Screening stable flies and house flies as potential vectors of digital dermatitis in dairy cattle

Digital dermatitis is a bacterial infection that causes lesions above the heel bulbs on cattle hooves, and several bacterial species from the genus Treponema are suspected to be causative agents of this polymicrobial condition. Transmission of the bacteria to healthy cows is understudied, particularly with regard to potential insect vectors. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine if flies captured from a dairy farm known to have digital dermatitis are contaminated with Treponema bacteria. The DNA-based assays did not detect any Treponema phagedenis from stable flies and house flies collected at a dairy experiencing an outbreak of digital dermatitis. Other potential means of bacterial transmission are discussed.

Automated summary

Digital dermatitis is a bacterial infection affecting cattle hooves, with Treponema species suspected as causative agents. This research aimed to investigate if flies captured from a dairy farm with digital dermatitis were contaminated with Treponema bacteria, but DNA-based assays did not detect any contamination. Other potential means of bacterial transmission were also discussed.