PSXIV-11 - Microbial Characterization of Digital Dermatitis and Foot Rot in Feedlot Cattle

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CT

Location: Exhibit Hall A

Presenting Author(s)

NW

Nicholas S. Wong, n/a

Graduate student
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB Canada; Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Lethbridge, AB, Canada

Author(s)

KS

Karen S. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, PhD, MSc

Principle Research Scientist
Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Lethbridge, AB, Canada
MJ

Murray D. Jelinski, DVM, MSc

Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine,
Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Trevor Alexander

Research Scientist - Microbiology
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB Canada
Lethbridge, AB, Canada
EJ

Eugene Janzen, DVM, MSc

Professor Emeritus, Department of Production Animal Health
University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Calgary, AB, Canada
Sarah E. Erickson, n/a

Technical Data Assistant; Graduate Student
Feedlot Health Management Services by TELUS Agriculture; Western College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Sundre, AB, Canada
RO

Rodrigo Ortega Polo

Biology Study Leader – Bioinformatics
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB Canada
Lethbridge, AB, Canada

Abstract: Lameness is a significant health issue in feedlot cattle, having major economic, labor, and welfare implications. Digital dermatitis (DD), a lesion of the plantar surface of the foot, and foot rot (FR), which affects the interdigital cleft, are common infectious causes of feedlot lameness with bacterial origins. These hoof lesions can occur alone or in combination in the same hoof (DD+FR). Over a one-year period (2019-2020), 208 hoof swabs were obtained from cattle with FR (n = 55), DD (n = 18), and DD+FR (n = 29), and 5 completely healthy cattle (controls) from three southern Alberta commercial feedlots. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to characterize the bacterial microbiota of DD, FR, and DD+FR lesions relative to corresponding healthy skin controls found within the same affected animals. DD and FR lesion microbiotas showed reduced diversity compared with corresponding control skin. Multiple Treponema (members of Spirochaetaceae Family) species were differentially abundant in DD lesions compared with contralateral control skin. FR lesions are characterized by an abundance of Fusobacterium necrophorum and Porphyromonas levii, compared with contralateral control skin. The microbiome of DD+FR lesions was similar to FR lesions, where F. necrophorum and P. levii were increased compared with contralateral control skin. Other differentially abundant taxa (Helcococcus, Succiniclasticum spp.) found in FR and DD+FR lesions had been previously associated with DD, suggesting there may be an overlap of bacteria that have a role in both types of hoof lesions. The findings support previous literature showing that FR and DD are polybacterial in nature. The identification of novel bacterial species of DD and FR lesions could contribute information for the development of more targeted and effective prevention and treatment strategies. A novel finding of the sequencing analysis for hooves with concurrent DD and FR infection was characterized.