Contagious Footrot
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Caused by Dichelobacter nodosus.
- Contagious, economically important disease
- Wet pasture and hydrated stratum corneum leads to colonisation by Gram positive cocci and Arcanobacter pyogenes, followed by F. necrophorum; addition of D. nodosus causes footrot
- Can lead to loss of hoof
- Usually caused by Bacteroides nodosus together with Fusobacterium necrophorum
- Moisture and trauma allow B. nodosus to enter -> aids bacterial penetration of epidermis -> F. necrophorum invades -> necrosis and inflammation
- Grossly:
- Early lesions - red, moist, swollen, eroded interdigital skin
- Spreads to epidermal matrix of hoof -> separation of horn + malodorous exudate
- Regeneration attempted as germinal epithelium is not destroyed
- Chronic infections -> long , misshapen hoof
- Benign footrot (scald)- only interdigital ski affected, slight separation of heel horn
- Mostly the type occuring in cattle