Digital dermatitis
A bacterial disease causing lameness and warty lesions in cattle.
Digital dermatitis is a polymicrobial disease causing lameness in cattle, first discovered in Italy in 1974 by Cheli and Mortellaro. It primarily affects dairy cattle, lowering milk quantity but not quality, and is distinct from foot rot, though both may occur concurrently.
- discovered
- 1974
- discoverers
- Cheli and Mortellaro
- primary_host
- Dairy cattle
- causative_agents
- Anaerobic bacteria, including Treponema spirochetes
- synonyms
- Hairy heel warts, Strawberry foot rot, Mortellaro disease, Italian foot rot, Papillomatous digital dermatitis
- key_risk_factors
- Poor hygiene, high humidity, infected animals, no hoof care, unbalanced nutrition
Lore & Background
Digital dermatitis manifests as raw, red oval ulcers on the back of the heel, which develop raised, hair-like projections or wart-like lesions. These may extend between the claws or appear on the front of the foot. The disease is caused by a mixture of bacteria, with Treponema spirochetes being the most common, though their prevalence in chronic lesions varies widely across studies (often cited between 40–90%).
Reader's Guide
Digital dermatitis is a significant cause of lameness in dairy cattle, leading to reduced milk production. Diagnosis relies on clinical signs and history, using the M-stages system (M0 to M4) developed by Mortellaro. Treatment involves topical oxytetracycline, though bandaging may worsen conditions by creating an anaerobic environment. Control emphasizes prompt detection, isolation, and footbaths with formalin, copper sulfate, or thymol-based disinfectants. Copper sulfate is more effective for prevention than treatment. The disease's polymicrobial nature and chronicity pose ongoing management challenges in dairy operations.
Did You Know?
- Digital dermatitis was first discovered in Italy in 1974 by Cheli and Mortellaro.
- Treponema spirochetes are a key component of the polymicrobial infection, but their proportion in chronic lesions varies widely across studies (often 40–90%).
- Copper sulfate footbaths are more effective as a prevention method than as a treatment.
- Bandaging is typically used to protect lesions and apply topical treatments, not to create an anaerobic environment that supports spirochetes.
More in Bovine diseases 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record