Effectiveness of various non-antibiotic topical products for the treatment of digital dermatitis as an alternative to tetracycline.

Digital dermatitis is a highly contagious hoof disease in dairy herds. If left untreated it often results in severe lameness, and is highly contagious between animals. In Québec, a recent study showed that 64% of the participating herds had at least one case of digital dermatitis with prevalence variations from 0 to 84% in herds. Initially, treatment was performed with antibiotics, but currently, non-antibiotic products are sought, considering residues in milk and animal products, and the resistance to some antibiotics. Different topical products are currently available in Québec for the treatment and/or control of digital dermatitis. Most of those products are the results of the empirical experience of users. The topical application of the antibiotic’s tetracycline has been demonstrated to be effective for treating digital dermatitis and is generally considered as the gold standard treatment. However, the use of this antibiotic is limited to avoid contamination of the milk and this is an extra label use of tetracycline. The main objective of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of various non-antibiotic topical products for the curative treatment of digital dermatitis as an alternative to the current antibiotic treatment used.

Faculty Supervisor:

André Desrochers

Student:

Partner:

Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio de Mesquita Filho"

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture and Food; Sustainability & the Environment

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: