Infectious lameness among migratory sheep and goats in north-west India, with particular focus on anaerobes

Various bacterial species, particularly Dichelobacter nodosus, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Trueperella pyogenes (previously Arcanobacterium pyogenes) and Treponema spp., have been implicated in infectious conditions manifesting in lameness in sheep and goat populations. The current study reports the causes of infectious lameness in the north-western Himalayan region, particularly Himachal Pradesh (HP), where no such study has been conducted in the past. Among a total surveyed population of 27,586 animals, comprised of 15,006 sheep and 12,580 goats, 216 samples were collected from foot lesions. A total of 6.48% (14/216) samples were positive for D. nodosus, 20.83% (45/216) for F. necrophorum and 20.37% (44/216) for T pyogenes. In three instances, all of the three aforementioned bacteria were present in a single foot lesion. Most of the positive samples were from areas in the state of HP adjoining the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), where footrot is endemic. The confirmation of footrot in HP and the fact that F. necrophorum and T pyogenes were detected from cases of foot/hoof infection in high numbers emphasises thatthese organisms play an important role in inducing morbidity in migratory sheep and goats. The present investigation also confirms the detection of D. nodosus from cases of footrot for the first time from HP. With new reports identifying F. necrophorum as a pathogen with a potential role in aggravating infection caused by footrot, the development of a combined vaccine to prevent lameness in sheep and goats in the north-western Himalayan region has been suggested.