Quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis–associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environment
ABSTRACT: The source of infection of digital dermatitis (DD), an infectious lameness condition, is still uncertain. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to identify potential reservoirs of DD bacteria in dairy cattle body sites with different stages of the disease and farm environments. We collec...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Dairy Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030223020155 |
| _version_ | 1797201245180526592 |
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| author | A.P. Dias K. Orsel J. De Buck |
| author_facet | A.P. Dias K. Orsel J. De Buck |
| author_sort | A.P. Dias |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: The source of infection of digital dermatitis (DD), an infectious lameness condition, is still uncertain. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to identify potential reservoirs of DD bacteria in dairy cattle body sites with different stages of the disease and farm environments. We collected skin swabs from 85 dairy cows from 5 herds, 3 with and 2 without DD, from foot, hock, and udder cleft skin (with lesions or not), saliva, urine, and feces. We also obtained environmental samples. Real-time quantitative PCR targeted Treponema phagedenis, Treponema medium, Treponema pedis, Porphyromonas levii, Bacteroides pyogenes, Fusobacterium necrophorum, and Fusobacterium mortiferum. Digital dermatitis-associated Treponema spp. were exclusively detected in DD-affected herds in DD-foot and other skin lesions, healthy skin, saliva, and environmental samples. In contrast, the non-Treponema spp. were found in samples from both DD-negative and affected herds. As expected, DD lesions had higher bacterial loads than healthy skin. Interestingly, similar counts were observed in udder cleft lesions, indicating a potential opportunistic behavior on compromised skin. None of the targeted species were detected in fecal samples, but P. levii, B. pyogenes, and F. necrophorum were detected in urine. All 7 species were detected in saliva, although in low quantities. No associations were observed between the presence of each bacterial species in DD lesions and urine; however, there was an association between the presence of DD-Treponema spp. in lesions and saliva, hock, and udder skin. Feces and urine do not seem to be a DD bacteria primary source, but saliva and other skin lesions may play a role. Longitudinal studies would improve our understanding of DD-associated bacteria's transient or persistent presence in these sites. Investigating the sources of DD-associated bacteria will guide future interventions to minimize bacterial shedding and transmission, ultimately more effectively reducing bacterial load, transmission, and sources of infection in dairy herds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:44:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e7dd05dfda9407ba13bdba2fb775dff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0022-0302 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:44:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Dairy Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e7dd05dfda9407ba13bdba2fb775dff2024-04-19T04:16:17ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022024-05-01107532523268Quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis–associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environmentA.P. Dias0K. Orsel1J. De Buck2Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, CanadaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, CanadaCorresponding author; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, CanadaABSTRACT: The source of infection of digital dermatitis (DD), an infectious lameness condition, is still uncertain. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to identify potential reservoirs of DD bacteria in dairy cattle body sites with different stages of the disease and farm environments. We collected skin swabs from 85 dairy cows from 5 herds, 3 with and 2 without DD, from foot, hock, and udder cleft skin (with lesions or not), saliva, urine, and feces. We also obtained environmental samples. Real-time quantitative PCR targeted Treponema phagedenis, Treponema medium, Treponema pedis, Porphyromonas levii, Bacteroides pyogenes, Fusobacterium necrophorum, and Fusobacterium mortiferum. Digital dermatitis-associated Treponema spp. were exclusively detected in DD-affected herds in DD-foot and other skin lesions, healthy skin, saliva, and environmental samples. In contrast, the non-Treponema spp. were found in samples from both DD-negative and affected herds. As expected, DD lesions had higher bacterial loads than healthy skin. Interestingly, similar counts were observed in udder cleft lesions, indicating a potential opportunistic behavior on compromised skin. None of the targeted species were detected in fecal samples, but P. levii, B. pyogenes, and F. necrophorum were detected in urine. All 7 species were detected in saliva, although in low quantities. No associations were observed between the presence of each bacterial species in DD lesions and urine; however, there was an association between the presence of DD-Treponema spp. in lesions and saliva, hock, and udder skin. Feces and urine do not seem to be a DD bacteria primary source, but saliva and other skin lesions may play a role. Longitudinal studies would improve our understanding of DD-associated bacteria's transient or persistent presence in these sites. Investigating the sources of DD-associated bacteria will guide future interventions to minimize bacterial shedding and transmission, ultimately more effectively reducing bacterial load, transmission, and sources of infection in dairy herds.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030223020155qPCRTreponemainfectious lamenesshoof lesions |
| spellingShingle | A.P. Dias K. Orsel J. De Buck Quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis–associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environment Journal of Dairy Science qPCR Treponema infectious lameness hoof lesions |
| title | Quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis–associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environment |
| title_full | Quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis–associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environment |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis–associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis–associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environment |
| title_short | Quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis–associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environment |
| title_sort | quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environment |
| topic | qPCR Treponema infectious lameness hoof lesions |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030223020155 |
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