Evaluation of Genotypic and Phenotypic Protease Virulence Tests for Dichelobacter nodosus Infection in Sheep

Evaluation of Genotypic and Phenotypic Protease Virulence Tests for Dichelobacter nodosus Infection in Sheep

Dichelobacter nodosus is a fastidious, strictly anaerobic bacterium, an obligate parasite of the ruminant hoof, and the essential causative agent of virulent ovine footrot. The clinical disease results from a complex interplay between the pathogen, the environment, and the host. Sheep flocks diagnosed with virulent but not benign footrot in Australia may be quarantined and required to undergo a...

nodosus . associated with virulence in Dichelobacter

Twitching motility is essential for virulence in Dichelobacter nodosus.

Type IV fimbriae are essential virulence factors of Dichelobacter nodosus, the principal causative agent of ovine foot rot. The fimA fimbrial subunit gene is required for virulence, but fimA mutants exhibit several phenotypic changes and it is not certain if the effects on virulence result from the loss of type IV fimbria-mediated twitching motility, cell adherence, or reduced protease secretio...

Possible cross-infection of Dichelobacter nodosus between co-grazing sheep and cattle

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate possible cross-infection of Dichelobacter nodosus in Norwegian farms practising co-grazing of sheep and cattle. METHODS Thirteen farms practising co-grazing of sheep and cattle were included in this descriptive study: five farms with a history of severe ovine footrot (Group I) and eight farms with free-stall housing of cattle and signs of mi...

Experimental infection of cattle with ovine Dichelobacter nodosus isolates

BACKGROUND Dichelobacter nodosus is the main causative agent of ovine footrot, and there are strong indications that the bacterium can be transferred to cattle grazing on the same pasture as sheep. The aim of this study was to investigate if benign and virulent D. nodosus strains isolated from sheep can be transferred to the interdigital skin of cattle under experimental conditions. Further, we...