Interdigital Phlegmon
Description of the disease
Inter
digital phlegmon is an acute necrotizing inflammation of the interdigital and
digital tissues, causing severe lameness. In the United States the term foot
rot is used while internationally the disease is better known as
foul-in-the-foot, inter digital phlegmon, inter digital necrobacillosis or
infectious pododermatitis.
Secondary diseases are:
Secondary diseases are:
- Sole ulcers
- Sole contusion (bruising)
- Sole haemorrhage (discoloration/damage)
- White line disease
- Interdigital hyperplasia (tyloma, corns)
Pathogenesis
Fusobacterium
necrophorum is considered to be the major cause of footrot. These bacteria can
survive easily in a warm and wet environment (feces) where it survives as
saprophyte, which may explain why control is difficult. Normally these bacteria cannot invade intact
skin; anything that causes injury to the interdigital skin can allow entry of
infection.
Other bacteria like: Dichelobacter nodosus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Arcanobacterium pyogenes and possibly Bacteroides melaninogenicus can also cause interdigital phlegmon. Dichelobacter nododus can also be the cause of interdigital dermatitis and digital dermatitis.
Dried or frozen mud, stones and stubble can bruise the tissues sufficiently to lower the cow’s resistance to disease. (8)
Other bacteria like: Dichelobacter nodosus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Arcanobacterium pyogenes and possibly Bacteroides melaninogenicus can also cause interdigital phlegmon. Dichelobacter nododus can also be the cause of interdigital dermatitis and digital dermatitis.
Dried or frozen mud, stones and stubble can bruise the tissues sufficiently to lower the cow’s resistance to disease. (8)
Symptoms
The
incubation time of footrot is about one week. Once the skin is broken/damaged
bacteria can easily enter the hoof. The first sign of the disease is a swelling
and erythema (red colour of the skin) of the soft tissues of the interdigital
space and the adjacent cornonary band and lameness of the cow. The inflammation
can extend to the fetlock and pastern. A typical sign is the separation of the
claws and the inflammatory edema. The growth of the disease is rapid and
extreme pain leads to increasing lameness. (1)
If the disease proceeds unchecked, weight loss is severe and milk yield is significantly reduced. Milk production may not recover during the current lactation. Open lesions can be infected with secondary invaders. If the necrotic lesion is located in the anterior region of the interdigital space, the distal interphalangeal joint can become infected.
Other signs of foot rot can be:
If the disease proceeds unchecked, weight loss is severe and milk yield is significantly reduced. Milk production may not recover during the current lactation. Open lesions can be infected with secondary invaders. If the necrotic lesion is located in the anterior region of the interdigital space, the distal interphalangeal joint can become infected.
Other signs of foot rot can be:
- A swelling above the coronary band,
sometimes extending all the way up to the carpus or hock in severe cases.
- Secondary involvement of the coffin
joint with fistula development and purulent discharge in the interdigital area.
- Tendonitis with a firm swelling in
the pastern.
- Development of multiple soft tissue
abscesses which may rupture and drain.
- Finally, as the disease progresses,
body temperature may rise and appetite and milk production decrease. (9)
Consequences
If
the disease proceeds unchecked, weight loss is severe and milk yield is significantly
reduced.
Weight loss
The cow losses his appetite, so less feed intake will be the result
Milk production
Less feed intake, means less energy and causes a drop in milk production.
Fertility
Less energy for mating or showing heat signs. The cow will tend to avoid jumping.
Weight loss
The cow losses his appetite, so less feed intake will be the result
Milk production
Less feed intake, means less energy and causes a drop in milk production.
Fertility
Less energy for mating or showing heat signs. The cow will tend to avoid jumping.
List of sources
1. Chris Watson (2007). Lameness in cattle. Wiltshire: The Crowood Press Ltd. 175.
2. Brecht Scheirlinck. (2011). Onderzoek naar typische histopathologische kenmerken van de verschillende stadia van dermatitis digitalis .Available: http://lib.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/001/788/864/RUG01-001788864_2012_0001_AC.pdf. Last accessed 26 November 2013.
3. Unknown. (2011). Kengetallen E-30 Fokwaarde klauwgezondheid.Available: https://www.crv4all.nl/over-crv/documentatie/e-hoofdstukken/26118/. Last accessed 9 December 2013.
4. Paul R. Greenough. (2012). Disorders of the interdigital space in cattle. Available: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/musculoskeletal_system/lameness_in_cattle/disorders_of_the_interdigital_space_in_cattle.html#v3283652. Last accessed 26 November 2013.
5. Paul R. Greenough. (March 2012 ). Disorders of the Interdigital Space in Cattle. Available:http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/musculoskeletal_system/lameness_in_cattle/disorders_of_the_interdigital_space_in_cattle.html. Last accessed 25th december 2013.
6. AABP LAMENESS. INTERDIGITAL HYPERPLASIA (CORN). Available: http://cdrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/AABP-Interdigital-Hyperplasia.pdf. Last accessed 25th of December 2013.
7. Nick Lyons. (31th of March 2011). Interdigital Dermatitis - Cattle. Available: http://en.wikivet.net/Interdigital_Dermatitis_-_Cattle. Last accessed 25th of december 2013.
8. Greenough, P. (2012). Disorders of the interdigital space in cattle. Available: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/musculoskeletal_system/lameness_in_cattle/disorders_of_the_interdigital_space_in_cattle.html . Last accessed 26th Nov 2013.
9. Javic, K and Conroy, N. (2003). interdigital necrobacillosis. Available: http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/fieldservice/Dairy/LAMENESS/footrot.htm. Last accessed 15th Dec 2013.
10. Rodriguez -Lainz, A., Melendez-Retamal, P., Hird, D.W., Reaed, D.H., Walker, R.L. (1999). Farm- and host-level risk factors for papillomatous digital dermatitis in Chilean dairy cattle. [ONLINE] Available athttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587799000677, [Accessed 24 April 2014]
11. Holzhauer, M., Hardenberg, C., Bartels, C.J.M, Farnkena, K., (2006) Herd and cow level prevalence of Digital Dermatitis in The Netherlands and associated risk factors [pdf] Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands, Available at :<http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/dissertations/2006-0920-200928/c4.pdf > [Accessed 26 April 2014]
12. Blowey. R., 2003. Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of Cattle, 2e. 2 Edition. Mosby. Laminitis. 2012. Sole Ulcers. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/lameness/common-problems/sole-ulcer/. [Accessed 27April 2014].
13. Stokka, G., Smith, J.F., Dunham,J.R., van Anne, T., (2011) Lameness in Dairy Cattle. Extension – America’s Research Based Learning Network. Available from: < http://www.extension.org/pages/10855/lameness-in-dairy-cattle#.U5Zr9_nV9Fs> [Last accessed 05 June 2014]
14. Socha, M.T., Johnson, A.B., Schugel, M. (-) Effect of nutrition on claw health. Zinpro Corporation Eden Prairie. Available from:http://www.hooftrimmers.org/pdf/hta_nutrition_and_claw.pdf [Last assessed 05 June 2014]
2. Brecht Scheirlinck. (2011). Onderzoek naar typische histopathologische kenmerken van de verschillende stadia van dermatitis digitalis .Available: http://lib.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/001/788/864/RUG01-001788864_2012_0001_AC.pdf. Last accessed 26 November 2013.
3. Unknown. (2011). Kengetallen E-30 Fokwaarde klauwgezondheid.Available: https://www.crv4all.nl/over-crv/documentatie/e-hoofdstukken/26118/. Last accessed 9 December 2013.
4. Paul R. Greenough. (2012). Disorders of the interdigital space in cattle. Available: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/musculoskeletal_system/lameness_in_cattle/disorders_of_the_interdigital_space_in_cattle.html#v3283652. Last accessed 26 November 2013.
5. Paul R. Greenough. (March 2012 ). Disorders of the Interdigital Space in Cattle. Available:http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/musculoskeletal_system/lameness_in_cattle/disorders_of_the_interdigital_space_in_cattle.html. Last accessed 25th december 2013.
6. AABP LAMENESS. INTERDIGITAL HYPERPLASIA (CORN). Available: http://cdrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/AABP-Interdigital-Hyperplasia.pdf. Last accessed 25th of December 2013.
7. Nick Lyons. (31th of March 2011). Interdigital Dermatitis - Cattle. Available: http://en.wikivet.net/Interdigital_Dermatitis_-_Cattle. Last accessed 25th of december 2013.
8. Greenough, P. (2012). Disorders of the interdigital space in cattle. Available: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/musculoskeletal_system/lameness_in_cattle/disorders_of_the_interdigital_space_in_cattle.html . Last accessed 26th Nov 2013.
9. Javic, K and Conroy, N. (2003). interdigital necrobacillosis. Available: http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/fieldservice/Dairy/LAMENESS/footrot.htm. Last accessed 15th Dec 2013.
10. Rodriguez -Lainz, A., Melendez-Retamal, P., Hird, D.W., Reaed, D.H., Walker, R.L. (1999). Farm- and host-level risk factors for papillomatous digital dermatitis in Chilean dairy cattle. [ONLINE] Available athttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587799000677, [Accessed 24 April 2014]
11. Holzhauer, M., Hardenberg, C., Bartels, C.J.M, Farnkena, K., (2006) Herd and cow level prevalence of Digital Dermatitis in The Netherlands and associated risk factors [pdf] Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands, Available at :<http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/dissertations/2006-0920-200928/c4.pdf > [Accessed 26 April 2014]
12. Blowey. R., 2003. Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of Cattle, 2e. 2 Edition. Mosby. Laminitis. 2012. Sole Ulcers. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/lameness/common-problems/sole-ulcer/. [Accessed 27April 2014].
13. Stokka, G., Smith, J.F., Dunham,J.R., van Anne, T., (2011) Lameness in Dairy Cattle. Extension – America’s Research Based Learning Network. Available from: < http://www.extension.org/pages/10855/lameness-in-dairy-cattle#.U5Zr9_nV9Fs> [Last accessed 05 June 2014]
14. Socha, M.T., Johnson, A.B., Schugel, M. (-) Effect of nutrition on claw health. Zinpro Corporation Eden Prairie. Available from:http://www.hooftrimmers.org/pdf/hta_nutrition_and_claw.pdf [Last assessed 05 June 2014]