Survival of contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD)-associated treponemes on disposable gloves after handling CODD-affected feet

Context Contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) is related to bovine digital dermatitis, both being strongly associated with the pathogenic treponemes: Treponema medium, Treponema phagedenis and Treponema pedis. Other Treponema species-associated diseases with distinct clinical presentations have also been identified in goats and wild elk. In sheep, other causes of infectious lameness are also common, with footrot (caused by Dichelobacter nodosus) being shown to be strongly associated with CODD. CODD is now common in the UK with approximately 50 per cent of farms affected. A recent study isolated the treponemes from knives used for hoof trimming infected cattle and sheep, and while contact between animals is considered the most likely route of transmission, this has raised the issue that manual transmission by people could be possible. When inspecting or treating infected feet, wearing gloves is a reasonable personal hygiene and biosecurity measure, therefore this study aimed to investigate the potential to transmit CODD-associated Treponema species via gloves used when handling clinically affected animals.