Lice and mite infestations of cattle in Iceland
The aim of the present study was to survey lice and mite species infesting cattle in Iceland and to evaluate their prevalence on farms, prevalence and site preferences on the animals and correlation with dermatological symptoms. The survey included two separate investigations, a combing study including 50 calves and 50 dairy cows, and a study of skin samples including 27 bullocks and 28 dairy cows. The animals came from farms in Southwest Iceland. In the combing study five preselected areas on each animal were combed. Two lice species were found, the chewing louse Bovicola bovis and the sucking louse Solenopotes capillatus. Lice were found at 7 of 10 farms. B. bovis was found at 50% and S. capillatus at 40% of the farms and both species occurred at 20% of the farms. Lice were found on 40% of the calves and 4% of the cows. B. bovis was found on 28% of the calves and 2% of the cows. S. capillatus was detected on 16% of the calves and 2% of the cows. B. bovis was most prevalent on back and rump, less prevalent on the head, neck and tail and was not detected on the front leg. S. capillatus was most prevalent on the neck, then head and front leg, and was least prevalent on the posterior back and rump and on the tail. Minor dermatological signs were seen on two cows and three calves. In the study of skin samples, samples were taken from five preselected sites of the animals. In this study the hair follicle mite Demodex bovis was found in the skin of the neck of one bullock (1.8%). No macroscopic skin disorders were observed on the samples.
Infestation of Werneckiella equi on Icelandic horses, characteristics of predilection sites and lice dermatitis
Lice infestations on horses caused by the lice Werneckiella (Damalinia) equi and Haematopinus equi are observed worldwide. In this study, the distribution and clinical manifestations of lice on Icelandic horses were examined. Thirty-eight out of 93 animals (40.86%) were identified as infested with W. equi. Sixty-eight animals (73.12%) presented dermatological lesions associated with lice infestation, while only 32 of these animals presented lice. Six animals had no clinical signs although of being lice-positive, and 19 animals (20.43%) showed neither lice nor clinical manifestations. Lice burdens varied from animal to animal, and clinical manifestations occurred at all levels of infestation. Focal alopecia was the main clinical sign (83.78%) on lice-positive horses, while scaling and crusts occurred in 10.81% and 9.68% of the cases, respectively. Clinical signs present in the head and the neck/mane area were found to be an indication of lice infestation in horses.
Spray drying of dairy products: state of the art
Milk is extremely perishable, and yet, for a number of reasons, it has to be preserved for later consumption. The removal of water prevents the growth of micro-organisms and facilitates pres- ervation and storage of milk constituents. Spray drying is one of the most convenient techniques for producing milk powders and for stabilizing milk constituents. Before spray drying, the milk under- goes several processes (such as heat treatment, cream separation, membrane processes, vacuum evap- oration and homogenization). The chemical, physical, technological, nutritional, functional and microbiological properties of final products are influenced by a number of factors such as operating conditions, properties of the dairy products and storage conditions. The aim of this review is to de- scribe the process of spray drying of dairy products and to review the present and recent advance- ments of knowledge on the properties of spray-dried milk products, on modelling and water transfer simulation (drying and rehydration), dairy powders and the spray drying equipment and energy con- sumption.