By Fjeldaas, Terje and Forshell, Kerstin Plym and Hjorungdal, Kjell Magne and Kleppa, Anna Lena, Norsk Veterinaertidsskrift, 2001
Description
A case study from a Norwegian dairy herd with chronic claw disease problems, for the first time confirmed the diagnosis "digital dermatitis/papillomatous digital dermatitis", including findings of Treponema spp.. The problems had been ongoing since 1995. One animal, which was purchased in 1995, was emergency slaughtered after one year with severe claw problems. Since then the claw problems in the herd aggravated in spite of several attempts to stop them. At a herd investigation in May 2000, 29 claw diseases were diagnosed in 18 cows/heifers. Twelve animals had digital dermatitis, 12 had heel horn erosions, 4 had hemorrhages of the sole and one suffered from corns. Cows with moderate digital dermatitis were treated locally with oxytetracyclin, and cows with heel horn erosions/ slight digital dermatitis were treated with ordinary wood tar/CuSO4, after trimming. Biopsies demonstrated digital dermatitis/papillomatous digital dermatitis with hyperkeratosis and slender spiral organisms, immunoreactive to California PDD-associated Treponema spp. strains (kindly examined at California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS) in San Bernardino, USA.) This is the first time this organism is diagnosed in Norwegian cattle and confirms the suspicion that digital dermatitis may exist in the country. The farmer was recommended to follow up claw trimming and feeding routines and to introduce a body scoring system together with other preventive measures to stop further spreading of the infection. Half a year later, all the animals in the herd were recontrolled. Two cows had slight hemorrhages of the sole, and only one animal had slight symptoms of digital dermatitis
A case study from a Norwegian dairy herd with chronic claw disease problems, for the first time confirmed the diagnosis "digital dermatitis/papillomatous digital dermatitis", including findings of Treponema spp.. The problems had been ongoing since 1995. One animal, which was purchased in 1995, was emergency slaughtered after one year with severe claw problems. Since then the claw problems in the herd aggravated in spite of several attempts to stop them. At a herd investigation in May 2000, 29 claw diseases were diagnosed in 18 cows/heifers. Twelve animals had digital dermatitis, 12 had heel horn erosions, 4 had hemorrhages of the sole and one suffered from corns. Cows with moderate digital dermatitis were treated locally with oxytetracyclin, and cows with heel horn erosions/ slight digital dermatitis were treated with ordinary wood tar/CuSO4, after trimming. Biopsies demonstrated digital dermatitis/papillomatous digital dermatitis with hyperkeratosis and slender spiral organisms, immunoreactive to California PDD-associated Treponema spp. strains (kindly examined at California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS) in San Bernardino, USA.) This is the first time this organism is diagnosed in Norwegian cattle and confirms the suspicion that digital dermatitis may exist in the country. The farmer was recommended to follow up claw trimming and feeding routines and to introduce a body scoring system together with other preventive measures to stop further spreading of the infection. Half a year later, all the animals in the herd were recontrolled. Two cows had slight hemorrhages of the sole, and only one animal had slight symptoms of digital dermatitis
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