Molecular Screening for Digital Dermatitis-Associated Treponemes in Bovine Ischaemic Teat Necrosis Lesions and Milk in Dairy Cattle.

Bovine ischaemic teat necrosis (ITN) is a disease affecting the skin of the teats of dairy cows with an unknown aetiopathogenesis. Digital dermatitis (DD)-associated treponemes have previously been suggested as a potential aetiological agent in ITN, although the sample size was small. The current study, using established PCR techniques, aimed to examine the association with the presence of DD-associated treponemes in a large number of ITN samples from a wider geographical area, and surveyed the potential of milk as an infection reservoir.

Fatal complications associated with caesarean section in the bitch: post-mortem investigation of 17 cases.

This case series describes the post-mortem findings in 17 bitches (Canis lupus familiaris) with a recent (<7 days) history of caesarean section, most (94%) of which had undergone conservative caesarean section with preservation of the uterus. Brachycephalic breeds accounted for 71% of all cases, with the French Bulldog (35%, n = 6), English Bulldog (18%, n = 3) and Boston Terrier (12%, n = 2) overrepresented. Eleven animals (65%) died between 4 and 48 h after surgery, whereas six (35%) died during the procedure.

Survival of bovine digital dermatitis treponemes in conditions relevant to the host and farm environment.

Objectives: Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD), a painful infectious foot disease in dairy cattle, endemic in many countries worldwide, causes substantial economic and welfare impacts. Treponema spp. are considered key to BDD pathogenesis.

Clinical and Pathological Features of Bovine Ischaemic Teat Necrosis.

Bovine ischaemic teat necrosis (ITN) is an emerging disease of unknown aetiology affecting mostly dairy cows in the early stages of first lactation and a substantial welfare concern frequently leading to premature culling and economic losses. Specific diagnostic criteria are lacking. The aims of this study were to develop an appropriate ITN grading system, describe the histopathological changes and investigate the potential aetiological role of several pathogens in 47 cows with 73 ITN lesions from 28 farms.