Sole Erosion Research Articles

Surgico-therapeutic management of hoof affections in goats

A study was conducted to evaluate the incidence and efficacy of two treatment protocols for hoof affections in goats. A total of 129 goats from organised farms located in and around Akola city and cases presented in Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, PGIVAS, Akola (Maharashtra) were screened for hoof affections. The overall incidence of hoof affection was 52.7% with predominance (35.29%) of sole erosion. Depending on the severity of the lesions, 20 goats were included in the present study and divided into two equal groups. Goats from group T, were subjected to corrective hoof trimming using manually operated hoof trimmer and local application of Abrus precatorius ointment, whereas, goats from group T2were subjected to hoof trimming, footbath with 10% zinc sulphate, parenteral administration of non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and antibiotics (enrofloxacin). It was observed that recovery of goats from group T2 was faster and better than T. Thus, it can be concluded that hoof affections in goats can be clinically managed successfully with hoof trimming, footbath with 10% zinc sulphate, parenteral administration of NSAID and antibiotics.

Prevalence of foot diseases in cattle in two dairy farms

The prevalence of claw affections was investigated in 602 cattle in two organized dairy farms during June 2010 to May 2011. Of these cattle 176 were from Bangladesh Agricultural University Dairy Farm (BAUDF) and 426 were from Central Cattle Breeding Station and Dairy Farm (CCBSDF). These animals were studied under 6 groups: calf, heifer, pregnant cow, lactating cow, dry cow and breeding bull. Out of 426 cattle in CCBSDF, 85 animals were affected with various claw affections, the prevalence being 19.95%. The prevalence in BAUDF was 22.72%. Claw affections causing lameness comprised sole ulcer (3.82%), heel erosion (2.49%), interdigital necrobacillosis (2.15%), sand crack (1.82%), hoof overgrowth (3.32%) and white line disease (2.32%). The prevalence of lameness in BAUDF was 13.06% and that in CCBSDF was 11.50%. Sole ulcer (3.82%) was predominantly associated with lameness in both farms while the lowest prevalence of lameness was encountered with interdigital dermatitis (1.39%). The lowest prevalence of lameness was observed in calves in both BAUDF (0.56%) and CCBSDF (0.93%). Pregnant cows were the most vulnerable to claw diseases and manifested lameness of varying degrees. Hind limbs were more frequently affected with claw affections than fore limbs. Animals of over 5 years were mostly affected with foot diseases. Breeding bulls showed 2.27% prevalence of lameness in BAUDF and 1.87% CCBSDF. Among various affections sole ulcer ranked the highest in both the farms. Sand crack and interdigital necrobacillosis registered the lowest prevalence in BAUDF and interdigital dermatitis was the lowest in CCBSDF. Sole ulcer ranked the highest among all claw affections. Pregnant cow were more vulnerable to lameness. Hind limbs were frequently affected with various lesions than the forelimbs.Res. Agric. Livest. Fish.4(3): 193-199, December 2017

A cross-sectional study on the prevalence and risk factors for foot and limb lesions in piglets on commercial farms in Ireland

A cross-sectional survey of 68 integrated Irish pig farms was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for foot and limb lesions in 2948 piglets from 272 litters. One litter was selected per age category; 3–7 days, 8–14 days, 15–21 days and 22–28 days per farm. All piglets were examined for sole bruising, sole erosion, coronary band injuries, limb abrasions, alopecia, swollen limbs and swollen feet and scored from 0 to 3 based on relative size. Environmental parameters were recorded for each litter examined. A questionnaire was completed on management, health and performance factors for each farm. The overall prevalence of each lesion was calculated and multilevel mixed effect logistic regression models were used to elucidate risk factors. The prevalence (farm range) of lesions were: sole bruising=61.5% (7–100%), sole erosion=34.1% (0–100%), coronary band injuries=11.3% (0–46%), limb abrasions=55.7% (11–98%), alopecia=24.8% (0–83%), swollen limbs=2.4% (0–11%) and swollen feet=4.4% (0–14%). Age was negatively associated with sole bruising (OR 0.42; CI 0.37, 0.50) and coronary band injury (OR 0.69; CI 0.60, 0.81) and positively associated with limb abrasions (OR 1.54; CI 1.12, 2.14). There was a reduced risk of sole bruising in piglets in pens with plastic slats with oval voids in the piglet area of the pen with a plastic solid area for piglets and metal slats under the crate (OR 0.32; CI 0.15, 0.70) compared with plastic stats throughout and a plastic solid area for piglets. There was an increased risk of sole erosion (OR 1.81; CI 1.07, 3.09) and foot and limb swellings (OR 1.90; CI 1.01, 3.57) in pigs in pens with metal slats only and a solid plastic area for piglets compared with plastic stats throughout and a solid plastic area for piglets. There was an increased risk of coronary band injury in pens with metal slats throughout and a metal solid area for piglets (OR 4.25; CI 1.96, 3.57) compared with plastic stats throughout and a plastic solid area for piglets. We conclude no single floor type was ideal for piglet foot and limb health with all floors influencing different lesions in different ways, however, the positive association between sole erosions, coronary band injury and foot and limb swellings and metal slats suggest that this floor type was most detrimental and most likely to be associated with joint infections that lead to severe health and welfare concerns.

Promene načina korišćenja zemljišta na području Grdeličke klisure u periodu 1963-2011

A land use is the sole erosion factor that can be controlled and governed by man. Since an inadequate land use can cause intensification of erosive processes, it is possible to reduce their intensity by its change. The paper presents the changes in land use in the region of Grdelica Gorge in the period between 1963 and 2011 and the impact of the changes on the intensity of erosive processes. The identification of wooded land, arable land, meadows, pastures, orchards, vineyards and infertile land performed in 2011 was based on field works and the analysis of high-resolution satellite images. The comparison of the obtained results with the data for 1963 proved that the categories of barren land, forest, meadow and pasture underwent most intensive changes. The above-mentioned changes, along with performance of biological and technical works, resulted in reduction of intensity of erosive processes in the observed period.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DAS AFECÇÕES PODAIS EM REBANHO DE GADO HOLANDÊS CONFINADO

Due to high prevalence and incidence of lameness disorders in dairy cattle, many research studies have been carried out in this area, and some authors concluded that they constitute the third most important cause of discard in herds. Bovine hoof affections lead to a 5-20% decrease in milk production and losses caused by secondary diseases may also occur. This study characterizes podal diseases in cattle with locomotor disorders that were reared under a freestall barn breeding system in a milk farm. A total of 66 Holstein cows of different age groups and lactation periods were evaluated. They all showed some kind of lameness. Assessment of locomotor problems aimed to identify incidence of lesions and areas affected, such as fore and hind limbs and lateral and medial claws. White line disease was the most common problem (26,3%). Other disorders included heel ulcer (20,7%), sole erosion (14,6%), interdigital dermatitis (13,6%), sole hemorrhage (8,1%), septic pododermatitis (8,1%), double sole (6,1%), interdigital hyperplasia (2,0%), and toe ulcer (0,5%). The foot conditions were found to affect hind limbs in 69,3% of the cases, and fore limbs in 30,7%. A total of 58,1% of claw problems occurred in the lateral claw and 41,9% in the medial claw.

Prognostic indicators and the importance of trimming in noninfective claw disorders in cattle

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 32 smallholder dairy farms in Nairobi and its environs, in which 300 cows were examined for claw disorders. The objective was to evaluate characteristics of claw disorders in dairy cows in smallholder production units in Nairobi and its environs. After a purposive selection of the farms and a systematic sampling of the cows, hind limb claws of all the 300 cows were examined for disorders. Thorough washing and trimming of the claws were done. Claw disorders that were chronic in nature were the most destructive and incorrigible by claw trimming. Apart from chronic nature of the disorders, other prognostic indicators were the laminitic features of claw damage which mainly included invasive erosions of the horn leading to excessively thinned sole, excessively softened and crumbling horn of the sole, widespread penetrating sole haemorrhages and crookedly shaped claws. These features of chronic laminitis occurred concurrently with heel or sole erosion, white line separation, sole ulcers, horizontal hoof wall fissures and double soles. In most smallholder farms, cows with these disorders were neglected to the extent that trimming was inadequately corrective. Regular claw examination and corrective trimming should be adopted as routine procedures in dairy cow production.

A cross sectional study of prevalence, risk factors, population attributable fractions and pathology for foot and limb lesions in preweaning piglets on commercial farms in England.

BackgroundIn a cross sectional study of 88 indoor and outdoor English pig farms, the prevalence of foot and limb lesions in 2843 preweaning piglets aged 1–4 weeks from 304 litters was recorded. The environmental risks for the prevalence of lesions and population attributable fractions were calculated. The risks for lesions in piglets were compared with those for limb and body lesions in their mothers. A small number of piglets with each type of lesion were examined post mortem to elucidate the pathology of the clinical lesions observed.ResultsThe prevalence of sole bruising, sole erosion, skin abrasion and swollen joints or claws in 2843 piglets was 49.4% (1404), 15.5% (441), 43.6% (1240) and 4.7% (143) respectively. The prevalence of all foot and limb lesions was higher in indoor housed piglets than in outdoor housed piglets. The prevalence of sole bruising (OR 0.3) and skin abrasion (OR 0.6) decreased with each week of age from 1–4 weeks, but there was no significant association between piglet age and the prevalence of sole erosion or swollen joints and claws. There was an increased prevalence of sole bruising (OR 3.0) and swollen joints or claws (OR 3.0) and a decreased prevalence of skin abrasion (OR 0.3, piglets ≤ 1-week old), in piglets housed on slatted floors, compared with those on solid concrete floors with bedding. There was an increased risk of sole erosion associated with piglets housed on partly slatted floors with no bedding (OR 2.4) and partly slatted floors with small amounts of bedding (OR 2.9) compared with piglets housed on solid concrete floors with bedding in all areas of the pen. Post mortem examination of feet with lesions indicated that internal pathological changes were frequently more severe than the degree of external damage suggested.ConclusionPiglets housed outdoors had a very low prevalence of foot and limb injuries. Indoors, no one floor type was ideal to minimise all piglet foot and limb injuries and the flooring requirements of sows differed from those of piglets.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma with skull base invasion: a necessity of staging subdivision

Purpose To investigate prognostic values of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with skull base invasion for optimal management, according to its extent of involvement. Methods From January 1985 through December 2000, 119 patients with histologically proven NPC were analyzed retrospectively with review of their computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging and medical records. All patients underwent sequential chemoradiotherapy except 2 cases, which were treated concurrently. The mean duration of follow-up was 61 months (range 8–179). Potential prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses by the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox model, with a particular emphasis on the extent of skull base invasion. Results Skull base invasion was found in 46 (38.6%) of 119 patients. Cranial nerve palsy and intracranial extension was discovered in 34 (28.6%) and 23 (19.3%) of these patients, respectively. The sole erosion of the skull base was not found to be a poor prognostic factor. Patients with involvement of both anterior (I-VIII) and posterior (IX-XII) cranial nerves had a worse prognosis than those with involvement of either anterior or posterior cranial nerves ( P = 0.0219). The presence of intracranial extension was the worst prognostic factor in NPC with skull base invasion ( P = 0.0269). The advanced neck stage and histology did not affect the prognosis of NPC in the presence of skull base invasion. Conclusion Our results show that NPC with skull base invasion should be divided into the groups with, simple skull base erosion, minimal involvement of either anterior or posterior cranial nerves, multiple involvements of both cranial nerves, and intracranial extension.

Incidence of foot and skin lesions in nursing piglets and their association with behavioural activities

A total of 356 piglets from one farm were examined for foot and skin lesions every day for the first 10 days after birth, and then on altemate days until...

Foot lesions in finishing pigs and their associations with the type of floor

The associations between individual foot lesions and different types of floor were investigated in 4038 finishing pigs on 21 units. The overall prevalence of foot lesions was 93.8 per cent...

Prevalence and distribution of foot lesions in finishing pigs in south-west England

This paper gives the first estimate of the prevalence and distribution of foot lesions in finishing pigs in the south-west of England for 33 years. It was based on the...