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Clifton R, Monaghan EM, Green MJ, Purdy KJ, Green LE. Differences in composition of interdigital skin microbiota predict sheep and feet that develop footrot. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8931. [PMID: 35624131 PMCID: PMC9142565 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12772-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Footrot has a major impact on health and productivity of sheep worldwide. The current paradigm for footrot pathogenesis is that physical damage to the interdigital skin (IDS) facilitates invasion of the essential pathogen Dichelobacter nodosus. The composition of the IDS microbiota is different in healthy and diseased feet, so an alternative hypothesis is that changes in the IDS microbiota facilitate footrot. We investigated the composition and diversity of the IDS microbiota of ten sheep, five that did develop footrot and five that did not (healthy) at weekly intervals for 20 weeks. The IDS microbiota was less diverse on sheep 2 + weeks before they developed footrot than on healthy sheep. This change could be explained by only seven of > 2000 bacterial taxa detected. The incubation period of footrot is 8–10 days, and there was a further reduction in microbial diversity on feet that developed footrot in that incubation period. We conclude that there are two stages of dysbiosis in footrot: the first predisposes sheep to footrot and the second occurs in feet during the incubation of footrot. These findings represent a step change in our understanding of the role of the IDS microbiota in footrot pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Clifton
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
| | - Emma M Monaghan
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK
| | - Martin J Green
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Kevin J Purdy
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Laura E Green
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK
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Smith KJ, Whittington RJ, Corrigan MA, Edmonstone BI, Cronin NA, Dhand NK, Dhungyel OP. Efficacy of bivalent fimbrial vaccines to control and eliminate intermediate forms of footrot in sheep. Aust Vet J 2021; 100:121-129. [PMID: 34897647 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of serogroup-specific bivalent fimbrial vaccines in the control and elimination of relatively mild (intermediate) forms of footrot in sheep flocks in NSW, there being some evidence that such forms are difficult to control. METHODS Four flocks of sheep with history of footrot of intermediate virulence were selected based on clinical and bacteriological diagnoses. Dichelobacter nodosus serogroups included in bivalent vaccines at each farm were based on on-farm serogroup-prevalence data. Two doses of bivalent vaccine were administered with a 4-week interval between doses. Repeated post-vaccination inspections of all feet of between 100 and 119 animals per mob were conducted and foot swabs were collected for bacteriological testing. Blood samples were collected from 10 to 24 individually identified animals per flock at each inspection to check for agglutinating antibody responses. RESULTS In the majority of animals, antibody levels for serogroups included in each vaccine were above the level believed to be required for protective immunity. Footrot disappeared on farm 1 prior to vaccination, but did not reappear postvaccination. Footrot was controlled but not eliminated on farms 2, 3, and 4, where the prevalence and severity of the disease and number of serogroups present were reduced. CONCLUSION Serogroup-specific bivalent vaccines can be effective at controlling footrot caused by intermediate strains of D. nodosus.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Smith
- Farm Animal Health, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia
| | - R J Whittington
- Farm Animal Health, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia
| | - M A Corrigan
- Murray LLS, Albury, New South Wales, 2640, Australia
| | - B I Edmonstone
- Central West LLS, Forbes, New South Wales, 2871, Australia
| | - N A Cronin
- Central West LLS, Forbes, New South Wales, 2871, Australia
| | - N K Dhand
- Farm Animal Health, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia
| | - O P Dhungyel
- Farm Animal Health, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia
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Prosser NS, Purdy KJ, Green LE. Increase in the flock prevalence of lameness in ewes is associated with a reduction in farmers using evidence-based management of prompt treatment: A longitudinal observational study of 154 English sheep flocks 2013-2015. Prev Vet Med 2019; 173:104801. [PMID: 31683188 PMCID: PMC6899501 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Since 2006, farmers in England have received new recommendations on best practice to manage lameness in sheep through a range of knowledge exchange activities. The adoption of each recommendation varied, but in 2013 approximately 50% of farmers reported treating all lame sheep within 3 days of onset of lameness (prompt treatment), 41% did not practice routine foot trimming, 50% culled sheep that had been lame and 14% vaccinated against footrot; all recommended best practices. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of lameness in ewes in England from 2013 to 2015 and to identify changes in practice to manage lameness between 2013 and 2015 and the population attributable fraction for these managements. A longitudinal study with a cohort of 154 English sheep farmers was run for three years, farmers completed questionnaires on lameness in their flock for the previous 12 months in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The geometric mean prevalence of lameness in ewes was 4.1% in 2015, significantly higher than 3.3% and 3.2% for the same 128 farmers who provided data in both 2013 and 2014. Between 2013 and 2015 there was a significant reduction in farmers practising prompt treatment (50.6%–28.6%) but an increase in not practising routine foot trimming (40.9%–79.2%), culling sheep that had been lame (49.4%–81.8%), and vaccinating against footrot (14.3%–29.2%). Not practising prompt treatment, ≥5% of sheep feet bleeding during routine foot trimming, vaccinating ewes for <6 years or not vaccinating at all, and other flocks mixing with the flock, were associated with a significantly higher flock prevalence of lameness. Culling sheep that had been lame was not associated with prevalence of lameness. The population attributable fractions (PAFs) for not vaccinating for>5 years, not treating lame sheep promptly, ≥5% of sheep feet bleeding during routine foot trimming, and mixing of flocks were 34.5%, 25.3%, 2.9% and 2.4%. In 2013, when 50% of farmers used prompt treatment, the PAF for not using prompt treatment was only 13.3%. We conclude that the change in practice by these farmers towards flock-level managements and a reduction in individual prompt treatment of lame sheep negatively impacted the prevalence of lameness in sheep. This change occurred despite the evidence that prompt treatment of lame sheep is highly effective at reducing the prevalence of lameness in sheep flocks and is an example of cognitive dissonance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi S Prosser
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Campus, The University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.
| | - Kevin J Purdy
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Campus, The University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Laura E Green
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
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Allworth MB, Egerton JR. Comparison of footbathing and vaccination to control ovine footrot in an experimentally infected flock. Aust Vet J 2018; 96:395-399. [PMID: 30255574 DOI: 10.1111/avj.12715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Compare footbathing and vaccination for control of footrot during a transmission period in a sheep flock deliberately infected with multiple strains of Dichelobacter nodosus. METHODS The strains included a known virulent strain, a benign strain and several intermediate strains. The resulting footrot was clinically intermediate. A total of 1450 Polwarth sheep aged 1-3 years were allocated to one of five treatment groups: untreated, weekly walkthrough zinc sulfate footbathing, 1-hour stand-in Footrite® footbathing every 3 weeks, vaccination with a commercial multivalent whole-cell vaccine and vaccination with a novel recombinant DNA fimbrial vaccine. There were four replicates, in four paddocks. RESULTS Of the untreated animals, 76% had footrot. Footbathing, either weekly or every 3 weeks, restricted the prevalence to 6/283 (2%; 97% effective) and 18/275 (6.5%; 91% effective), respectively. This was significantly lower than the prevalence in either the untreated or vaccinated group (P < 0.001). Weekly footbathing resulted in significantly fewer affected sheep than footbathing for 1 h every 3 weeks (P < 0.05). Vaccination with either whole-cell or recombinant vaccines significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the prevalence ((142/280 (51%; 33% effective), 114/278 (41%; 46% effective) respectively), with the recombinant vaccine superior (P < 0.05) to whole-cell vaccination. Significantly (P < 0.05) fewer 1-year-old sheep had footrot than older sheep. A single Footrite treatment reduced the prevalence to 12% (53/445) compared with a prevalence of 57% (27/47) for untreated sheep (79% effective). CONCLUSION In this study footbathing was more effective than vaccination at controlling and treating multistrain footrot.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Allworth
- Fred Morley Centre and Graham Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J R Egerton
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, Australia
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Dickins A, Clark CCA, Kaler J, Ferguson E, O'Kane H, Green LE. Factors associated with the presence and prevalence of contagious ovine digital dermatitis: A 2013 study of 1136 random English sheep flocks. Prev Vet Med 2016; 130:86-93. [PMID: 27435650 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In 2013, a questionnaire was used to gather data on risks for introduction, and factors associated with prevalence, of contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD). There were 1136 (28.4%) usable responses from 4000 randomly selected sheep farmers in England. CODD was present in 58% (662) of flocks, with a reported prevalence of CODD lesions of 2.3%. The geometric mean period prevalence of all lameness was 4.2% and 2.8% in CODD positive and negative flocks respectively. Factors associated with a greater risk of presence of CODD were purchasing replacement ewes, not always checking the feet of sheep before purchase, not isolating purchased sheep, foot bathing returning ewes, foot trimming the flock more than twice in the year all compared with not doing these activities and increasing log10 flock size. Farmers who vaccinated sheep with Footvax™ were less likely to report presence of CODD. Factors associated with increasing prevalence of CODD lesions were not always checking the feet of purchased sheep, flocks that mixed with other flocks and sheep that left the farm for summer grazing and later returned. In addition, flocks where farmers followed the current recommended managements for control of footrot, had a lower prevalence of CODD whilst those who used foot bathing and where feet bled during routine foot trimming had a higher prevalence of CODD. The prevalence of CODD decreased with each log10 increase in flock size. We conclude that CODD is an infectious cause of lameness in sheep of increasing importance in GB. Introduction is linked to poor biosecurity with one likely source of the pathogen being introduction of or mixing with infected sheep. As with footrot, prevalence of CODD was lower in flocks where farmers focused on individual treatment to manage lameness and avoided foot bathing and trimming feet. We conclude that most of the currently recommended biosecurity and treatment approaches to control footrot in GB are also effective for control of CODD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Dickins
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Corinna C A Clark
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Jasmeet Kaler
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Eamonn Ferguson
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Holly O'Kane
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Laura E Green
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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Winter JR, Kaler J, Ferguson E, KilBride AL, Green LE. Changes in prevalence of, and risk factors for, lameness in random samples of English sheep flocks: 2004–2013. Prev Vet Med 2015; 122:121-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Footrot vaccines and vaccination. Vaccine 2014; 32:3139-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Revised: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Duncan JS, Grove-White D, Moks E, Carroll D, Oultram JW, Phythian CJ, Williams HW. Impact of footrot vaccination and antibiotic therapy on footrot and contagious ovine digital dermatitis. Vet Rec 2012; 170:462. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.100363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. S. Duncan
- School of Veterinary Science; Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Science; University of Bristol; Langford House Langford Bristol BS40 5DU
| | - D. Grove-White
- School of Veterinary Science; Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Science; University of Bristol; Langford House Langford Bristol BS40 5DU
| | - E. Moks
- School of Veterinary Science; University of Liverpool, Leahurst; Neston CH64 7TE UK
| | - D. Carroll
- School of Veterinary Science; University of Liverpool, Leahurst; Neston CH64 7TE UK
| | - J. W. Oultram
- School of Veterinary Science; University of Liverpool, Leahurst; Neston CH64 7TE UK
| | - C. J. Phythian
- School of Veterinary Science; Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Science; University of Bristol; Langford House Langford Bristol BS40 5DU
| | - H. W. Williams
- School of Veterinary Science; University of Liverpool, Leahurst; Neston CH64 7TE UK
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Stokka GL, Lechtenberg K, Edwards T, MacGregor S, Voss K, Griffin D, Grotelueschen DM, Smith RA, Perino LJ. Lameness in feedlot cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2001; 17:189-207, viii. [PMID: 11320695 DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0720(15)30062-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This article examines the various causes of lameness in feedlot cattle, with an emphasis on clinical signs, treatment, and prevention. Specific conditions are discussed, including interdigital necrobacillosis, laminitis, feedlot injuries, and feedlot lameness associated with Mycoplasma bovis. Immune management of the foot is also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- G L Stokka
- Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Abstract
Sixteen methods of grading the lesions of ovine footrot were assessed on the basis of the effect of the lesions on the humoral immune response of the host to a causative bacterium, Dichelobacter nodosus. Methods that allowed for qualitative and quantitative differences in lesion scores between sheep were the best predictors of host response, and methods that assessed the lesions in each of the eight digits were more efficient than methods that did not grade the digits within feet. Weighting the scores for lesions that involved underrunning of the keratin of the hoof provided the most powerful means of predicting host response. The correlations between host response and the more elaborate weighted scores were close to the highest possible among additive linear estimators. Total weighted footscore, which is the sum of the footscores of the four feet weighted for underrun lesions, is proposed as a simple and effective grading system for sheep with lesions of footrot. There was a significant association within sheep between the number of underrun feet and the severity of lesions in individual feet.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Whittington
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Agriculture, Menangle, Australia
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