Interdigital dermatitis
Description of the disease
Interdigital dermatitis is an infectious disease. Interdigital dermatitis is the superficial bacterial infection of the interdigital skin of the feet of cattle. Interdigital dermititis is the infection of the interdigital epidermis. The appearance of interdigital dermititis is more seen at the hind legs is in tied and loose housing systems.
Interdigital dermatitis is a worldwide disease and the odour produced by the anaerobic flora in the infection are characteristic to this disease. Most cases are related to poor hygienic conditions in intensive dairy production.
Interdigital dermatitis is a worldwide disease and the odour produced by the anaerobic flora in the infection are characteristic to this disease. Most cases are related to poor hygienic conditions in intensive dairy production.
Secondary diseases
Sole ulcers
A sole ulcer is the result of an infection of the damaged horn or chronic irritation of the coronary band, laminitis and interdigital dermatitis. When those situations occur a part of the sole will get hollow and an ulcer will appear in this area. Normally an ulcer only occurs at one side of the hoof.
Those can be prevented by trimming the hooves regularly. Also preventing the cows from moving abruptly can decrease the chance on sole ulcers.
Heel erosion
Heel erosion is the damaging of the soft horn of the heel bulb area. Mostly because of humid and warm environments bacteria will gather in the interdigital space. Those bacteria in the interdigital space will cause a foul smell. The infection of the heel bulb will cause the outer claw to grow faster. This will result in locomotion problems for the cow. Trim the hooves regularly, make sure the environment of the cow is dry. Footbaths can also be used for harden the horn of the cows claw.
Tyloma
Interdigital hyperplasia or corns is actually a firm fibrous mass that will form itself on the skin of the interdigital space. This is the result of chronic irritated skin. Usually this is an effect of the disease interdigital dermatitis. Interdigital dermatitis also can be in hereditary.
Trim the hooves. Make sure that after trimming there is no pressure on the tyloma. There cannot be done a lot about tylomas. In some situations it is better to remove the tyloma surgically but in most cases prevention is the best way. When tylomas do occur just to leave them when the cow is not being compromised by them. (6)
A sole ulcer is the result of an infection of the damaged horn or chronic irritation of the coronary band, laminitis and interdigital dermatitis. When those situations occur a part of the sole will get hollow and an ulcer will appear in this area. Normally an ulcer only occurs at one side of the hoof.
Those can be prevented by trimming the hooves regularly. Also preventing the cows from moving abruptly can decrease the chance on sole ulcers.
Heel erosion
Heel erosion is the damaging of the soft horn of the heel bulb area. Mostly because of humid and warm environments bacteria will gather in the interdigital space. Those bacteria in the interdigital space will cause a foul smell. The infection of the heel bulb will cause the outer claw to grow faster. This will result in locomotion problems for the cow. Trim the hooves regularly, make sure the environment of the cow is dry. Footbaths can also be used for harden the horn of the cows claw.
Tyloma
Interdigital hyperplasia or corns is actually a firm fibrous mass that will form itself on the skin of the interdigital space. This is the result of chronic irritated skin. Usually this is an effect of the disease interdigital dermatitis. Interdigital dermatitis also can be in hereditary.
Trim the hooves. Make sure that after trimming there is no pressure on the tyloma. There cannot be done a lot about tylomas. In some situations it is better to remove the tyloma surgically but in most cases prevention is the best way. When tylomas do occur just to leave them when the cow is not being compromised by them. (6)
Pathogenesis
Interdigital
dermatitis is a bacterial disease, mainly caused by the anaerobic bacteria Dichelobacter nodosus; and by Bacteriodes melaninogenius. D. nodosus
is divided in different strains by tests with antigen structures and can only
survive for only a few days on the ground but can persist longer on the claws.
Others micro-organism are related such
as F. necrophorum that increases the severity of the infection.
Because this is a superficial disease the bacteria itself will not penetrate the dermal layers. When the bacteria is present at the farm the cow can carry it with her by the dirt that is gathering in the interdigital space of the claw. Due to the warmth and dirt available in the interdigital space the bacteria can multiply itself. When the colony of bacteria is big enough it can cause an inflammation of the epidermis of the interdigital space.
In case of high humidity and there is a warm climate the bacteria can affect the animals. Because this disease will mainly be located at the interdigital space, it is important to clean this space of the cows regularly. The Dichelobacter nodosus bacteria can stay alive in the dirt and filth in the interdigital space of the cow. When the bacteria will be on the ground it will survive for about four days. (5)
Because this is a superficial disease the bacteria itself will not penetrate the dermal layers. When the bacteria is present at the farm the cow can carry it with her by the dirt that is gathering in the interdigital space of the claw. Due to the warmth and dirt available in the interdigital space the bacteria can multiply itself. When the colony of bacteria is big enough it can cause an inflammation of the epidermis of the interdigital space.
In case of high humidity and there is a warm climate the bacteria can affect the animals. Because this disease will mainly be located at the interdigital space, it is important to clean this space of the cows regularly. The Dichelobacter nodosus bacteria can stay alive in the dirt and filth in the interdigital space of the cow. When the bacteria will be on the ground it will survive for about four days. (5)
Symptoms
- Foul smell
- Cracks and fissures in horn
- Swelling above coronary band
- And there also secondary
symptoms such as: sole ulcer, heel erosions and tyloma.
- Sudden lameness
As the condition progresses, the heels of the hind feet start to wear out and become quite raw. This stage can be very painful, the animal will show signs of lameness and the hind limbs will be held further back than is normal. The horn beneath the heel will increase in thickness.
Consequenses
Performance
The main performance indices that will be affected when the cow will get infected with interdigital dermatitis is the milk production. Because the cow is infected with a bacteria and the cow does not feel optimal the feed intake will get decreased. This lower feed intake will result in too little energy and protein intake to produce (enough) milk.
Economic
Also, cows which already have claws problems have difficult to recover resulting in an increase of the costs with hoof trimming and medicines.
Reproduction
Cows that are pregnant will experience problems with her pregnancies. First of all the cow wants to lie down as much as possible because of the enormous pressure on the affected hoof, not to mention when the cow is pregnant and the weight of the calf will be added to her own weight. Second of all the cow can suffer from decreased fertility.
Increase of infection pressure
When interdigital dermatitis is already present at the farm there is also a risk on the occurrence of other diseases. Those diseases we call secondary diseases. These are caused by the primary diseases, in this case the interdigital dermatitis.
Mastitis
An indirect consequence of Interdigital dermatitis is mastitis; when the cow will continuously want to lie down even the udder can be affected. If the cow will lie down a lot and the stable will not be dry and clean there is a risk that bacteria will enter the udder of the cow through the teat ducts. Most bacteria that are known causing mastitis are the Staphylococci and Streptococci bacteria. They are almost always present at a farm and will only not attaching to the udder because of the high resistance a dairy cow normally has and the structure of the teat. Some cows are more likely to get mastitis than other cows. When the cow is already battling a claw disease the general resistance of the cow is divided over a few problems. When the cow has a low resistance, maybe is likely to be sensible for the bacteria causing mastitis and the cow will laying on the floor most of the time with her udder in direct contact of the floor; there will be a high risk that the cow will get mastitis.
The main performance indices that will be affected when the cow will get infected with interdigital dermatitis is the milk production. Because the cow is infected with a bacteria and the cow does not feel optimal the feed intake will get decreased. This lower feed intake will result in too little energy and protein intake to produce (enough) milk.
Economic
Also, cows which already have claws problems have difficult to recover resulting in an increase of the costs with hoof trimming and medicines.
Reproduction
Cows that are pregnant will experience problems with her pregnancies. First of all the cow wants to lie down as much as possible because of the enormous pressure on the affected hoof, not to mention when the cow is pregnant and the weight of the calf will be added to her own weight. Second of all the cow can suffer from decreased fertility.
Increase of infection pressure
When interdigital dermatitis is already present at the farm there is also a risk on the occurrence of other diseases. Those diseases we call secondary diseases. These are caused by the primary diseases, in this case the interdigital dermatitis.
Mastitis
An indirect consequence of Interdigital dermatitis is mastitis; when the cow will continuously want to lie down even the udder can be affected. If the cow will lie down a lot and the stable will not be dry and clean there is a risk that bacteria will enter the udder of the cow through the teat ducts. Most bacteria that are known causing mastitis are the Staphylococci and Streptococci bacteria. They are almost always present at a farm and will only not attaching to the udder because of the high resistance a dairy cow normally has and the structure of the teat. Some cows are more likely to get mastitis than other cows. When the cow is already battling a claw disease the general resistance of the cow is divided over a few problems. When the cow has a low resistance, maybe is likely to be sensible for the bacteria causing mastitis and the cow will laying on the floor most of the time with her udder in direct contact of the floor; there will be a high risk that the cow will get mastitis.
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 at http://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 at http://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]