Interdigital dermatitis in cattle is caused by a mixed bacterial infection, primarily Dichelobacter nodosus. The bacteria invade the skin between the claws, causing lesions and discomfort. Early signs include exudative dermatitis and crusting between the toes. Left untreated, it can cause lameness. Treatment focuses on cleaning and drying lesions, with topical antibiotics. Prevention prioritizes dry, clean housing and regular foot trimming, with footbathing during high-risk periods.

1. Interdigital Dermatitis in
Cattle(infectious foot rot)
Presented by : Dr .M Zain ul Abidin

2. Etiology
• Interdigital dermatitis is caused by a mixed bacterial infection, but
Dichelobacter nodosus has been considered to be the most active
component.
• D nodosus is an anaerobe and exceptionally proteolytic.
• The source of the infection is the cow itself, and the infection spreads
from infected to noninfected cows through the environment.
• D nodosus cannot survive for >4 days on the ground but can persist in
filth caked onto the claws, creating an anaerobic environment

3. Pathogenesis
• The bacteria first invade the epidermis of the skin between the claws
but do not penetrate to the dermal layers.
• As the condition progresses, the border between the skin and soft
heel horn at the posterior commisure disintegrates, producing lesions
similar to ulcers or erosions.
• At this stage, the lesions cause discomfort. In tied systems, the
hindlimbs are affected more often than the forelimbs. In loose
housing systems, the distribution between fore- and hindlimbs is
about equal.
• Animals on slatted floors are affected less often than animals on solid
floors.

4. Clinical Findings
• The early stages of the condition appear as an exudative dermatitis.
• The exudate oozes to the commissures of the interdigital space and
forms a crust or scab, which may be observed occasionally on the
dorsal surface of the digits.
• As the condition progresses, the animal shows discomfort by
“paddling,” or constantly moving from one foot to the other.
• If the heels of the hind feet are especially painful, the limbs are held
further back than normal.

5. Clinical Findings
• True lameness does not develop until a complicating lesion is present.
• After a prolonged period, during which the animal has avoided
bearing weight on the heel, the horn beneath the heel increases in
thickness and some aberrations of gait result.
• In dairy cows, interdigital hyperplasia (corns, fibroma) may be caused
by the chronic irritation of the interdigital space.
• Often, the fibroma develops on one side of the interdigital space.

6. Clinical Findings

7. Clinical Findings

8. Clinical Findings

9. Treatment
• Systemic therapy, including the use of antibiotics, is not cost effective.
• In severe cases, the lesions should be cleaned and dried, after which a
topical bacteriostatic agent is applied, eg, a 50% mixture of
sulfamethazine powder and anhydrous copper sulfate.
• Alternatively, an animal can be confined in a footbath for 1 hr, bid for
3 days.

10. Control
• Good management and housing systems that keep claws dry and
clean are most important.
• Regular foot trimming helps avoid complications.
• Footbathing, beginning in late fall and before clinical cases can be
identified during high-risk periods.
• Weekly footbathing may be sufficient in the late fall, but the
frequency may have to be increased in late winter.