I. DEMIRKAN, R. L. WALKER*, R. D. MURRAY, R. W. BLOWEYâ and S. D. CARTER. Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, and ...
The Veterinary Journal 1999, 157, 69–77
Serological Evidence of Spirochaetal Infections Associated with Digital Dermatitis in Dairy Cattle I. DEMIRKAN, R. L. WALKER*, R. D. MURRAY, R. W. BLOWEY† and S. D. CARTER Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, and Department of Veterinary Pathology, Liverpool University, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral, L64 7TE, UK; *California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; †Wood Veterinary Group, St. Oswald’s Road, Gloucester, GL1 2SJ, UK
SUMMARY A potentially infectious aetiology for digital dermatitis in dairy cattle was investigated and centred on the possible involvement of spirochaetes. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect bovine anti-Borrelia burgdorferi (B31) and anti-Treponeme (USA bovine isolates) antibodies in the sera of cows; sera were further tested for antigen specificity by Western blotting. Compared to normal cows, those with digital dermatitis had a much higher seropositivity rate to B. burgdorferi and the treponemes. Significant correlations were shown between antibodies to B. burgdorferi and to Treponemes (P
