By Alton, K. and Kofler, J. and Licka, T., Wiener Tierarztliche Monatsschrift, 1999
Description
Postmortem, histological and bacteriological findings of apical pedal bone necrosis in 18 cattle are described. Twenty-nine affected distal limbs with apical pedal bone necrosis were examined. All claws were examined for lesions in the sole and wall, afterwards the horn shoes were removed. The complete inner surface of the horn shoes and cerium was inspected to assess inflammatory alterations. An apical pedal bone necrosis was diagnosed in 35 claws, a toe ulcer was found in 3 other claws. Necrosis of the apex of the distal phalanx was assessed in 3 claws per cow in 6 cows (33.3 %), in 2 claws per cow in 5 cows (27.8 %) and in one claw per cow in 7 cows (38.9 %). Extensive lesions of the horn sole at the toe were visualized in 17 of 35 claws with apical pedal bone necrosis (48.6 %), in the 21 other claws the lesions were represented only by small separations between the sole and the wall within the white line at the toe. The gross-pathological findings of the exungulated claws ranged from moderate topical inflammatory signs of the cerium at the toe of the claw to severe and extensive alterations of the cerium of the complete sole and wall. In addition, slight topical or extensive bone necrosis and osteomyelitis of the pedal bone were seen. Histologically, different types of demarcation of the necrotic bone were found, Microbiological examinations revealed predominantly mixed infections. The visualization of the pathological changes of the complete inner surface of the cerium allowed a conclusive understanding of the severe lameness or stiff gait observed in cows with osteolysis of the apex of the pedal bone, where often only small lesions on the horn sole were visible.
Postmortem, histological and bacteriological findings of apical pedal bone necrosis in 18 cattle are described. Twenty-nine affected distal limbs with apical pedal bone necrosis were examined. All claws were examined for lesions in the sole and wall, afterwards the horn shoes were removed. The complete inner surface of the horn shoes and cerium was inspected to assess inflammatory alterations. An apical pedal bone necrosis was diagnosed in 35 claws, a toe ulcer was found in 3 other claws. Necrosis of the apex of the distal phalanx was assessed in 3 claws per cow in 6 cows (33.3 %), in 2 claws per cow in 5 cows (27.8 %) and in one claw per cow in 7 cows (38.9 %). Extensive lesions of the horn sole at the toe were visualized in 17 of 35 claws with apical pedal bone necrosis (48.6 %), in the 21 other claws the lesions were represented only by small separations between the sole and the wall within the white line at the toe. The gross-pathological findings of the exungulated claws ranged from moderate topical inflammatory signs of the cerium at the toe of the claw to severe and extensive alterations of the cerium of the complete sole and wall. In addition, slight topical or extensive bone necrosis and osteomyelitis of the pedal bone were seen. Histologically, different types of demarcation of the necrotic bone were found, Microbiological examinations revealed predominantly mixed infections. The visualization of the pathological changes of the complete inner surface of the cerium allowed a conclusive understanding of the severe lameness or stiff gait observed in cows with osteolysis of the apex of the pedal bone, where often only small lesions on the horn sole were visible.
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