Effect of disruption of the sebaceous layer of the sheep's skin on the incidence of fleece-rot.
It was postulated that integrity of the sebaceous layer on the skin is important in maintaining resistance to fleece-rot. This hypothesis was tested in an experimenta of a 2 x 2 factorial design in which sebaceous layer disruption and wetting were the 2 treatments. The sebaceous layer was disrupted by applying a light petroleum solvent to the skin of the sheep. Fleece-rot occurred in all sheep (20) that were both wetted and had the sebaceous layer disrupted while 9/19 of those wetted but without the sebaceous layer disrupted developed fleece-rot. The fleece-rot lesions observed were more severe in sheep in the disrupted wetted treatments than in the intact wetted treatment. Interpretation of these differences was complicated by a possible reaction of the skin to the solvent used. The differences were not due to an effect of treatment on fleece wettability. No fleece-rot developed in the sheep not wetted and application of the solvent alone did not induce fleece-rot.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010578:Petroleum; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000187:drug effects*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014867:Water; D014935:Wool
D010578:Petroleum; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water