Removal of bovine digital dermatitis-associated treponemes from hoof knives after foot-trimming: a disinfection field study.
Authors: Gillespie A V, Carter S D, Blowey R W, Staton G J, Evans N J
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
Digital dermatitis causes significant production losses in dairy herds, and whilst routine foot-trimming is essential for managing lameness, the procedure itself poses a genuine infection control risk as hoof knives readily become contaminated with Treponema bacteria during lesion treatment. Researchers recruited 133 affected cattle and cultured bacterial samples from trimming knives at three critical points—before use, immediately after trimming infected feet, and following disinfection with one of three common products (FAM30®, Virkon®, or sodium hypochlorite)—to evaluate whether laboratory findings translated into practical field conditions. All three disinfectants successfully eliminated viable treponemes from blade surfaces under real-world trimming scenarios, providing reassurance that appropriate disinfection protocols can interrupt transmission between animals during routine hoof care. For practitioners, this validates the importance of systematic knife disinfection between animals, though choice of product matters less than consistency of application and adequate contact time. Given that poor biosecurity during foot-trimming significantly amplifies digital dermatitis spread within herds, farriers and veterinary practitioners should treat blade disinfection as a non-negotiable step in their operational protocol rather than an optional best practice.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Implement disinfection of hoof knives between each animal during foot-trimming to prevent BDD transmission—use 1:100 FAM30®, 2% Virkon®, or 2% sodium hypochlorite
- •Foot-trimming is a significant risk activity for spreading BDD within herds; consistent knife disinfection is essential biosecurity practice
- •All three disinfectants work equally well in field conditions, so choose based on availability, cost, and ease of use on your farm
Key Findings
- •All three disinfectants (1:100 FAM30®, 2% Virkon®, and 2% sodium hypochlorite) effectively reduced viable BDD-associated Treponema spp. on hoof knife blades under field conditions
- •Hoof knives became contaminated with BDD treponemes during foot-trimming of affected cattle
- •Disinfection protocols demonstrated practical efficacy in removing pathogenic organisms between animals