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Jackson A, Grove-White DH, Angell JW, Duncan JS. Comparison of clinical cure rates from footrot and contagious ovine digital dermatitis using zinc sulphate foot bathing and topical oxytetracycline: A randomised trial. Vet Rec 2023; 193:e3116. [PMID: 37308289 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.3116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study reports the clinical cure rates of topical oxytetracycline and 10% zinc sulphate foot bathing for treatment of interdigital dermatitis (ID), footrot (FR) and contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) in lambs. METHODS The study was a randomised controlled trial of 75 lambs. Group A (n = 38) was foot bathed daily for 5 days in 10% zinc sulphate for 15 minutes and group B was treated with daily topical oxytetracycline for 5 days. On days 0, 7, 14, 28 and 42, lambs were scored for locomotion and foot lesions were recorded. RESULTS The initial cure rates for ID were 96.20% and 97.00%; for FR, 100% and 95%; and for CODD, 90.09% and 83.33% for zinc sulphate and oxytetracycline, respectively. By day 42, these had changed to 53.16% and 61% for ID; 47.82% and 70% for FR; and 100% and 83.33% for CODD. There were no significant differences in cure rates between the treatments for most time points. LIMITATIONS The sample size was small, and further studies in larger cohorts and different classes of sheep are required before the findings can be translated into recommendations for clinical practice. CONCLUSION Both treatments achieved cure rates that are comparable to reported cure rates using systemic antibiotics and could be an effective alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dai H Grove-White
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
| | - Joseph W Angell
- Department of Research and Innovation, Wern Vets, Ruthin, UK
| | - Jennifer S Duncan
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
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Bernhard M, Frosth S, König U. First report on outbreaks of contagious ovine digital dermatitis in Sweden. Acta Vet Scand 2021; 63:29. [PMID: 34399828 PMCID: PMC8369363 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-021-00595-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) is considered widespread in the United Kingdom but was only recently reported in mainland Europe, as one outbreak in Germany. The disease can cause severe lameness in sheep and, if left untreated, can lead to total avulsion of the hoof capsule. CODD is considered to have multifactorial and polymicrobial aetiology, in which Treponema medium/Treponema vincentii phylogroup, Treponema phagedenis phylogroup and Treponema pedis are believed to play a significant role. Footrot and CODD have a close connection and footrot is considered an important risk factor for CODD. CASE Lameness, mainly in lambs aged 1.5 months, was reported on a farm in Sweden in spring 2018. The animals showed no signs of footrot and the causative agent, Dichelobacter nodosus, was not found. CODD was suspected but not confirmed, and the clinical signs subsided when the animals were turned out to pasture. In February 2019, young lambs and ewes were lame again and this time CODD was diagnosed. After treatment, the whole flock was slaughtered later in 2019 due to CODD. In autumn 2020, CODD was diagnosed on another Swedish farm, this time as part of a mixed infection with D. nodosus. The animals were treated with footbaths in zinc sulphate 10% by the farmer, but lameness recurred soon afterwards. The animals were treated, but ultimately the whole flock was slaughtered. No connection was found between the two farms. CONCLUSION The first two outbreaks of CODD in Sweden have been diagnosed and are described in this case report. If it spreads, CODD could have a negative impact on the Swedish sheep industry in terms of animal welfare, production and antibiotic use.
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Duncan JS, Angell JW, Grove-White D, Walsh TR, Seechurn N, Carter S, Evans N. Impact of research on contagious ovine digital dermatitis on the knowledge and practices of UK sheep farmers and veterinarians. Vet Rec 2021; 190:e674. [PMID: 34192349 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) is a common foot disease of sheep which causes a severe form of lameness and can be difficult to control. Recent research has provided evidence-based guidance on diagnosis, treatment and farm management control. The aim of this study was to determine the uptake of this guidance on the knowledge and practices of UK sheep farmers and veterinarians and identify priorities for future research. METHODS Data were collected in 2019-2020 by electronic surveys of UK sheep veterinarians and farmers distributed through sheep industry organisations and social media. RESULTS Two hundred eight-four sheep farmers and 77 veterinarians responded to the surveys. Fifty-two per cent of farmers and 70% of vets considered that their management of CODD had improved as a direct result of recent research evidence on the disease. The principle areas improved for both sectors were biosecurity advice and use of antibiotic treatments. Farmers and veterinarians reported that the priorities for future research should be in therapeutics, vaccine development and the understanding of disease transmission. CONCLUSION There has been strong uptake of recent evidence-based veterinary medicine by farmers and veterinarians for the management of CODD, particularly in the areas of biosecurity and responsible antibiotic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S Duncan
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Veterinary and Ecological Science, Institute of Infection, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
| | - Joseph W Angell
- Department of Research and Innovation, Wern Veterinary Surgeons, Ruthin, UK
| | - Dai Grove-White
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Veterinary and Ecological Science, Institute of Infection, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
| | - Tessa R Walsh
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Veterinary and Ecological Science, Institute of Infection, The University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
| | - Nicola Seechurn
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Veterinary and Ecological Science, Institute of Infection, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
| | - Stuart Carter
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Veterinary and Ecological Science, Institute of Infection, The University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
| | - Nicolas Evans
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Veterinary and Ecological Science, Institute of Infection, The University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
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Zanolari P, Dürr S, Jores J, Steiner A, Kuhnert P. Ovine footrot: A review of current knowledge. Vet J 2021; 271:105647. [PMID: 33840488 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Footrot is a contagious foot disease mainly affecting sheep. It is caused by the Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus. Warm, wet environmental conditions favour development of footrot, and under perfect conditions, it takes just 2-3 weeks from infection to manifestation of clinical signs. Affected sheep show lameness of various degrees and often graze while resting on their carpi. Local clinical signs vary in severity and extent from interdigital inflammation (benign footrot) to underrunning of the complete horn shoe in advanced stages of virulent footrot. Laboratory diagnosis ideally involves collection of four-foot interdigital swab samples followed by competitive real time PCR, allowing for detection of the presence of D. nodosus and differentiation between benign and virulent strains. Laboratory-based diagnostics at the flock level based on risk-based sampling and pooling of interdigital swab samples are recommended. The list of treatment options of individual sheep includes careful removal of the loose undermined horn, local or systemic administration of antimicrobials, systemic administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and disinfectant footbathing. Strategies for control at the flock level are manifold and depend on the environmental conditions and the procedures traditionally implemented by the respective country. Generally, measures consist of treatment/culling of infected sheep, vaccination and prevention of reinfection of disease-free flocks. Gaining deeper insight into the beneficial effects of NSAIDs, screening for eco-friendly footbath solutions, developing better vaccines, including the development of a robust, reproducible infection model and elucidation of protective immune responses, as well as the elaboration of effective awareness training programs for sheep farmers, are relevant research gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Zanolari
- Clinic for Ruminants, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Salome Dürr
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Jores
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Steiner
- Clinic for Ruminants, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Peter Kuhnert
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Duncan JS, Angell JW, Richards P, Lenzi L, Staton GJ, Grove-White D, Clegg S, Oikonomou G, Carter SD, Evans NJ. The dysbiosis of ovine foot microbiome during the development and treatment of contagious ovine digital dermatitis. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:19. [PMID: 33597028 PMCID: PMC7888161 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00078-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis (CODD) is an emerging and common infectious foot disease of sheep which causes severe welfare and economic problems for the sheep industry. The aetiology of the disease is not fully understood and control of the disease is problematic. The aim of this study was to investigate the polybacterial aetiopathogenesis of CODD and the effects of antibiotic treatment, in a longitudinal study of an experimentally induced disease outbreak using a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing approach. RESULTS CODD was induced in 15/30 experimental sheep. During the development of CODD three distinct phenotypic lesion stages were observed. These were an initial interdigital dermatitis (ID) lesion, followed by a footrot (FR) lesion, then finally a CODD lesion. Distinct microbiota were observed for each lesion in terms of microbial diversity, clustering and composition. Porphyromonadaceae, Family XI, Veillonellaceae and Fusobacteriaceae were significantly associated with the diseased feet. Veillonellaceae and Fusobacteriaceae were most associated with the earlier stages of ID and footrot rather than CODD. Following antibiotic treatment of the sheep, the foot microbiota showed a strong tendency to return to the composition of the healthy state. The microbiota composition of CODD lesions collected by swab and biopsy methods were different. In particular, the Spirochaetaceae family were more abundant in samples collected by the biopsy method, suggesting that these bacteria are present in deeper tissues of the diseased foot. CONCLUSION In this study, CODD presented as part of a spectrum of poly-bacterial foot disease strongly associated with bacterial families Porphyromonadaceae, Family XI (a family in Clostridiales also known as Clostridium cluster XI), Veillonellaceae and Fusobacteriaceae which are predominately Gram-negative anaerobes. Following antibiotic treatment, the microbiome showed a strong tendency to return to the composition of the healthy state. The composition of the healthy foot microbiome does not influence susceptibility to CODD. Based on the data presented here and that CODD appears to be the severest end stage of sheep infectious foot disease lesions, better control of the initial ID and FR lesions would enable better control of CODD and enable better animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. S. Duncan
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE UK
| | - J. W. Angell
- Wern Veterinary Surgeons, Department of Research and Innovation, Unit 11, Lon Parcwr Industrial Estate, Ruthin, LL15 1NJ UK
| | - P. Richards
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE UK
| | - L. Lenzi
- Centre for Genomic Research, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB UK
| | - G. J. Staton
- Department of Infection Biology & Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, The University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE UK
| | - D. Grove-White
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE UK
| | - S. Clegg
- School of Life Sciences, College of Science, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln, LN6 7TS UK
| | - G. Oikonomou
- Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE UK
| | - S. D. Carter
- Department of Infection Biology & Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, The University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE UK
| | - N. J. Evans
- Department of Infection Biology & Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Science, The University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE UK
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Reeves MC, Prosser NS, Monaghan EM, Green LE. Footbathing, formalin and foot trimming: The 3Fs associated with granulomas and shelly hoof in sheep. Vet J 2019; 250:28-35. [PMID: 31383417 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Granulomas and shelly hoof (SH), are lesions of sheep feet. Our objective was to use data from four questionnaires on lameness sent to English sheep farmers in 2004, 2013, 2014 and 2015 to further understanding of the risks and aetiologies of both lesions. Granulomas were more likely in flocks where routine foot trimming (odds ratio [OR]=3.17; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.11-11.47) and routine footbathing (OR=2.38; 95% CI 1.19-4.83) were practised than where these management protocols were not. SH was more likely in flocks that were footbathed in formalin compared with not footbathing (OR=1.65; 95% CI 1.19-2.30), and was less common in flocks that stocked ewes at more than eight vs. four per acre (OR=0.34; 95% CI 0.17-0.68). There were weak associations between SH and foot trimming. In 2004 only, SH was more likely in flocks where therapeutic foot trimming was practised than not practised (OR=2.24; 95% CI 1.12-4.68). In 2014 only, SH was marginally less likely in flocks where no feet bled during trimming, compared with flocks not routinely trimmed (OR=0.55; CI 0.30-1.00); SH was not related to foot trimming once severe footrot was included. We propose that flocks with granulomas and SH would decrease if farmers stopped footbathing in general, in particular with formalin, and avoided foot trimming whether as a therapeutic or routine practice. Further work is needed to understand the role of stocking density.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Reeves
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - N S Prosser
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - E M Monaghan
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - L E Green
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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Lovatt F, Duncan J, Hinde D. Responsible use of antibiotics on sheep farms: application at farm level. IN PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1136/inp.k5370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Duncan J, Grove‐White D, Angell J. Understanding contagious ovine digital dermatitis. IN PRACTICE 2017. [DOI: 10.1136/inp.j4812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Laven R. Treatment of contagious ovine digital dermatitis. Vet Rec 2016; 179:416. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.i5646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Laven
- Institute of Veterinary; Animal and Biomedical Sciences; Massey University; Palmerston North New Zealand
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