A survey of dermatophilosis in Israeli dairy cattle

In Israel, dermatophilosis was found to inflict severe lesions, especially in first-calving cows during the first weeks post-parturition. Decreased milk production (by 40% on average) was also noted. Acute exudative dermatitis was observed in these animals. Severely reacting animals (570 in 38 kibbutz herds and 15 animals in 4 family herds) were treated with antibiotics. All these animals also suffered either from endometritis/metritis or mastitis. The "tumoral" form of dermatophilosis was observed on 3-week-old or younger calves. Dermatophilosis was especially prevalent (89.4%) in dairy herds in which intensive showering of lactating cows is practised during the spring and summer months, in comparison to the family herds where the morbidity rate was lower (6.6%). Morbidity rates were found to be higher in the humid Mediterranean Coastal Plain (66.3%) than in the arid or semi-arid regions (Negev and Arava Valley) of Southern Israel (3.7%). Five clinical forms of dermatophilosis and the epizootiological aspects of the disease in Israeli dairy herds are described. It is concluded that a reduction in the prevalence of dermatophilosis could be achieved by decreasing the frequency and the intensity of showering currently applied under the kibbutz management system.