A proliferative dermatitis similar to the condition generally referred to as strawberry footrot was observed in two Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) from Eastern Alps, Italy. Branching septated filaments and packets of PAS-positive coccoid organisms were observed in histological sections of the affected skin. The actinomycete, Dermatophilus congolensis, was isolated from crusted lesions in ...

In the present study ovine footrot was detected clinically on a sheep farm in the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir. Dichelobacter nodosus was confirmed by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using species-specific 16S ribosomal RNA primers. When cultured, the organism appeared as flat colourless colonies having a fine granulated structure with irregular margins, and showing characte...

Type IV fimbriae are expressed by several bacterial pathogens and are essential for virulence in Dichelobacter nodosus, which causes ovine footrot. We have identified a two-component signal transduction system (PilR/S) and an alternative sigma factor (sigma 54) that were shown by insertional inactivation to be required for the regulation of fimbrial biogenesis in D. nodosus. Western blots showe...

Footrot is a widespread, infectious cause of lameness in sheep, with major economic and welfare costs. The aims of this research were: (i) to quantify how veterinary surgeons' beliefs regarding the efficacy of two treatments for footrot changed following a review of the evidence (ii) to obtain a consensus opinion following group discussions (iii) to capture complementary qualitative data to pla...

Skin infection studies are often limited by financial and ethical constraints, and alternatives, such as monolayer cell culture, do not reflect many cellular processes limiting their application. For a more functional replacement, 3D skin culture models offer many advantages such as the maintenance of the tissue structure and the cell types present in the host environment. A 3D skin culture mod...