Clinical, histologic, and bacteriologic findings in dairy cows with digital dermatitis (footwarts) one month after topical treatment with lincomycin hydrochloride or oxytetracycline hydrochloride

ABSTRACT: Bovine Digital Dermatitis (BDD) was studied in crossbred dairy cows grazing in Rondon do Pará, in the state of Pará, as well as in Açailândia and Cidelândia, in the state of Maranhão, Brazilian Amazon biome. The digits inspection from the dairy cows during milking was performed in ten farms comprising four visits (August and November 2016; April and July 2017). The cows were kept all year in pastures, and were mechanically milked on concrete floors and the animals were protected against the rains in eight farms, maintaining a daily cleaning, however, it could not be found a concrete floor in pre- or post-milking to ensure milking parlor on three farms. Manual milking on no concrete floors was performed in two farms. No preventive measures against hoof lesions were adopted. The BDD prevalence was 1.3% (22/1664), and no statistical difference among rainy or no rainy season was obtained (p = 0.72). The BDD lesions were classified according to “M system” (M0 = no lesion, M1 = active ulceration <2cm, M2 = active ulceration >2cm, M3 = healing stage, M4 = chronic stage, M4.1 = M4 with active ulceration). Regarding the 22 BDD lesions observed, 22.7% (5/22) were M1 stage, 36.4% (8/22) M2, 22.7% (5/22) M3, 13.6% (3/22) M4 and 4.5 (1/22) M4.1. Hypertrophic hairs at the edges of the lesions caused by fly larvae of genus Cochliomyia spp. as well as alterations on the hoof were also observed. Topical treatment was performed in six BDD lesions with a raw extract from trees of the genus Copaifera reticulata (Copaiba oil) and compared with the treatment of salicylic acid paste in five BDD lesions. The lesions were protected with a bandage for seven days and followed weekly until recovery. The complete therapeutic responses were 83.4% (5/6) and 75% (3/4), respectively, with an average time of seven weeks. The BDD in the Amazon biome occurs in low prevalence, not seasonal, and presents macro and microscopic features similar to BDD lesions from dairy cattle kept in free-stall housing. The treatment with copaiba oil showed similar results to the treatment of salicylic acid paste and can be used in control measures to BDD in the Amazon biome.

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Efficacy of the Non-antibiotic Paste ProtexinR Hoof-Care for Topical Treatment of Digital Dermatitis in Dairy Cows

Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A ◽

10.1111/j.1439-0442.2004.00671.x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 51 (9-10) ◽

pp. 447-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

J. Kofler ◽

M. Pospichal ◽

M. Hofmann-Parisot

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Topical Treatment ◽

Digital Dermatitis

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Phenytoin: A promising non-antibiotic drug for the topical treatment of digital dermatitis in dairy cows

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2021.2907-2912 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 2907-2912

Author(s):

El-Sayed El-Shafaey ◽

Mohamed A. Hamed ◽

Eman Abo Elfadl ◽

Naglaa A. Gomaa ◽

Mohamed Abdo Rizk

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Topical Treatment ◽

Positive Control ◽

Negative Control ◽

Digital Dermatitis ◽

Suitable Alternative ◽

Economic Implications ◽

Alternative Treatment Option ◽

Antibiotic Drug ◽

Phenytoin Sodium

Background and Aim: Digital dermatitis (DD) is one of the most common causes of lameness in dairy cattle. It is seen in nearly all dairy herds across the world and has substantial welfare and economic implications. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of phenytoin sodium topical treatment on painful ulcerative stage of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD). Materials and Methods: In total, 45 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows with DD were randomly assigned to one of the three topical treatment trials (15 each): Saline solution (first treatment, negative control), chlortetracycline spray (second treatment, positive control), or phenytoin sodium powder (third treatment, positive control) (third treatment). On day 0 (pre-treatment) and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-treatment, the response of DD-affected cows to the medications used was evaluated by measuring lesion depth and size, as well as the total clinical score (lameness, pain, and discomfort). Results: The cure rate in cows treated with phenytoin (86.66%) on day 28 was significantly improved compared to cows treated with either chlortetracycline (60%) or normal saline (6.66 %). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the superiority of phenytoin over the commonly used antibacterial agent, chlortetracycline, in the topical treatment of BDD, and subsequently suggest that phenytoin should be considered a suitable alternative treatment option for the treatment of BDD.

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Evaluation of a biocide footbath solution in the occurrence and healing of digital dermatitis lesions in dairy cows: A clinical trial

Preventive Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.12.017 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 163 ◽

pp. 58-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J.M. Ariza ◽

N. Bareille ◽

A. Lehebel ◽

K. Oberle ◽

A. Relun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Digital Dermatitis

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Randomised clinical trial showing the curative effect of bandaging on M2-stage lesions of digital dermatitis in dairy cows

Veterinary Record Open ◽

10.1136/vetreco-2017-000264 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000264 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marcus Klawitter ◽

Dörte Döpfer ◽

Theo Broderick Braden ◽

Ermias Amene ◽

Kerstin Elisabeth Mueller

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Dairy Herd ◽

Randomised Clinical Trial ◽

Digital Dermatitis ◽

Group 4 ◽

Treatment Type ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2 ◽

Group 1

Objectives and designThis trial evaluated the effect of bandaging of acute painful ulcerative bovine digital dermatitis (DD) lesion (stage M2) in dairy cows, tested using two different topical treatments.DesignRandomised clinical trial.SettingThis study was conducted using Holstein-Friesian cows ranging in age from heifers to fourth lactation in a single dairy herd and diagnosed with acute ulcerative DD lesions (stage M2) on the first examination (week 0). Cows were randomly assigned into either a non-bandaged or bandaged group across two treatment conditions: topical chlortetracycline spray (CTC) and Intra Hoof-Fit Gel (IHF). Lesions received standardised bandaging and treatment on a weekly basis. Unhealed lesions could receive up to five repeated treatments, at weekly intervals, within a four-week period. Both M-stage and locomotion were also evaluated and scored weekly. Cows with healthily formed skin (stage M0) were deemed healed and subsequently released from the study.ResultsIn total, 163 M2 lesions were diagnosed at week 0. Bandaged M2 lesions had a significantly higher probability of cure than non-bandaged lesions regardless of treatment type (HR: 4.1; P<0.001; 95 per cent CI: 2.5 to 6.8). Most healing occurred within the first three weeks of trial. Furthermore, bandaged lesions (group 2 and group 4) were significantly less likely to progress into the chronic hyperkeratotic or proliferative stage (M4) than non-bandaged lesions in group 1 and group 3 (HR: 0.10; P<0.001; 95 per cent CI: 0.04 to 0.22). Out of concern for the cow’s wellbeing, this study investigated the effects of bandaging on locomotion. Bandaging had no effect on locomotion for either cows treated with CTC (group 1: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1–2; group 2: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1–3; P=0.3) or IHF (group 3: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1–2; group 4: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1–3; P=0.3).

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