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A STUDY OF FOOT ABSCESS IN ^SHEEP

A THESIS PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AT MASSEY UNIVERSITY

DAVID MICHAEL WEST

198�

( i i )

ABSTRACT

A study wa s made o f var 1ous a s p ects o f 5 3 natura l l y occu r r 1ng ca ses of foot ab s ce s s in sheep . Rad io graphic techn ique s were u s ed to f o l l ow the p rogre s s o f the l e s i on and from th i s , and a study o f the anatomy o f the dig its , it wa s concluded that foot ab sce s s o f sheep cou l d b e d e f ined a s an infection o f the d i st a l interph a l angeal j o int . For th i s reas on th e term

' foot ab sce s s' wa s cons idered to be pre ferab le to th e term ' i n fective bu lbar necro s i s ' ( Robert s et al . , 1968) .

Support wa s g iven to the contenti on o f Robe rts et ai.(l9 68) that Fu..6obac.tvr..<.um neCJtophoJtum and CoJtynebac.teJt.<.um pyogenu are the cau s ative or gani sms o f foot abs ce s s . Both organi sms we re

f requentl y i s o l ated from natura l ly occurring ca s e s , and an i d entica l cond it i on wa s reproduced in s even sheep by

inocul ating a mixture of ^F. nec...:wphoJtum and C. pyogene.J.> o r g.1n1 sms into the d i stal interph a l ange a l jo int . It appeared l ike l y that re l ative l y greater numb e r s o f e ither organ i sm 1n pure cu lture were requ i red to reproduce foot ab sce s s by th i s means , than by using a mi xture of the two organisms,

To h elp eva l u ate the s i gn i f icance o f foot ab sce s s to New Zea l and sheep farmer s , a po sta l s urvey of New Z e a l and Romuey sheep b r e e d e r s wa s conducted . Foot absce s s was reported to occur in 2 7 0 ( 7 7 percent) o f the 351 r e spondents ' f l ock s , but the incidence o f foot ab sce s s with in a f l ock wa s l ow . F oot ab scess wa s considered an imp ortant d isea s e by sheep farme r s because o f the unexpected nature o f outbreaks a t cr itica l t imes in the farm ing ca l endar , and the uns at i s facto ry nat�re o f treatment and prevention . The F. neCJtophoJturll vacc1ne wa s

used by a th ird o f th e farme r s that reporte d having

ca s es of foot ab s ce s s in the i r f lock s and many farmers we reeither d i s s at i s f i ed with , or unsure o f its e f fectivene s s .

( i i i )

The attack rate o f foot ab s ce s s wa s reported to be h i gher for rams than for ewe s . A pos s ib l e exp l anation for th i s wa s advan c e d fo l l owing the inve st igati on o f an outb reak o f ov �ne inte r d i g ita l d e rmatiti s and foot ab s c e s s a f fecting lOO

ind i vidua l s out o f 3 0 0 young rams on a P erenda l e stu d prop erty .

From a study o f the anatomy o f the d i g its it wa s �onc luded that the di sta l inte rpha l angea l j o int o f sheep wa s vu lnerab l e to i n f e ction o r trauma on the inte r d i g ita l a s pect where the j o int c ap s u l e p rotruded above the coronary border o f the hoo f a s the dor s a l and vo l ar pouche s . Foot ab s c e s s was reproduced in 39 d i gits o f 20 sheep , fo l l owing interd i g ita l ti s s ue damage by the app l ication o f l iquid nitr ogen to the interd i g ita l s k in , c omb ined with the exp o sure o f the feet to wet , faeces-c ontaminated cond ition s . It wa s sugge sted that th i s s imu lated what h appen s in natura l outbreaks o f ovine

int e r d igita l de rmatiti s and foot ab s c e s s .

Ov ine interd i g ita l dermatiti s r e s p onded read ily to the

c omb ined the r apeutic mea s ure s o f dry surround ings , formal in foot bath ing and s e l e cted antib iot i c therapy . In c ontra st , onc e in fection b e came e stab l i shed in the d i sta l inte rpha l ange a l j o i nt ( foot ab s c e s s ) , the above treatment wa s n o l onger

e f f e ctive . Permanent j o int damage with de formity wa s

inev itab l e , b ut the e f fects o f th i s wa s reduced i f the axi a l c o l l ateral l i gaments rema ined intact . The foot hea l e d

s u f f i c i entl y t o a l l ow f o r ade quate l o c omotion a fter a p e r i o d o f about two months . It wa s p o s s ib l e , u s ing rad io graph i c technique s t o a s s e s s i f the d i sta l inter pha lange a l j o int wa s

in f e cted , the approximate duration o f the j o int infect i on , and the l ike l y degree o f permanent damage and d e fo rmity .

( i V )

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

•

I wish to thank my s upe rv� s o r s f o r their he lp, in t e re s t and encoura gemen t during this work . In par ticu l ar I thank Pro fe s s or A. N . B ruere for giving me the oppor tuni ty to unde r take this s tudy and for his enthu siasm and optimism tha t the pro j e c t wou l d reach this s tage . I am gra t e fu l a l s o, for the guidance o f Dr B.S . Coope r and his h e l pfu l advic e in the pr epa r a tion o f this manu s c ript .

I g r a t e fu lly a cknow l edge the compe tent techni c a l a s si s t anc e o f Lynne Cu l l inane who per formed the mic robio l ogic a l

examina tion s and provid e d the b a c t e ria l cul tur e s .

My thanks go t o the many peop l e in the Ve terinary facu l ty who h ave a s si s t e d with dis c u s sion and te chnic a l advic e, par ticu lar ly Dr R . Mar sha l l and Dr R . Wyburn .

I wish a l s o to thank Torn Law who pho t ographed and prin t e d mos t o f the figure s in the th e s is, and the s ta f f o f the Veterinary Ho s pi t a l , par ticul a r ly Cedric B arnet t, for te chnic a l a s s i s t ance and c are of the sheep .

I am grate fu l to V a l Darroch, V eronica Lobb and A l i s on Cl eaver for typing and Karen Armi ta ge for as sis t anc e in the prepara tion o f this manu s crip t .

( V ) TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ab s tr a c t

Acknowled gement s Lis t o f tab l e s Lis t o f figu r e s

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER ⁶

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER.8

REFERENCE S

Review o f the litera ture

A s urvey of New Zea l and Romney sheep b r e e de rs , concerning s ome a spe c t s o f foo t ab s c e s s

Ana t omic a l c onsidera tions o f the dis ta l int erpha l angeal j oin t o f sheep

A s tudy o f na tura l ly o c curring c a s e s o f ovine foo t ab s c e s s

Inve s tiga tion o f a f l ock outbr eak o f d e rma titi s , ne cro sis and e ro s ion of the interdigital skin , r e s u l ting �n s ome cas e s o f foo t ab s c e s s .

The experimen t a l reproduc tion o f f o o t ab s c e s s by the ino cu l ation o f bacteria l cu l ture s in to the dis t a l interph a l angia l j oint o f sheep

The experime n t a l reproduc tion o f foo t ab s c e s s by d amaging the interdigi t a l t i s sue s o f sheep

S ummary and conc lusions

Page

1

22

38

52

8 1

1 0 1

1 33 1 68 1 72

Tab l e 2 . 1 2 . 1 1

2 . 1 1 1 2 . 1V

2 . V

2 . V I 2 . V11

4 . 1

4 . 1 1

4 . 1 1 1

4 . 1V

5 . 1

5 . 1!

6.1

LIST OF TABLES

The per c entage o f r e sponden t s repo r t ing foo t ab s c e s s c a s e s

The pe rcen t a ge o f r e sponden t s repo r t ing the oc currenc e o f foo t ab s c e s s in d if ferent c l a s s e s o f sheep

The s e a s ona l occurrence of foot ab s c e s s Fac tor s c ons i d e r e d by r e s ponden t s t o pre d i s po s e t o f o o t ab s c e s s

Treatment o f foot ab s c e s s c a s e s Progno s i s o f foo t ab s c e s s c a s e s

The e f fe c t ivene s s o f FU..6oba.c.tvr.-i.um ne.CJz.ophoJtum vacc �ne

The numb e r o f sheep w i th foo t ab s ce s s, admi t t e d to the Ve terinary Hospt i a l

during the yea r s 1 9 7 4 to 1 9 7 8, a c c o r d ing to s e a son

The breed and a ge of she ep w i th foo t ab s ce s s a dmi t te d t o the Ve t e r inary Ho spi t a l

The d i s t r ibu t ion o f the d i g i t a f fe c ted w i th foo t ab s c e s s amongs t sheep admi t ted

t o the Ve t e r inary Ho spi t a l

1 s o l a t i on� o f FU..6obac.tvr..Wm ne.CJz.ophMu.m and COJtyne.ba.c.tvr.-i.um pyoge.ne..J.> from sheep w.i th foo t ab s c e s s

The o c currence o f new c a s e s o f l amene s s i n re l a t ion t o the da i ly ra infa l l and managemen t proc e dur e s

The o c c urrence o f l amene s s a s s o c i a te d w i th n e c r o s i s and ero s�on o f the

in terd i g i t a l s k in

The r e a c t ion t o the inocu l a t ion o f FU..6oba.c.tvr.-i.u.m ne.CJz.ophOJtu.m ·or gani sms in t o

the d i s t a l inte rpha langea l j o int o f sheep

(Vi )

27

28 28

29

30 3 1

32

60

60

61

65

85

8 7

1 0 7

Tab l e 6 . 1 1

6 . 1 1 1

7 . 1

7 . 1 1

7 . 1 1 1 7 . 1V 7 . V

The reac t ion to the inocu l a t ion o f

CoJr.yne.ba.c.tvr.-Wm pyoge.ne..-6 or gan i sms into the d i s t a l in t e rpha l ange a l j o i n t of sheep . Th e reac t ion to the inocu l a t ion o f a mixture o f F�oba.c.te.Jr.-<.um ne.CAophOJr.um and

COJr.yne.ba.c.tvr.-Wm pyoge.ne..-6 organi sms in to the d i s t a l in terpha l ang e a l j o in t o f shee p . The s chedu l e s o f t r e a tmen t s u s ed to a s s e s s me thod s of i n t e r d i g i ta l t i s su e damage

The d i g i t s tha t deve loped infe c t ion 1n the d i s ta l i n t e rpha l angea l j oint

fol lowing l iq u i d n i trogen trea tmen t The s i te o f app l i c a t ion o f l i quid n i t rogen

S ch e du l e s o f t r e a tmen t s u s e d to r eproduce foo t ab s c e s s

Reproduc t ion o f foo t a b s c e s s fol low ing l i qu i d ni t rogen d ama ge to the in t e r ­ d i g i ta l t i s sue s .

( Vi i )

1 1 4

1 2 3

1 39

1 4 2

1 54

1 5 4

1 5 7 .

F igure 2 . 1 2 . 2

3 . l a

3 . l b and c

3 . 2 a b and ^c

3 . 3

3 . 4

3 . 5

3 . 6

4 . la and b

4 . 2a and b

LIST OF FIGURES

Foo t ab s c e s s survey

' Ve terinary re g i ons ' o f the New Z e a l and Min i s try o f Ag i cu l ture and F i sheri e s The d i g i t o f a Romney ewe , rad iographe d imme d i a t e l y

f o l l owing the injec t ion o f 0 . 75m l o f meglumine l o tha l ama te in to the dors al pouch o f the d i s t a l int er­

pha l ange a l j o i n t

Th e digi t o f a Romney ewe , rad i o­

�raphed imme d i a te ly f o l l owin� the 1nj e c t ion of O . Sml o f me glum1ne l o tha l ama te into b) the vo l ar pouch and c ) the dors a l pouch o f the d i s tal interpha l ange al j o in t . The s eria l d i s s ec t i on o f the ax i a l a s p e c t o f a sheeps di g i t , f o l lowing the inj e c t ion o f l a tex into the d i s ta l interph a l angea l j o in t

D i s s e c t ion o f the axia l aspe c t o f the l e f t fore l a t era l d i gi t o f a Romney ewe .

S e s amo idean l i gamen t s o f the d i s ta l int erpha l ange a l jo int o f sheep

( abax i a l a s p e c t )

S e s amo idean l i gamen t s o f the d i s ta l i n t erph a l angea l j o in t o f sheep

( vo l ar a s p ec t )

Dors a l and c o l l a te ra l l i gamen t s o f the d i s t a l in t erpha l angeal j o i n t o f sheep

The two p o s i t i ons o f the foo t and the d i re c t i on o f the X-ray b e am during rad i o l o gy

Th e l e f t fore foo t o f a Perend a l e ram wh i ch h a d deve l o ped foo t ab s c e s s i n the l a tera l d i g i t , pre sumab l y a s a consequence o f overparing o f the hoof by the owner

( ^V i i i )

2 5

2 6

4 3

44

45

4 6

4 7

48

49

5 6

58--

Figure

4 . 3a b and c

4 . 4a and b

4 . 5a and b

4 . 6

4 . 7

4 . 8

4 . 9 a and b

The l e f t fore foo t o f a Perend a l e r am wi th foo t ab s c e s s o f th e

la teral d i g i t . S even days previou s l y pus had been ob s e rved impr i s oned in the l ame l l ar r e g ion o f the toe . The r i gh t h ind foo t o f a Pe renda l e r am a f fe c ted with foo t ab s c e s s in the l a t e r a l d i g i t

The l e f t h ind foo t o f a Chevio t ram w i th foo t abs c e s s of the la t e r a l

d ig i t

The l e f t h ind foo t o f a Perend a l e ram wi th foo t ab s c e s s o f the l a tera l d i gi t .

The l e f t h ind foo t o f a Perend a l e ram wi th foo t ab s c e s s o f the l a t e r a l d i gi t .

The l e f t h ind foo t o f a Perend a l e ram , pho tographed 1 6 days a f t e r foo t abs c e s s was f i r s t no t i c e d .

The l e f t fore foo t o f a Ch evio t ram , pho togr aphed 1 4 days a f ter foo t

ab s c e s s was f i r s t no t i c e d

( i ^X )

5 9

6 6

6 7

68

69

70

71 4 . 1 0a b and c Rad iographs o f the l e f t h ind foo t

4 . 1 1

o f a Perenda l e ram wi th foo t ab s c e s s

o f the l a ter a l d i g it 7 2

Rad i o graph o f the l e f t h ind foot o f a Perend a l e ram w i th foot ab s c e s s of

the l a teral d i g i t 7 3

4 . 1 2 a b c and d Rad io graphs o f the l e f t h ind foo t o f

a Perend a l e ram w i th foot abs c e s s o f

the med i a l d i g i t 7 4

4 . 1 3a b c and d Rad iographs o f the l e f t h ind foo t o f

5 . 1 a and b

a Chev i o t ram wi th foo t ab s c e s s o f

the lateral d i g i t 7 5

Ram hogge ts grouped together 89

5 . 2 a b c d e Pho togr aphs of the interd i g i t a l space f g h and ¹ o f Pe renda l e ram hosge t s a f f e c ted

wi th ovine interdig 1 ta l derma t i t i s 9 0 , 9 1 , 9 2

5 . 3 Rad i o graph o f a sheep ' s foot

af f e c t e d wi th ovine interd i g i t a l

derma t i t i s 9 3

Figure

5 . 4 a b c and d Rad i o graph s o f th e f e e t o f four sheep in wh ich the infe c t ion

a s s o c i a t e d wi th ovine interd i g i ta l derma t i t i s h a d invaded the d e e p er

(X)

t i s s ue s o f the foot 94

6 . l a b c and d The righ t h ind foot of sheep number 4 fo l l owing the

l

8ocu l a t ion o f

approx ima te l y 1 0 FMobac.tVt-W.m

n.evwphoku.m organ i sms in to the d i s t a l interpha l angea l jo in t o f the media l

d i g i t 1 1 0

6 . 2 a and b The righ t h ind foot o f sheep number 5 a) 1 7 d ays and b ) 14 days a f ter th� inocu l a t i on o f a pproxima t e l y 10 1 0 FMobac.tVt-W.m neC}[ophMu.m

organ i sms into the d i s ta l inter­

pha l angea l j o int o f the med i a l d i g i t 1 1 1 6 . 3a b c and d Rad i o graph s o f the righ t h ind foo t

of sheep number 4 fo l l owing the inocu l a t ion o f approx ima tely 1 0 1 0 FMoba.c.tVt.Wm n.ec.Jr.ophMu.m organisms into

the d i s ta l in terpha l ange a l jo int o f

the med i a l d i g i t 11 2

6 . 4a and b The l e f t h ind foo t o f a ) sheep numb e r P . l and b ) sheep numbe r P . 2 , s even days a f ter the inocu l a tion o f approx ima t e l y ⁶ x 1 08 COJtyn.eba.c.tVt-W.m pyogen.e.o organ i sms into the d i s ta l

i n t e rpha l ange a l j o in t o f the med i a l

d i g i t. 11 7

6 . 5 Rad i ograph o f the l e f t h ind foot o f sheep number P . l, nine days a f ter the inocu l a t i on o f approx ima t e l y 6 x 1 08 COJLyn.eba.c.tVt-W.m pyogene.o organ i sms in to

the d i s ta l int erph a l ange a l j o in t o f

the med i a l d i g i t . 1 1 8

6 . 6

6 . 7 a b and c

Rad i ograph o f the l e f t fore foo t

o f sheep number 9 , 1 9 d ays a f ter the ino cu l a t ion o f a pproxima t e l y 4 x 1 0 7 CMyn.eba.c.te}[.Wm pyogene.o organ i sms i n to the

d i s ta l interph a l ange a l j o int o f the

la t era l d i g i t . 1 1 9

The l e f t fore foo t o f sheep number 1 1 fo l l owing the ino§u l a t ion o f approxima t e l y 2 x 1 0 COJtyn.eba.c.tVt-illm pyogene.o organ i sms into the med i a l

d i g i t . 1 20

Figu r e

6 . 8a b c and d

6 . 9a b c d e and f

6 . l Oa b c d e and f

6 . l l a b c d . e and f

6 . 1 2a b c d e and f

7 . 1

7 . 2a b and c 7 . 3

7 . 4a and b

Rad i o graph s o f the l e f t hind foo t o f sheep numb e r 1 0 fo l l owing the

ino cu l a t i on o f approximate l y 2 x 1 09 CMyne.ba.c..:te.Jt-i.u.m pyoge.n...6 organi sms in to

the d i s t a l i n t e r ph a l angea l j o in t o f

(Xi )

the med i a l d i g i t. 121

Gro s s change s of the l e f t h ind foot o f sheep numb e r P . 5 , fol lowing the ino c u l a t i on o f FLWoba.c..:te.Jt-i.u.m ne.CJc.ophoJtu.m and COJr.yne.ba.c..:te.Jt-i.u.m pyoge.ne..-6 or gani sms into the d i s ta l interpha lange a l

j o in t o f the l a t e r a l d i g i t . 1 25 Gro s s change s o f the l e f t h ind foo t

o f sheep numbe r P . 6 , f o l lowing the inoc u l a t i on o f FLWoba.c...tvt,i,u.m ne.CJc.ophO!tu.m and COJz.yne.ba.c..:te.Jtilim pyoge.ne..-6 organi sms into the d i s ta l int erpha lang e a l

j o int o f t h e med ia l d i g i t . 1 26 Rad iograph i ca l l y v i s ib l e change s o f the

l e f t h ind foo t o f sheep numbe r P . 5 , fo l l owing the ino cu l a t ion o f

FLWoba.c..:te.Jtilim ne.CJc.ophOJLu.tll and COJz.yne.ba.c..:te.Jtilim pyoge.n.u o r gani sms into the d i s t a l

interpha l ange al j o int o f the l a t er a l

d i gi t . 1 27

Rad i o graph i c a l ly v i s ib le change s o f the l e f t h ind foo t o f sheep numbe r P . 6 , fol l owing the inocu l a t ion o f

FMoba.c..:te.Jt-i.u.m n.e.CJc.ophoJtu.m and COJz.yne.ba.c..:te.Jt,i,u.m pyoge.nu o rgan i sms in to the d i s t a l

interpha l ange al j o in t o f the med i a l

d i g i t . 1 28

A s e c t ion o f the p en wh i ch wa s covered to a d e p th o f 3 cm w i th a s lu rry o f

we t fae c e s 137

The appl i c a t i o n o f l iqu id n i t r ogen

to the i n t e r d i g i t a l space of s h e e p 1 3 8 The interd i g i t a l spa c e three day s

a f te r l iqu id n i t r ogen had b e en

app l i e d to the i n t er d i g i t a l s k in . 1 44 The i n t e r d i g i tal s p a c e o f two sheep,

e i gh t day s a f t e r l iqu id ni tro gen had been app l i ed to the interd i g i t a l

skin . 1 45

7 . 5a b and c

7 . 6a b and c

7 . 7

7 . 8a b and c

7 . 9a b and c

7 . 1 0a b and c

7 . l la b and c

7 . 1 2a and b

The r i gh t fore foo t o f the sheep number 2, fo l l owing the app l icat i on o f l iqu id n i t ro gen t o the int er­

d i g i tal skin .

Rad iograph s o f the f e e t o f sheep , 27 days a f ter l iqu id ni trogen had b e en app l i e d to the int erd i g i ta l skin

The s i te o f app l i c a t i on of the l iqu id ni trogen

The r i gh t fore foo t o f sheep number 7, a f t e r the app l ic a t i on of l iqu i d ni t r o gen t o the i n t e r­

d i g i tal skin .

The r i gh t h ind foot o f she e p numb er 7 , a f t e r t h e app l i cat ion of l iqu id n i t ro gen to the int e r­

d i g i tal skin .

The r i gh t h ind foo t o f she e p numbe r 6 , a f t e r the app l ications o f

l iguid ni tro gen to the interd i g i tal sk�n

The l e f t h ind foo t o f sheep numbe r 1 6 , a f t e r the app l i cat ion o f

l qiu id n i tro gen to the interd i g i tal skin .

The l e f t h ind foo t o f sheep

number 1 5 , a f ter the app l i ca t i on o f l iqu id n i tro gen to the in terd i g i tal skin .

(Xi i )

146

147 1 52

1 5 9

1 60

1 6 1

1 62

1 63