EVALUATION OF WOUND-HEALING OF THE TEAT WITH AND WITHOUT LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY IN DAIRY-CATTLE BY LASER-DOPPLER FLOWMETRY IN COMPARISON WITH HISTOPATHOLOGY, TENSIOMETRY AND HYDROXYPROLINE ANALYSIS

Perforated tear wounds in eight lactating Holstein-Friesian cows were closed by four suture patterns with or without low level laser therapy (LLLT). Wound healing was evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), tensiometry and hydroxyproline analysis, and compared with histopatho logical examination. The three-layer pattern provided the best healing of the entire tear. Mucosal hyperplasia was observed in Gambee and co ntinuous two-layer pattern while eversion of the skin, presence of sut ure tracts and a greater amount of granulation tissue were observed wi th the continuous and interrupted two-layer patterns. The epidermis in LLLT groups more closely resembled the normal epidermis, and collagen fibres were denser, thicker and better arranged in LLLT than in non-L LLT groups. LDF, tensiometry and hydroxy proline analysis correlated w ell with histopathological examination. The results suggest that LDF, a more rapid, less invasive and painless procedure, can replace tensil e strength measurement or hydroxyproline analysis to assess the progre ss of teat wound healing.