Bovine ischaemic teat necrosis: a further potential role for digital dermatitis treponemes

• DOI: 10.1136/vr.103167
• Publication Date: 2016-01-14T22:57:14Z
• Authors: S. R. Clegg; S. D. Carter; J. P. Stewart; D. M. Amin; R. W. Blowey; N. J. Evans
• Keywords: Udder

A recent outbreak of ischaemic teat necrosis (ITN) on mainland UK has resulted in large economic losses for dairy farmers. Typical cases start as an area dry, thickened and encrusted skin the medial aspect base teat, where joins udder, often with a fetid odour. The erosion spreads down causing intense irritation, which turn leads to more severely affected animals removing entire teat. Due severity ITN substantial costs industry, analyses were undertaken ascertain if infectious agent might be involved pathology. study considered role digital dermatitis (DD) treponemes aetiopathogenesis because, well being prime bacteria associated lameness, they have been number emerging diseases cattle, including udder lesions. high association between presence DD‐associated incidence (19/22), compared absence control population is reported. Furthermore, sequencing 16S rRNA gene treponeme isolates supports hypothesis that identified are similar or identical those isolated from classical foot DD lesions cattle (and sheep). Further studies required allow effective targeted prevention measures and/or treatments developed.