FEA allowed visualisation of the effects that loading on different floor surfaces have on the biomechanics of the claw. Uneven preparation of the claw sole resulted in high stresses at and close to irregularities of the sole. Consequences were more severe on harder flooring. The model supports the hypothesis that mechanical factors play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of claw lesions.
An established finite element model of a bovine claw was used to compare mechanical stress levels in a loaded model claw on different types of flooring. The following situations were compared: a claw standing on a solid floor, a claw standing on the edge of a short tie stand, and claws standing on slatted floors with slats of 28 and 40 mm (wide) running parallel and perpendicular to the claw axis. Finite element analysis allowed visualization of stress peaks seen predominantly in the weight-bearing border of the dorsal abaxial wall and of the bulbar region and in the proximal axial wall. Maximum stress values of 13 MPa were found in the model claw loaded on the solid floor and values of 18 to 22 MPa were seen in the model claw loaded on the edge of the solid floor. On slatted floors, stresses increased in the situation in which the claw was not supported under the abaxial wall. Comparison between the other slatted floors showed little difference in amounts of mechanical stress. A clear distinction was detected between the solid floor with full claw contact and the slatted floors. From the point of view of the mechanical stress seen in finite element analysis, a large contact area between claw and floor, as seen in the solid surface floor, is preferable. When use of slatted floors is unavoidable, direction of the slats should run perpendicular to the direction of the walkway to prevent even more mechanical impact in certain footing situations.
Hoof canker is described as progressive pododermatitis of the equine hoof with absent epidermal cornification and extensive proliferation of the dermal papillary body; however, in-depth research on the type of proliferative activity has not yet been reported. The aim of the present study was to determine cell-specific proliferation patterns together with morphological analysis of hoof canker tissue.Tissues removed during surgery from 19 horses presented for treatment of canker were compared to similar postmortem tissues of healthy hooves of 10 horses.Morphological alterations visible in light microscopy were assessed semiquantitatively and graded for severity. Proliferative activity was evaluated by means of anti-PCNA (proliferative cell nuclear antigen) and anti-Ki67 immunohistochemistry.Histologically, canker tissue showed five major morphological alterations, the presence of lacunae, vacuoles, giant cells, hemorrhage and inflammation, not seen in control tissue. Also, there was a notable koilocytotic appearance of keratinocytes in canker tissue. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased levels of PCNA protein expression in keratinocytes and fibroblasts of canker tissue compared to control tissue. In control tissue, keratinocytes showed higher levels of Ki67 compared to canker tissue, while the dermal fibroblasts of both groups showed similar levels of Ki67, indicating similar proliferative activity of less than 3% of total dermal fibroblasts.These results demonstrate that, in contrast to previous reports, there is no evidence for increased proliferative activity of the dermal papillary body associated with hoof canker. Increased levels of PCNA protein expression and morphological alterations indicate dysregulation of keratinocyte differentiation constitutes a key event in equine hoof canker development. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 3,9,19,20,28 However, for any of these, a causal association with the development of disease remains to be established. Morphological studies of hoof canker tissues are rare. 24, 26Ballooning of the keratinocytes, mainly in the Stratum germinativum of the frog, has been reported together with the occurrence of perinuclear vacuoles in the cells of deep layers of the Stratum spongiosum; the cells of the corium are covered by a thin layer of defective epidermis, leading to an increased risk of infection and bleeding. 26To our knowledge, the proliferative character of canker has not yet been analyzed in detail. Immunohistochemistry allows characterization of tissue proliferation, as has been shown in a number of potentially metaplastic or neoplastic tissues. 4,1...
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