FOOT ROT IN SHEEP Flashcards
What are the most common causes of ovine lameness
Scald
Foot rot
CODD
Which bacteria is responsible for causing Foot rot
Dichelobacter nodous
What bacteria is associated with scald
Fusobacterium necrophorum
What causes scald/ strip/ interdigital dermatitis
Causes by various bacteria that invade the surface layers of the skin between the claws (interdigital skin ) following damage by moisture, frost and/ or mechanical damage from long grass, thistles etc
What is the key difference between the early stages of foot rot and scald
They are clinically indistinguishable
How does D. Nodosus develop in sheep
1st stage = scald
2nd stage = characterised by under- running of hoof horn and a characteristic smell
How long can d. Nodous survive
Bedding and pasture = 14 days
Hoof horn clippings = long time
What type of bacteria are D. Nodous and F. Necrophorm
Anaerobic bacteria
How to treat foot rot
Antibiotic injection/ spray
Split of infected animals
Foot bathing
Cull any sheep that get repeat infections
How can foot rot spread
Infection can spread between sheep if they walk on the same surface
Give some examples of prevention options for foot rot
Don’t select replacements from sheep with history of lameness
Cull sheep that have had foot rot more than twice
Consider vaccination before high risk periods (e.g housing )
Treat mildly lame sheep as soon as possible
Separated diseased animals quickly
Quarantine incoming animals for at leats 28 days and foot bath on arrival
How can evidence-based approaches to disease control be disseminated to the sheep industry
Journal articles
Vets
Conferences
Word of mouth
