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The study investigated healthy claw samples from cross-bred heifers aged around 20 months. Histological studies adopted a novel sectioning approach along planes parallel to the wall, identifying dynamics of the keratinisation process, localisation of elastic fibres and anatomical features of cap papillae and horn. Structural molecules were investigated immunohistochemically, including cytokeratins, cytokeratin 14 (CK14) and β-actin. The results showed patterns of suprabasal keratin deposition and loss of signal for CK14 and β-actin markers in differentiating keratinocytes. Localisation of vimentin provided evidence of mesenchymal cells in laminar dermis. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were investigated immunohistochemically, by <i>in situ</i> hybridisation and RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry showed signals in the dermis and epidermis, with mRNA presence solely in the dermis and high synthesis rates on comparison with internal control. Mean expression levels were higher in summer than in winter. Collagen I (COL1A2), elastin, estradiol receptor β, cyclin A and B were also investigated by RT-PCR and consistently amplified. Tissue cultures were carried out in order to study TGFβ1, CTGF and COL1A2 expression by RT-PCR in tissue explants incubated in presence of TGFβ1. Results identified a time effect but absence of a concentration effect. Proteomic analysis of fractions extracted from incubated and non-incubated (control) explants showed significant differences for a number of spots, mainly in the keratin region of the electrophoretic gels. In conclusion, the study has provided novel information on molecules of importance in the structure and regulation of epidermal and dermal cells and dermal extracellular matrix in the laminar region of the bovine claw.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2004. / "May 2004." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-77). Also issued on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Aberdeen University, 2008. / Title from web page (viewed on June 11, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-77). Also issued on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 224-226).

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Daniel U. Thomson / In current literature, there is a limited amount of large scale data available demonstrating lameness morbidity in beef cattle feedlots, the subsequent outcomes of individuals exhibiting lameness, the morbidity and mortality of various lameness diagnoses, or the effect of locomotion score at the time of first morbidity and its effect on outcome. In addition, current perceptions of lameness by feedlot industry participants are not known and a reliable locomotion scoring system fit for use in a feedlot setting has not been developed. Consequently, the objectives of this research were three-fold. First, to obtain a baseline of the perception of lameness within the feedlot industry. Second, to develop a functional locomotion scoring system for use in feedlots and to test a training program implementing this locomotion scoring system for inter-rater reliability. Third, determine the association of lameness diagnosis and locomotion score at time of initial lameness diagnosis with case outcome in feedlot cattle and provide beef cattle feedlot lameness morbidity, mortality, and realizer incidence rates due to different lameness etiologies in a large scale, multisite study. One hundred forty-seven consulting nutritionists, veterinarians, and feedlot managers participated in the feedlot cattle lameness survey. The median response of estimated lameness incidence in the feedyard was 2%, with a mode of 1% and a mean of 3.8%. Participants indicated that footrot, injury, and toe abscesses were the most common causes of lameness. A locomotion scoring system was developed to clinically assess locomotion of beef cattle. The scoring system consisted of 4 categories: normal movement (0), slightly affected gait (1), obviously shortened stride or bobbing of head (2), and reluctance to move or apply weight to the limb while walking or standing (3). A total of 50 commercial feedlot employees and agricultural students were trained to use the scoring system in either English or Spanish. The scoring system was tested for inter-rater agreement and rater agreement against a cooperative standard based on consensus score by a team of individuals involved in the development of the scoring system, which included beef cattle veterinarians and welfare experts. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Fleiss’s kappa were used to evaluate inter-rater agreement and rater agreement against the cooperative standard. Inter-rater agreement using ICC was 0.85 (95% CI; 0.75 to 0.93) while the mean kappa value was 0.52 (moderate agreement). Rater agreement with the cooperative standard resulted in mean kappa value of 0.64 (substantial agreement). A dynamic population longitudinal study with an initial study population of 245,494 head of feedlot cattle, with 524,780 animal arrivals and 527,220 animal departures recorded over the 12-month study was conducted over a year by trained personnel in six participating feedlots located in Kansas and Nebraska. Lameness morbidity incidence was 1.04 cases per 100 animal-years; lameness mortality was 0.397 cases per 100 animal-years. Cattle locomotion score (LMS; scale of 0 to 3 at time of initial diagnosis) were LMS1(22% of lameness cases), LMS2 (31%), and LMS3(22%). 24% of the lameness cases were not assigned a locomotion score (NS). Mortality risks were greatest for LMS3 (33.0%) and NS (31.3%), and were least for LMS1 (10.0%) with LMS2 (19.1%) being intermediate (P < 0.05).

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The measurement of pain has had a growing importance in animals for both privately owned animals and those animals involved in clinical research. Lameness is considered to be 1 aspect of the pain experience. The ability of a veterinarian to assess lameness during a routine orthopedic examination can be difficult given the short amount of time in which the clinician can observe the animal, and the fact that the animal is in a stressful environment. Thus, the input of the owner concerning the animal's well-being over an extended time period may be extremely useful to the clinician in assessing the degree of lameness of the animal. It was the purpose of this study to establish an instrument that was both repeatable and valid in assessing the degree of lameness. The instrument used was a questionnaire containing 39 questions in a visual analog scale format. A force platform was used as the gold-standard for detecting mechanical lameness. Peak vertical, cranial-caudal, and their associated impulses were forces used to determine lameness, along with maximum slope in some cases. A test-retest measure of repeatability was conducted on a subset of 19 dogs that were confirmed to have less than a 10% change in vertical peak force. Nineteen of the 39 questions were found to be repeatable based on a Spearman rank correlation. These 19 questions were then used as predictor variables in several multiple regression models which predicted force plate measurements. The result was 3 different models each containing 7 independent variables that were thought to be valid representations of the forces measured (vertical peak, vertical impulse, and propulsion peak forces). Each reduced model was found to fit the data as well as the full model containing all 19 of the repeatable questions. The composite of 11 questions from the 3 different models was used to calculate a total score. This total score was found to be significantly correlated with force plate measurements. These 11 questions should be useful to a clinician in detecting the degree of lameness in the dog.