9,3 vezes maiores chances de terem suas carcaças desviadas ao DIF, respectivamente, comparados aos animais de escore 0. Os animais com lesões de caudofagia representaram 63,0% das carcaças que tiveram destino “não exportável” e 75,0% das carcaças com outros destinos. Considerando os percentuais aproximados de perdas relativas definidas pelo frigorífico visitado para as categorias de condenação (não-exportável, embutido, conserva e graxaria), isto representaria a perda de 15,58 animais (total de 18,12% entre os 86 animais que foram diagnosticados com caudofagia na granja). Isso permite concluir que, nas condições desse estudo, de cada 5 animais que são visualizados com canibalismo na terminação vai ocorrer a perda total de 1 no frigorífico. A esse prejuízo devem ser somados os animais que foram sacrificados nas granjas ou que vieram a morrer devido aos problemas causados pelas complicações das lesões na cauda. No estudo atual, foi possível determinar que, entre todos os que haviam apresentado lesões de canibalismo nas granjas, apenas dois mantinham lesões detectáveis externamente por ocasião do abate, o que pode ser explicado pela ocorrência muito precoce das lesões de caudofagia nos casos observados. Por outro lado, no abate desses animais do grupo com caudofagia, mas sem lesões externas no abate, foi observado um grande número de condenações por abscessos e lesões pulmonares. Isso sugere existir uma dicotomia entre as situações de campo e de frigorífico, reforçando a necessidade de uma melhor ligação entre esses contextos para estimar adequadamente o seu impacto. / The present work assessed the influence of tail biting lesions in finishing pigs in relation to weight gain, health, occurrence of lesions and carcass condemnation at slaughter. The study was carried out in four finishing units (PROP) and the following number of animals were assessed: PROP1: 87; PROP2: 33; PROP3: 60; PROP4: 132. To each animal with tail biting two controls were selected. Tail lesions were classified according the degrees of severity (scores from 0 to 4, 0 classified as normal and severity increasing until the degrees 2 and 3, and degree 4 meaning healed lesions). In each one of 4 to 6 visits (depending on the age of the 1st diagnosis of the problem), the animals were weighed and tail lesions assessed. In all farms, healing of tail lesions was observed in the third evaluation. In PROP 1 and 3, injured animals with score 3 showed smaller weight gain (P<0,05) when compared with animals with score 0. In PROP3, animals with score 3 were lighter (P<0,05) at slaughter than those with score 0. The chance for animals with score 3 to show arthritis and subcutaneous nodules and/or abscesses was 25,5 and 30,4 times higher, respectively, when compared with animals with score 0. Animals with scores 2 (moderate) and 3 (severe) had higher chances (P<0,05) of having abscesses or lung lesions (pleuritis and embolic pneumonia) when compared to animals without tail lesions. Trimming was observed in 21,6% (62/287) of the carcasses of injured and controls, and tail lesions corresponded to 66,1% among condemnations. Animals with lesions of scores 2 and 3 presented 6,0 and 9,3 higher chances of having trimmed carcasses, respectively, when compared with animals with score 0. Animals with tail lesion represented 63,0% of the carcasses with “non exportable” destination and 75,0% of the carcasses with other destinations. Considering the percentile of losses in each category defined by the slaughterhouse visited in this work (non exportable, processed, preserve and grease), this would represent a total loss of 15,58 animals (loss of a total of 18,82% among 86 animals with cannibalism). In the conditions of this study, this would mean that from 5 animals diagnosed with cannibalism in the finishing period, one would be totally wasted at the slaughter time. To this damage must be added the animals that were euthanazied in the herds or those died due to complications of tail injuries. In the present study, an individual diagnosis was performed in the farms of all animals with external lesions suggestive of tail cannibalism and all affected animals were followed at slaughter. Because of this, it was possible to observe that between all animals diagnosed with cannibalism at farm level, only two remained with lesions externally detectable at slaughter, what could be explained by the precocity of the lesions present in the cases analyzed by us. On the other hand, at the slaughter of this group of animals of the cannibalism group but without external lesions at slaughter, a great number of condemnations occurred by abscesses and lung lesions. This suggests that there is a dicotomy between slaughter and field situations, reinforcing the need for a better liaison between these contexts, to be able to adequately assess its impact.

O presente trabalho avaliou a influência de lesões de caudofagia em suínos na terminação sobre o ganho de peso, variáveis sanitárias, ocorrência de lesões e condenações ao abate. O estudo foi realizado em quatro propriedades (PROP) de terminação de suínos. Para cada suíno com lesão de caudofagia foram selecionados dois controles, totalizando a avaliação dos seguintes números de animais: PROP1: 87; PROP2: 33; PROP3: 60; PROP4: 132. As lesões na cauda foram classificadas conforme o grau de severidade (escore de 0 a 4, sendo 0 normal e a severidade aumentando até os graus 2 e 3, e como grau 4 para lesões cicatrizadas). A cada uma de 4 a 6 avaliações (conforme a idade inicial do 1o diagnóstico do problema), os animais eram pesados e as lesões na cauda avaliadas. Em todas as propriedades, foi observada uma recuperação das lesões de caudofagia na terceira avaliação. Nas PROP 1 e 3, animais com lesões de escore 3 (severas) tiveram menor ganho de peso (P<0,05) comparados aos animais de escore 0. Além disso, na PROP3, animais com escore 3 foram menos pesados (P<0,05) ao abate do que aqueles de escore 0. A chance de animais com escore 3 terem artrite e apresentarem nódulos subcutâneos e/ou abscessos foi 25,5 e 30,4 vezes maior, respectivamente, em comparação aos animais com escore 0. Tanto animais com escore 2 (moderado) quanto os com escore 3 apresentaram maiores chances (P<0,05) de terem abscessos ou lesões pulmonares (pleurite e pneumonia embólica) em comparação aos animais sem lesão de cauda. Houve desvio ao Departamento de Inspeção Federal (DIF) de 21,6% (62/287) das carcaças, de animais com lesões e controles, sendo que a caudofagia foi a causa de 66,1% das condenações. Animais com lesões de escore 2 e 3 apresentaram 6,0 e 9,3 vezes maiores chances de terem suas carcaças desviadas ao DIF, respectivamente, comparados aos animais de escore 0. Os animais com lesões de caudofagia representaram 63,0% das carcaças que tiveram destino “não exportável” e 75,0% das carcaças com outros destinos. Considerando os percentuais aproximados de perdas relativas definidas pelo frigorífico visitado para as categorias de condenação (não-exportável, embutido, conserva e graxaria), isto representaria a perda de 15,58 animais (total de 18,12% entre os 86 animais que foram diagnosticados com caudofagia na granja). Isso permite concluir que, nas condições desse estudo, de cada 5 animais que são visualizados com canibalismo na terminação vai ocorrer a perda total de 1 no frigorífico. A esse prejuízo devem ser somados os animais que foram sacrificados nas granjas ou que vieram a morrer devido aos problemas causados pelas complicações das lesões na cauda. No estudo atual, foi possível determinar que, entre todos os que haviam apresentado lesões de canibalismo nas granjas, apenas dois mantinham lesões detectáveis externamente por ocasião do abate, o que pode ser explicado pela ocorrência muito precoce das lesões de caudofagia nos casos observados. Por outro lado, no abate desses animais do grupo com caudofagia, mas sem lesões externas no abate, foi observado um grande número de condenações por abscessos e lesões pulmonares. Isso sugere existir uma dicotomia entre as situações de campo e de frigorífico, reforçando a necessidade de uma melhor ligação entre esses contextos para estimar adequadamente o seu impacto. / The present work assessed the influence of tail biting lesions in finishing pigs in relation to weight gain, health, occurrence of lesions and carcass condemnation at slaughter. The study was carried out in four finishing units (PROP) and the following number of animals were assessed: PROP1: 87; PROP2: 33; PROP3: 60; PROP4: 132. To each animal with tail biting two controls were selected. Tail lesions were classified according the degrees of severity (scores from 0 to 4, 0 classified as normal and severity increasing until the degrees 2 and 3, and degree 4 meaning healed lesions). In each one of 4 to 6 visits (depending on the age of the 1st diagnosis of the problem), the animals were weighed and tail lesions assessed. In all farms, healing of tail lesions was observed in the third evaluation. In PROP 1 and 3, injured animals with score 3 showed smaller weight gain (P<0,05) when compared with animals with score 0. In PROP3, animals with score 3 were lighter (P<0,05) at slaughter than those with score 0. The chance for animals with score 3 to show arthritis and subcutaneous nodules and/or abscesses was 25,5 and 30,4 times higher, respectively, when compared with animals with score 0. Animals with scores 2 (moderate) and 3 (severe) had higher chances (P<0,05) of having abscesses or lung lesions (pleuritis and embolic pneumonia) when compared to animals without tail lesions. Trimming was observed in 21,6% (62/287) of the carcasses of injured and controls, and tail lesions corresponded to 66,1% among condemnations. Animals with lesions of scores 2 and 3 presented 6,0 and 9,3 higher chances of having trimmed carcasses, respectively, when compared with animals with score 0. Animals with tail lesion represented 63,0% of the carcasses with “non exportable” destination and 75,0% of the carcasses with other destinations. Considering the percentile of losses in each category defined by the slaughterhouse visited in this work (non exportable, processed, preserve and grease), this would represent a total loss of 15,58 animals (loss of a total of 18,82% among 86 animals with cannibalism). In the conditions of this study, this would mean that from 5 animals diagnosed with cannibalism in the finishing period, one would be totally wasted at the slaughter time. To this damage must be added the animals that were euthanazied in the herds or those died due to complications of tail injuries. In the present study, an individual diagnosis was performed in the farms of all animals with external lesions suggestive of tail cannibalism and all affected animals were followed at slaughter. Because of this, it was possible to observe that between all animals diagnosed with cannibalism at farm level, only two remained with lesions externally detectable at slaughter, what could be explained by the precocity of the lesions present in the cases analyzed by us. On the other hand, at the slaughter of this group of animals of the cannibalism group but without external lesions at slaughter, a great number of condemnations occurred by abscesses and lung lesions. This suggests that there is a dicotomy between slaughter and field situations, reinforcing the need for a better liaison between these contexts, to be able to adequately assess its impact.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / Diabetes is often associated with a number of medical complications as a result of the metabolic changes taking place systemically. There is considerable evidence it is associated with oral complications including among others, gingivitis, periodontal disease, xerostomia, oral candidiasis, dental caries, periapical abscesses, lichen planus,burning mouth syndrome and an altered taste sensation (Lamster et al. 2008; Skamagas et al. 2008; Vernillo, 2003). The aim of the present study was to compare the oral health status in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with regards to their oral health problems, oral pathology and self perceived quality of life.A comparative cross-sectional study to determine the common oral complications prevalent in diabetics and non-diabetics was carried out in KwaZulu-Natal, at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial, EThekwini District, Umlazi. The study sample consisted of 150 diabetic patients and 150 non-diabetic patients attending the hospital. The oral health status was assessed clinically for each patient and recorded prior to the interview. The DMFT, plaque index and appearance of marginal gingiva were used to assess oral health status. An intra-oral examination was carried out to identify oral pathology lesions and other oral problems. Patients were then interviewed on the self perceived quality of life and the impact that diabetes has had on their lives. Plaque Index and DMFT were significantly higher among the diabetic group as opposed to the non-diabetic group. Periodontal disease was observed in more than half of the diabetic group as opposed to only 14.7% of the non-diabetic group. Except for tooth decay, the diabetic patients had more oral health problems compared to the non-diabetic group. More than half of the diabetic group reported having xerostomia compared to only 7.3% of the non-diabetic group. Altered taste sensation was also more prevalent in the diabetic group. In general, the diabetic group demonstrated a higher prevalence of oral pathology lesions and medical diabetes complications compared to the non-diabetic group.The self perceived quality of life was said to have deteriorated in 92% of diabetic subjects due to concomitant diabetic complications and 75% of this group indicated that they were not satisfied with their current quality of life.Diabetic patients were significantly less likely to perceive their quality of life as very satisfied after having adjusted for age and gender variables (OR=0.0188; CI: 0.0059-0.0594). Furthermore, diabetic patients were almost 6 times more likely to perceive themselves as “not satisfied” with their quality of life (QOL) as compared to non-diabetic patients.Individuals with diabetes exhibited poorer oral health when compared to non-diabetics.They exhibited a higher DMFT and had a significantly higher average number of missing teeth compared to the non-diabetic group. Special care needs to be given to diabetic patients because of the associated complications to improve their quality of life. A more detailed and in-depth study that utilises a diabetes-specific quality of life instrument may provide a more accurate way of determining the quality of life as well as periodontal disease in patients.