Date of Award
5-1-2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Agricultural Sciences
First Advisor
Perry, Erin
Abstract
The dermal barrier is the first line of defense for working animals, however, little is known on how it fluctuates and reacts to day-to-day events. Many are pursuing dermatological research including nutritional supplementation, decontamination strategies, and treatments of dermatological disease. However, without an in-depth understanding on how the dermal barrier and its resident microbiota fluctuate in response to the environment and basic maintenance practices, these research pursuits may lack accuracy. The presented works provide some preliminary insight into how common measures of dermal barrier such as cutaneous pH and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) fluctuate throughout the day and their natural response to changes in temperature and humidity in both acclimated and non-acclimated settings. Additionally, the works pursue how these dermal measures fluctuate following an antimicrobial bath with a common veterinary cleanser and if there are associations with the changes seen to the dermal microbiota. These findings have both implications for future research as well as for working animal decontamination procedures.
Access
This dissertation is only available for download to the SIUC community. Current SIUC affiliates may also access this paper off campus by searching Dissertations & Theses @ Southern Illinois University Carbondale from ProQuest. Others should contact the interlibrary loan department of your local library or contact ProQuest's Dissertation Express service.