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Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the mechanical and geometric properties as well as bone tissue and mineral density of long bones in mink dams exposed to deoxynivalenol (DON) since one day after mating, throughout gestation (ca. 46 d) and lactation to pelt harvesting. Material and Methods: Thirty clinically healthy multiparous minks (Neovison vison) of the standard dark brown type were used. After the mating, the minks were randomly assigned into two equal groups: nontreated control group and DON group fed wheat contaminated naturally with DON at a concentration of 1.1 mg·kg-1 of feed. Results: The final body weight and weight and length of the femur did not differ between the groups. However, DON contamination decreased mechanical endurance of the femur. Furthermore, DON reduced the mean relative wall thickness and vertical wall thickness of the femur, while vertical cortical index, midshaft volume, and cross-sectional moment of inertia increased. Finally, DON contamination did not alter bone tissue density, bone mineral density, or bone mineral content, but decreased the values of all investigated structural and material properties. Conclusion: DON at applied concentration probably intensified the process of endosteal resorption, which was the main reason for bone wall thinning and the weakening of the whole bone.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of deoxynivalenol (DON), given alone or with bentonite (which eliminates mycotoxicity) in the diet of mink dams throughout mating, pregnancy, and lactation period to pelt harvesting, on the mechanical properties and geometry of their long bones.

Prenatal and postnatal supplementation with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) and alpha-ketoglutaric acid (AKG) affects the development and maturation of offspring. Both substances have the potential to stimulate cell metabolism via different routes. However, parity affects development and may alter the effects of dietary supplementation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gestational supplementation with HMB and/or AKG to primiparous and multiparous minks on the structure and maturation of the offspring's small intestine. Primiparous and multiparous American minks ( Neovison vison ), of the standard dark brown type, were supplemented daily with HMB (0.02 g/kg b.w.) and/or AKG (0.4 g/kg b.w.) during gestation ( n = 7 for each treatment). Supplementation stopped when the minks gave birth. Intestine samples were collected from 8-month-old male and female offspring during autopsy and histology and histomorphometry analysis was conducted (LAEC approval no 64/2015). Gestational supplementation had a long-term effect, improving the structure of the offspring's intestine toward facilitating absorption and passage of intestinal contents. AKG supplementation affected intestinal absorption (enterocytes, villi and absorptive surface), and HMB affected intestinal peristalsis and secretion (crypts and Goblet cells). These effects were strongly dependent on parity and offspring gender. Present findings have important nutritional implications and should be considered in feeding practices and supplementation plans in animal reproduction.

Deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin) is considered one of the most dangerous mycotoxins contaminating cereal products for food and feed. One of the protective methods against the adverse effect of DON on mink health is to use a component such as bentonite as a feed supplement to allow toxins absorption. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of DON, administered alone or with bentonite, on the histological structure of the skin and the content of collagen and elastin. A multiparous minks from control group (not exposed to DON) and a study groups receiving fed with DON-containing wheat for seven months: I: at a concentration of 1.1 mg/kg of feed, II: at a concentration of 3.7 mg/kg; III: DON at a concentration of 3.7 mg/kg and bentonite at a concentration of 0.5 kg/1000 kg of feed (0.05%); and IV: DON at a concentration of 3.7 mg/kg and bentonite at a concentration 2 kg/1000 kg (0.2%). After performing euthanasia and before pelting, skin samples of 2 cm in diameter were drawn from the multiparous minks from the lateral surface of the right anterior limb. Our obtained results clearly indicate that DON administered for a period of seven months at a dose of 1.1 mg/kg significantly changes the thickness of skin of a multiparous mink. It causes an increase in the percentage of elastin from 5.9% to 9.4% and a decrease in immature collagen, which results in a change in the collagen/elastin ratio from 10/1 to 5/1. A dose of 3.7 mg/kg DON in feed without or with 0.05% bentonite causes the absence of immature collagen in the dermis, but the addition of 0.2% bentonite in the feed reveals the presence of immature collagen and increase the percentage of the elastin., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Although intradermal testing (IDT) is commonly used in the etiological diagnosis of allergies, in vitro testing for specific IgE (sIgE) is an attractive alternative. Currently, new laboratory techniques in veterinary allergological practice, including multiple allergen simultaneous tests (MASTs), gradually supersede in vivo tests. Both, serological (sIgE) and IDTs in fourteen atopic Malopolski horses were performed. Correlation and agreement between test results were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that sIgE to Acarus siro had the best diagnostic performance (Area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.969), followed by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (AUC = 0.844), Dermatophagoides farinae (AUC = 0.813) and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (AUC = 0.803). A significant positive correlation between IDT and MAST was found for A. siro (r S = 0.870; p = 0.00005), and D. farinae (r S = 0.657; p = 0.011). There was significant moderate agreement for 2 of 5 allergens, A. siro (κ = 0.569) and D. farinae (κ = 0.485) in semiquantitative assessment and significant fair to substantial agreement for 3 of 5 allergens, D. pteronyssinus (κ = 0.689), A. siro (κ = 0.569), D. farinae (κ = 0.432) in dichotomic assessment. Sensitivity ranged from 44% to 89%, depending on the allergen, while specificity was significantly higher for all allergens in MAST (60%-100%); the mean accuracy was 73% (manufacturer cut-off) and 77.4% (optimal cut-off) based on the Youden index. Compared with IDT, serological MAST showed good detection performance for 60% allergen sIgE in dichotomic assessment with substantial diagnostic capability, but careful clinical interpretation is needed for some allergens., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2019 The Korean Society of Veterinary Science.)

A case of disseminated cysts in a dog is described. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of follicular infundibular cysts, which were treated with isotretinoin at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight (BW), q24h for 1 week, followed by a dose of 1 mg/kg BW for 3 months. Symptoms resolved after this course of treatment.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether there is a correlation between transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and the severity of skin lesions in cats with feline atopic dermatitis (AD). The severity of symptoms was determined by using 2 scoring systems for clinically assessing the skin lesions in cats: Scoring Feline Allergic Dermatitis (SCORFAD) and Feline Extent and Severity Index (FeDESI). Such a correlation between TEWL and systems for clinically evaluating symptoms has already been shown in humans and dogs. Measurements were taken in 18 European Shorthair cats: 11 females and 7 males. Scores were calculated using SCORFAD and FeDESI and TEWL was measured in 7 areas of the body. Correlations were calculated between SCORFAD and TEWL and between FeDESI and TEWL for each body region and the average TEWL was also calculated with each system. Positive correlations were found between SCORFAD and TEWL in 3 of the examined areas: thorax ( r = 0.44, P = 0.02); axilla ( r = 0.39, P = 0.04); and forelimb ( r = 0.55, P = 0.02). A correlation was also found between the average TEWL and SCORFAD ( r = 0.41, P = 0.03). In the case of FeDESI, a correlation was found in the forelimb ( r = 0.53, P = 0.02), but no correlation was found between FeDESI and the average TEWL. The results obtained showed that TEWL can be used as an additional tool in clinically assessing atopic dermatitis in cats, although it seems to be less useful in cats than in humans.