Volume 59 (2009) Issue: 2009 No#4

Study on the effectiveness of topical application of antiseptics in the therapy of digital dermatitis in diary cattle

Author(s): Stevančević M, Toholj B, Lako B, Potkonjak A, Kuljača V

Keywords:claw disorders, digital dermatitis, antiseptics

Digital dermatitis (DD) in cattle is an infectious skin disease of the plantar side of the interdigital space. The causative agents are bacteria from the genus Troponema. Pathomorphologically DD is defined as a combination of ulcerative and proliferative changes which reach down to the dermal papillae and stick out from the ulcerous surface. In order for DD to develop, beside the infective agent, predisposing factors such as wet and unclean floors are required. Treatment of this disorder is possible with the application of antibiotics and/or antiseptic solutions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of topical application of antiseptics in the therapy of DD lesions in affected diary cattle. The applied antiseptic solutions were: copper sulfate (8%), zinc sulfate (8%), formalin (8%), and peracetic acid (3%). The treatment was carried out daily during the first seven days, thereon every second day for a total of 30 days. Chlortetracycline was used as the positive control and saline solution was applied as the negative control. By estimation of the presence, size and painfulness of the DD lesions we have established that zinc sulfate had the best curative effect when compared to other antiseptics.