Which bacteria are commonly implicated in bovine footrot?

Which bacteria are commonly implicated in bovine footrot?

• A. Fusobacterium necrophorum, Bacteroides nodosus
• B. Staphylococcus aureus
• C. Escherichia coli
• D. Pasteurella multocida

Answer: (A)

Bovine footrot is driven mainly by Dichelobacter nodosus, the bacteria that causes the infection in the interdigital skin by producing enzymes that degrade hoof keratin. Bacteroides nodosus is simply the former name for the same organism, so a combination listing Fusobacterium necrophorum with Bacteroides nodosus reflects the usual two-manufactured microbial presence: the primary pathogen is Dichelobacter nodosus and Fusobacterium necrophorum is often found as a secondary invader that can worsen lesions and disease severity. The other bacteria listed are not typically implicated in footrot—Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pasteurella multocida are associated with other cattle infections rather than this hoof disease.

Bovine footrot is driven mainly by Dichelobacter nodosus, the bacteria that causes the infection in the interdigital skin by producing enzymes that degrade hoof keratin. Bacteroides nodosus is simply the former name for the same organism, so a combination listing Fusobacterium necrophorum with Bacteroides nodosus reflects the usual two-manufactured microbial presence: the primary pathogen is Dichelobacter nodosus and Fusobacterium necrophorum is often found as a secondary invader that can worsen lesions and disease severity. The other bacteria listed are not typically implicated in footrot—Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pasteurella multocida are associated with other cattle infections rather than this hoof disease.