Bacterial species associated with interdigital phlegmon outbreaks in Finnish dairy herds.
Authors: Kontturi Miia, Junni Reijo, Simojoki Heli, Malinen Erja, Seuna Eija, Klitgaard Kirstine, Kujala-Wirth Minna, Soveri Timo, Pelkonen Sinikka
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Interdigital phlegmon (IP) has emerged as a significant production disease in Finnish dairy herds, yet the specific bacterial aetiologies driving these outbreaks remained poorly characterised. Researchers sampled 106 cows with active IP, 58 with other concurrent hoof diseases, and 64 healthy controls across 19 affected free stall herds and three control herds, performing culture and identification of bacteria recovered from lesions at various disease stages. The study stratified herd-level morbidity into two categories—high (≥50%) and moderate (9–33%)—to assess whether disease severity correlated with distinct bacterial profiles. Identifying the primary pathogens associated with IP progression and the differences between high and moderate outbreak situations provides farriers and veterinarians with targeted diagnostic information for treatment decisions and herd-level biosecurity strategies, whilst understanding herd-level bacterial ecology may inform preventive approaches to reducing disease recurrence in housed dairy systems where environmental transmission risk is heightened.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Understanding which bacterial species are associated with IP outbreak severity can help target treatment and control strategies in affected herds
- •Differentiation between high and moderate morbidity herds suggests varying disease dynamics that may require herd-specific management approaches
- •Early identification of bacterial pathogens in IP cases may enable faster, more targeted antimicrobial selection and outbreak containment
Key Findings
- •Severe interdigital phlegmon outbreaks occurred in 19 Finnish free stall dairy herds with morbidity ranging from 9-50% over two months
- •Bacteriological samples from 106 affected cows, 58 with other hoof diseases, and 64 control cows were analyzed to identify causative bacterial species
- •Study identified associations between specific bacterial species and various stages of interdigital phlegmon disease progression
- •High morbidity herds (≥50%) were differentiated from moderate morbidity herds (9-33%) for comparative bacterial analysis