Leukocyte profile of cattle with purulent pododermatitis

Abstract

The problem of hoof disease in dairy cattle has increased in recent years, which has a negative impact on the economic situation at dairy complexes. Animal excretion due to hoof disease has increased from 3% to 6% over the last 20 years. Pododermatitis is one of the most common pathologies in the area of fingers in cows. Purulent podo-dermatitis is one of the most common and acute pathologies causing lameness in cows of dairy herd, associated with abnormal animal behavior and impaired quality and dairy productivity. This pathology is caused by unsatisfactory animal housing conditions, poor orthopaedic measures of trimming the hooves in cows and the lack of timely removal of manure, as well as the absence of active motility. As a result of the impact of etiological factors, inflammatory processes are developing in the underlying sole area around the hoof with possible subsequent ulceration and a progressive purulent-necrotic process. However, unsufficient number of research has been done ,answering the question “how lameness caused by purulent pododermatitis affects the cow as a whole”. In our study were compared the hematological and leukocyte profile of dairy cows with purulent pododermatitis in comparison to healthy cows of the control group. A total of 40 dairy cows were examined: 30 cows with severe clinical lameness participated in the study, were diagnosed with purulent podo-dermatitis and in control group - were 10 cows with no clinical movement disorders, good activity, productivity and weight. Blood samples were taken from all 40 cows within 24 hours of the diagnosis of purulent pododermatitis and on the 3rd, 7th, 12th day of treatment as well as after convalescence. The number of white blood cells was obtained using an automatic hematology analyzer.