Eleven perennially affected atopic dogs which had previously responded poorly to dietary supplementation with a combination of evening primrose oil and fish oil were studied to determine whether a concentrated essential fatty acid supplement containing gammalinolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid would reduce their prednisolone requirements. The prednisolone dose required for satisfactory control of the dogs' clinical signs was reduced in eight of the 11 cases when assessed after 12 weeks of supplementation, but there were no significant differences in mean clinical scores during the same period. The mean plasma phospholipid linoleic acid concentrations after eight and 12 weeks of supplementation were significantly lower than the initial mean value but there were no significant differences in the mean plasma phospholipid concentrations of dihomogammalinolenic acid, arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid.

The thickness of, and number of cell layers in, the stratum corneum and the living epidermis were determined on frozen sections of washed and unwashed skin from normal and atopic individuals of both sexes. The stratum corneum of atopic patients was thinner and had fewer layers of dead cells and intercellular lipid than normal, although the living epidermis was thicker. Regular washing with soap and water had no appreciable effect on the dimensions of the living epidermis of either group but caused a reduction in the number of cell layers and the amount of sudanophilic material in the stratum corneum of both. In atopic patients little surface lipid remained, suggesting that washing with soap and water may be detrimental to the barrier function of the stratum corneum in such patients.

Thirty-five dogs with non-seasonal atopic dermatitis were used in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of the effects of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) oil. There was a significant treatment effect (P less than 0.05) on erythema. An analysis of the changes in plasma phospholipid levels of essential fatty acids revealed a significant (P less than 0.05) rise in linoleic acid concentration above that in the placebo group. Arachidonic acid levels in the treated group increased significantly (P less than 0.005) in the first phase and also in the second phase (P less than 0.05). In the second phase the levels of arachidonic acid in the active and placebo groups differed significantly (P less than 0.05) and there was a significant treatment effect (P less than 0.05).

The concentration of immunoglobulins in faecal extracts was investigated as a method of assessing the production of immunoglobulins by the gut mucosa of 137 dogs. There were significant correlations between the concentrations in faecal extracts and the concentrations produced in duodenal organ cultures. Seventy-six German shepherd dogs had significantly lower median immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in their faecal extracts than 63 controls of various breeds. Sixteen of the German shepherd dogs had IgA concentrations below the 95 per cent confidence limit of the control population and six had no demonstrable faecal IgA. The faecal concentrations of immunoglobulin G and albumin were significantly higher in the German shepherd dogs than in the controls, but their immunoglobulin M concentrations were similar.

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A cup-scrub technique devised for sampling the human skin surface microflora was evaluated in cattle. Scrub samples from bovine skin contained clumps of squama and bacterial microcolonies which were progressively broken down by shaking. This was accelerated in the presence of ballotini beads but aggregations of bacteria were still present after prolonged agitation. Vigorous shaking, particularly with beads, decreased the viability of the bacteria and optimum viable counts were obtained after manual shaking for half a minute. Immersion in buffered detergent, wash and diluting fluids for up to 2 h promoted release of bacteria from microcolonies but decreased the viability of aerobic and anaerobic pleomorphic rods and a Bacillus strain. There was no significant effect on strains of Micrococcaceae. Prolonged exposure of bacteria from scrub samples to these fluids can thus lead to both quantitative and qualitative alterations in the counts obtained, although these effects may be masked by the continuing release of bacteria from microcolonies. The cup-scrub technique provides a convenient means of quantifying changes in the bovine skin microflora but results obtained from different studies should only be compared if closely similar techniques are used.

Background: There is a high prevalence of obesity in ponies and pleasure horses. This may be associated with equine metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of laminitis.Body condition scoring (BCS) systems are widely used but are subjective and not very sensitive.Objectives: To derive a body condition index (BCI), based on objective morphometric measurements, that correlates with % body fat.Study design: Retrospective cohort study.Methods: Morphometric measurements were obtained from 21 ponies and horses in obese and moderate body condition. Percentage body fat was determined using the deuterium dilution method and the BCI was derived to give the optimal correlation with body fat, applying appropriate weightings. The index was then validated by assessing inter-observer variation and correlation with % body fat in a separate population of Welsh ponies; and finally, the correlation between BCI and BCS was evaluated in larger populations from studies undertaken in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Results:The BCI correlated well with adiposity in the ponies and horses, giving a Pearson r value of 0.74 (P < 0.001); however, it was found to slightly overestimate the % body fat in leaner animals and underestimate in more obese animals. In field studies, the correlation between BCI and BCS varied particularly in Shetlands and miniature ponies, presumably due to differences in body shape.Main limitations: Further work may be required to adapt the BCI to a method that is more applicable for Shetlands and miniature ponies. Conclusions:This BCI was able to provide an index of adiposity which compared favourably with condition scoring in terms of accuracy of estimating adiposity; and was more consistent and repeatable when used by inexperienced assessors. Samantha J. Potter and Madison L. Erdody contributed equally to this study.

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