Hard implant coatings with antimicrobial properties.

Infection of orthopaedic implants often leads to inflammation immediately after surgery and increases patient morbidity due to repetitive operations. Silver ions have been shown to combine good biocompatibility with a low risk of inducing bacterial resistance. In this study a physical vapour deposition system using both arc deposition and magnetron sputtering has been utilized to produce silver ion doped TiN coatings on Ti substrates.

Comparison of smooth and hairy attachment pads in insects: friction, adhesion and mechanisms for direction-dependence.

Adhesive pads on the legs of animals can be classified as either 'smooth' or 'hairy' (fibrillar). It has been proposed that the hairy design conveys superior and controllable adhesion. However, no study has yet compared the basic performance of both systems.

Wet but not slippery: Boundary friction in tree frog adhesive toe pads.

Tree frogs are remarkable for their capacity to cling to smooth surfaces using large toe pads. The adhesive skin of tree frog toe pads is characterized by peg-studded hexagonal cells separated by deep channels into which mucus glands open. The pads are completely wetted with watery mucus, which led previous authors to suggest that attachment is solely due to capillary and viscous forces generated by the fluid-filled joint between the pad and the substrate.

Biomechanics of smooth adhesive pads in insects: influence of tarsal secretion on attachment performance.

Many insects possess smooth adhesive pads on their legs, which adhere by thin films of a two-phasic secretion. To understand the function of such fluid-based adhesive systems, we simultaneously measured adhesion, friction and contact area in single pads of stick insects (Carausius morosus). Shear stress was largely independent of normal force and increased with velocity, seemingly consistent with the viscosity-effect of a continuous fluid film.

Winter evaluation of a postmilking powdered teat dip.

A powdered teat dip designed for winter usage was evaluated for bacteriological efficacy and teat conditioning qualities. A positive control, natural exposure field trial was conducted for 3 mo on 509 lactating cows. Two sets of cows, primiparous and multiparous, were used.

Evaluation of a 1% iodophor postmilking teat sanitizer.

A natural exposure field trial a with positive control was conducted to evaluate bacteriological efficacy and teat conditioning qualities of an experimental postmilking teat dip. An experimental 1% iodine postmilking teat sanitizer with a 10% emollient system was compared with a 1% iodine plus 10% glycerin teat sanitizer. Efficacy of the two sanitizers was equivalent for all new IMI, major pathogens, and environmental pathogens.

Evolution of udder hygiene. Premilking teat sanitation.

Compared with post-milking teat dipping, predipping is in its infancy. Few controlled studies have been published on premilking teat disinfection/sanitation. Experimental challenge procedures resulted in consistent reductions for predipping compared with no udder preparation and conventional udder preparation, indicating a potential for effectiveness.

Efficacy evaluations on five chlorhexidine teat dip formulations.

Three developmental postmilking teat dip formulations containing chlorhexidine digluconate were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae in sequential experimental exposure trials. Two additional commercial chlorhexidine digluconate teat dip products were evaluated in natural exposure trials. Under conditions of experimental challenge, the developmental formulations were efficacious against Staph.

Efficacy of a Low Concentration Iodine Postmilking Teat Disinfectant Against Contagious and Environmental Mastitis Pathogens in Two Dairy Herds.

Two natural exposure herd studies were conducted at separate geographic locations to evaluate efficacy of a postmilking teat disinfectant that contained 0.25% available iodine. One study was conducted for 11 months in a commercial dairy with a high prevalence of contagious mastitis pathogens.

An Update Survey of Bulk Tank Milk Quality in Vermont.

Quality of Vermont bulk tank milk was first surveyed in 1985 as part of a statewide milk quality enhancement program. In a second survey conducted in 1990, bulk tank milk from 1,971 farms was sampled and tested for standard plate count, bacterial type and species distribution, and somatic cell count. Test results from 1,203 duplicate bulk tank milk samples were compared between five Vermont milk processors and the University of Vermont Quality Milk Research Laboratory.

Mastitis prevalence in primigravid heifers at parturition.

Prevalence of intramammary infection was determined for 382 primigravid heifers within 3 d postpartum on 11 Vermont dairy farms. Data collected during a 5-yr period are summarized. Duplicate quarter milk samples were cultured on tryptose-blood agar plates containing .

Evaluation of a chlorous acid-chlorine dioxide teat dip under experimental and natural exposure conditions.

A postmilking teat dip containing chlorous acid-chlorine dioxide was evaluated by experimental challenge and in two herds under natural exposure. The test product had an efficacy of 78.9% against Staphylococcus aureus and 52.

Field trial evaluation of premilking teat disinfection.

Efficacy of premiliking teat disinfection (predipping) with good udder preparation was compared with good udder preparation alone on four well-managed, commercial dairy farms. Three teat dip formulations containing iodophor were used for predipping. Predipping reduced the rate of intramammary infection with major mastitis pathogens approximately 54%.