Pathogenesis and efficacy of therapeutic and preventive measures for associated bacterial infections of the distal limbs in dairy cows
Abstract
The alarming prevalence of distal limb disorders in dairy cows has become one of the most pressing issues in mo d ern dairy farming. A decline in milk production, reduced welfare, shorter reproductive lifespans, and significant ec o nomic losses accompany these disorders. Research aimed at determining the effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive measures as the basis for ensuring stable herd productivity is a priority in addressing this problem. Based on the results obtained, specific elements of a comprehensive system for monitoring welfare and implementing preventive and ther a peutic measures have been substantiated. The proposed regimen involved three applications of hoof baths with a 0.5% solution of the drug "Septiflex", containing a chelated form of copper, at 14-day intervals. This approach facilitated the clinical recovery of 95% of the animals, restoring their milk production and live weight to the levels recorded before the onset of the disease. Three applications of a 0.5% solution of "Intra Hoof-Fit"- a preparation based on copper and zinc chelates – administered at 12-day intervals also resulted in the recovery of 95% of the animals. At the same time, the average daily milk yield and live weight in these cows remained 7.4% and 3.0% lower, respectively, compared to bas e line levels, indicating incomplete recovery of their functional status. The inclusion of the antibiotic "Kocefen 200" in the treatment regimen from the very first day of treatment demonstrated the absence of toxic effects on milk, confirming its safety and suitability for use in veterinary practice without risks to product quality. During the 90 days following trea t ment completion, no recurrences of associated bacterial infections of the distal limbs were recorded in any experimental group, indicating a sustained therapeutic effect of the administered drugs and the efficacy of the proposed regimens.References
Adams, A. E., Lombard, J. E., Fossler, C. P., Román-Muñiz, I. N., & Kopral, C. A. (2017). Associations between housing and management practices and the prevalence of lameness, hock lesions, and thin cows on US dairy operations. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(3), 2119–2136.
Afonso, J. S., Bruce, M., Keating, P., Raboisson, D., Clough, H., Oikonomou, G., & Rushton, J. (2020). Profiling detection and classification of lameness methods in British dairy cattle research: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 542.
Aliiev, E. B., Paliy, A. P., Korkh, O. V., Mykytiuk, V. V., Petrov, R. V., Stockiy, O. G., Levchenko, I. V., & Rudnytskyi, E. V. (2024). Assessing cows' mobility to determine their comfort state. Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems, 15(2), 259–266.
Alvergnas, M., Strabel, T., Rzewuska, K., & Sell-Kubiak, E. (2019). Claw disorders in dairy cattle: Effects on production, welfare and farm economics with possible prevention methods. Livestock Science, 222, 54–64.
Bach, K., Nielsen, S. S., & Capion, N. (2021). Changes in the soft-tissue thickness of the claw sole in Holstein heifers around calving. Journal of Dairy Science, 104(4), 4837–4846.
Bay, V., Gillespie, A., Ganda, E., Evans, N. J., Carter, S. D., Lenzi, L., Lucaci, A., Haldenby, S., Barden, M., Griffiths, B. E., Sánchez-Molano, E., Bicalho, R., Banos, G., Darby, A., & Oikonomou, G. (2023). The bovine foot skin microbiota is associated with host genotype and the development of infectious digital dermatitis lesions. Microbiome, 11, 4,
Blackie, N., & Maclaurin, L. (2019). Influence of lameness on the lying behaviour of zero-grazed lactating Jersey dairy cattle housed in straw yards. Animals, 9(10), 829.
Browne, N., Hudson, C. D., Crossley, R. E., Sugrue, K., Huxley, J. N., & Conneely, M. (2022a). Hoof lesions in partly housed pasture-based dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 105(11), 9038–9053.
Browne, N., Hudson, C. D., Crossley, R. E., Sugrue, K., Kennedy, E., Huxley, J. N., & Conneely, M. (2022b). Cow-and herd-level risk factors for lameness in partly housed pasture-based dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 105(2), 1418–1431.
Browne, N., Hudson, C. D., Crossley, R. E., Sugrue, K., Kennedy, E., Huxley, J. N., & Conneely, M. (2022с). Lameness prevalence and management practices on Irish pasture-based dairy farms. Irish Veterinary Journal, 75, 14.
Charfeddine, N., & Pérez-Cabal, M. A. (2017). Effect of claw disorders on milk production, fertility, and longevity, and their economic impact in Spanish Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 100, 653–665.
Crossley, R. E., Bokkers, E. A., Browne, N., Sugrue, K., Kennedy, E., de Boer, I. J., & Conneely, M. (2021). Assessing dairy cow welfare during the grazing and housing periods on spring-calving, pasture-based dairy farms. Journal of Animal Science, 99(5), skab093.
Daros, R. R., Eriksson, H. K., Weazry, D. M., & VonKeyserlingk, M. A. G. (2019). Lameness during the dry period: Epidemiology and associated factors. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(12), 11414–11427.
Dashko, D. V. (2021). Treatment of purulo-necrotic pathology complicated by associated bacterial microflora in the hoof area in cows. E3S Web of Conferences, 254, 09015.
Espiritu, H. M., Kwon, S. W., Lee, S. S., & Cho, Y. I. (2025). Surveillance of hoof disorders in Korean dairy cattle and the correlation of farm condition risk factors to their prevalence. BMC Veterinary Research, 21(1), 169.
Fabbri, G., Fiore, E., Piccione, G., Giudice, E., Gianesella, M., Morgante, M., Armato, L., Bonato, O., Giambelluca, S., & Arfuso, F. (2020). Detection of digital and interdigital dermatitis in Holstein Friesian dairy cows by means of infrared thermography. Large Animal Review, 26(3), 113–116.
Faverdin, P., Guyomard, H., Puillet, L., & Forslund, A. (2022). Animal board invited review: Specialising and intensifying cattle production for better efficiency and less global warming: contrasting results for milk and meat co-production at different scales. Animal, 16(1), 100431.
Franchino, C., Vita, V., Iammarino, M., & De Pace, R. (2024). Monitoring of animal feed contamination by mycotoxins: Results of five years of official control by an accredited Italian laboratory. Microorganisms, 12(1), 173.
French, J. E., Matson, R. D., Thomason, J. J., Wright, T. C., & Osborne, V. R. (2023). Dairy cow hoof impact and slide measurements for common Ontario dairy farm floorings. Journal of Dairy Science, 106(5), 3477–3492.
Führer, G., Osová, A. M., Vogl, C., & Kofler, J. (2019). Revalence of thin soles in the hind limbs of dairy cows housed on fully-floored vs. partially-floored mastic asphalt areas in Austria. The Veterinary Journal, 254, 105409.
Garvey, M. (2022). Lameness in dairy cow herds: Disease aetiology, prevention and management. Dairy, 3, 199–210.
Guo, J., Mu, R., Li, S., Zhang, N., Fu, Y., & Hu, X. (2021). Characterization of the bacterial community of rumen in dairy cows with laminitis. Genes, 12(12), 1996.
Hassani, R., & Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh, N. (2025). Metabolic disorders are genetically correlated with the production and reproductive performance of dairy cows: A meta-analysis. Journal of Dairy Research, 92(2), 174–184.
Hisira, V., Slovák, P., Marčeková, P., Kadaši, M., & Mudroň, P. (2020). Assessment of udder health in lame cows. Acta Veterinaria Brno, 89(2), 133–140.
Holzhauer, M., Kalsbeek, S., & Frankena, K. (2024). Evaluation of selected risk factors for different stages of digital dermatitis in Dutch dairy cows. The Veterinary Journal, 304, 106086.
Kaneko, J. J., Harvey, J. W., & Bruss, M. L. (2008). Clinical biochemistry of domestic animals. 6th ed. Academic Press.
Khomyn, N. M., Mysak, A. R., Iglitskej, I. I., & Pritsak, V. V. (2017). Poshyrenist’ ta prychyny vynyknennia khvorob kopytets’ u koriv [Prevalance and causes of occurrence of diseases in cows hooves]. Scientific Messenger of Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies named after S. Z. Gzhytskyj, 19(77), 22–26 (in Ukrainian).
Khomyn, N. M., Mysak, A. R., Tsisinska, S. V., & Pritsak, V. V. (2018). Osoblyvosti perebihu hniynoho pododermatytu u khudoby [Features of purulent pododermatitis course in cattle]. Scientific Messenger of Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies, Series: Veterinary Sciences, 20(83), 286–289 (in Ukrainian).
Khulek, M., (2015). Zdorovie kopyt i ukhod za nimi [Health of hooves and care for them]. Agrar Medien Ukraine, Kyiv (in Ukrainian).
Klymas, A., & Syrlyk, M. (2024). Prevalence of hoof diseases in cows. Ukrainian Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 16(1), 88–103.
Kofler, J. (2017). Pathogenesis and treatment of toe lesions in cattle including “Nonhealing” toe lesions. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 33(2), 301–328.
Kučević, D., Hadžić, I., Trivunović, S., Plavšić, M., Pavlović, I., Papović, T., & Gantner, V. (2022). The effect of housing systems on hoof diseases/disorders and percentage of culling in Holstein dairy cows. Veterinarski Arhiv, 92(3), 243–250.
Langova, L., Novotna, I., Nemcova, P., Machacek, M., Havlicek, Z., Zemanova, M., & Chrast, V. (2020). Impact of nutrients on the hoof health in cattle. Animals, 10(10), 1824.
Matias, B. F., Cunha Filho, L. F. C., Rego, F. C. A., Barreto, J. V. P., Reis, L. S., Queiroz, A. T. Z., & Queiroz, G. R. (2020). Prevalence of foot disorders in lactating Jersey cows raised in semi-confinement. Veterinary World, 13(12), 2612–2617.
Matzhold, C., Lasser, J., Egger-Danner, C., Fuerst-Waltl, B., Wittek, T., Kofler, J., Steininger, F., & Klimek, P. (2021). A systematic approach to analyse the impact of farm-profiles on bovine health. Scientific Reports, 11, 21152.
Melnikov, V., Rublenko, M., & Ilnitskyi, M. (2022). Cytokine profiles in healthy animals and in cows with purulent-necrotic limb processes. Naukovyi Visnyk Veterinary Medicine, 2, 111–119.
Michalchenko, S. A., Korkh, I. V., Paliy, A. P., Boiko, N. V., Kovalenko, L. V., Pavlichenko, O. V., Vyrvykyshka, S. M., & Morozov, M. G. (2024). Amino acid composition of beef depending on the breed and age of dairy bulls. International Journal of Agricultural Technology, 20(6), 2405–2422.
Moreira, T. F., Nicolino, R. R., Meneses, R. M., Fonseca, G. V., Rodrigues, L. M., Facury Filho, E. J., & Carvalho, A. U. (2019). Risk factors associated with lameness and hoof lesions in pasture-based dairy cattle systems in southeast Brazil. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(11), 10369–10378.
Mysak, A. R., Lenjo, Y. M., Gutyj, B. V., Krupnyk, Y. G., Tsisinska, S. V., Iglitskyj, I. I., & Dudchak, I. P. (2021). Unhulomikoz velykoyi rohatoyi khudoby: Likuvannya y profilaktychni zakhody [Ungulomycosis of cattle: Treatment and preventive measures]. Scientific Messenger of Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies, Series: Veterinary Sciences, 23(103), 168–178 (in Ukrainian).
Necula, D. C., Simiz, E., Corcionivoschi, N., Balta, I., Nicula Neagu, M., Warren, H. E., Dascălu, C., Solcan, C., Solcan, G., & Ștef, L. (2024). Associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 23(1), 1181–1193.
Ninković, M., Arsić, S., Žutić, J., Zdravković, N., Glišić, D., Sapundžić, Z. Z., & Bojkovski, J. (2021). Frequency of White line disease and Sole ulcers and impact of hoof trimming in the examined herds of Simmental cows. Large Animal Review, 27(6), 329–332.
Novotna, I., Langova, L., & Havlicek, Z. (2019). Risk factors and detection of lameness using infrared thermography in dairy cows – a review. Annals of Animal Science, 19(3), 563–578.
Nuss, K., Haessig, M., & Mueller, J. (2020). Hind limb conformation has limited influence on claw load distribution in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 103(7), 6522–6532.
O'Donoghue, S., Waters, S. M., Morris, D. W., & Earley, B. (2025). A comprehensive review: Bovine respiratory disease, current insights into epidemiology, diagnostic challenges, and vaccination. Veterinary Sciences, 12(8), 778.
Oehm, A. W., Knubben-Schweizer, G., Rieger, A., Stoll, A., & Hartnack, S. (2019). A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows. BMC Veterinary Research, 15, 346.
Omontese, B. O., Bellet-Elias, R., Molinero, A., Catandi, G. D., Casagrande, R., Rodriguez, Z., Bisinotto, R. S., & Cramer, G. (2020). Association between hoof lesions and fertility in lactating Jersey cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 103(4), 3401–3413.
Orobchenko, O., Kurbatska, O., Paliy, A., & Palii, A. (2023). Toxicological evaluation of feed contaminated with mycotoxins using luminescent microorganisms Photobacterium phosphoreum. Veterinarska Stanica, 54(2), 147–163.
Ózsvári, L. (2017). Economic cost of lameness in dairy cattle herds. Journal of Dairy Veterinary and Animal, 6(2), 00176.
Paliy, A., Naumenko, А., Paliy, A., Zolotaryova, S., Zolotarev, A., Tarasenko, L., Nechyporenko, O., Ulko, L., Kalashnyk, O., & Musiienko, Y. (2020). Identifying changes in the milking rubber of milking machines during testing and under industrial conditions. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 107, 127–137.
Patoliya, P., Kataktalware, M. A., Raval, K., Sadiya, P., Rank, D. N., Chandel, B. S., Nayak, J. B., Gajjar, N., Jeyakumar, S., Mech, A., & Ramesha, K. (2024). Assessing lameness prevalence and associated risk factors in crossbred dairy cows across diverse management environments. BMC Veterinary Research, 20, 229.
Pirkkalainen, H., Talvio, I., Kujala-Wirth, M., Soveri, T., & Orro, T. (2022). Acute phase response of sole ulcer, white line disease and digital dermatitis in dairy cows. Veterinary and Animal Science, 17, 100253.
Ratanapob, N., Thiangtum, W., Rukkwamsuk, T., Srisomrun, S., Panneum, S., & Arunvipas, P. (2020). The relationship between lameness and reproductive performance in dairy cows raised in small holder farms, Thailand. Songklanakarin Journal of Science & Technology, 42(4), 766–770.
Sadiq, M. B., Ramanoon, S. Z., Mansor, R., Syed-Hussain, S. S., & Shaik Mossadeq, W. M. (2020). Claw trimming as a lameness management practice and the association with welfare and production in dairy cows. Animals, 10(9), 1515.
Sadiq, M. B., Ramanoon, S. Z., Mossadeq, W. S., Mansor, R., & Syed-Hussain, S. S. (2021). Prevalence and risk factors for hoof lesions in dairy cows in Peninsular Malaysia. Livestock Science, 245, 104404.
Shkromada, O., Paliy, A., Nechyporenko, O., Naumenko, О., Nechyporenko, V., Burlaka, O., Reshetnichenko, A., Tsereniuk, O., Shvets, O., & Paliy, A. (2019). Improvement of functional performance of concrete in livestock buildings through the use of complex admixtures. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 101, 14–23.
Silva, S. R., Araujo, J. P., Guedes, C., Silva, F., Almeida, M., & Cerqueira, J. L. (2021). Precision technologies to address dairy cattle welfare: Focus on lameness, mastitis and body condition. Animals, 11(8), 2253.
Singh, A., Rаndhаwа S. S., & Singh, R. S. (2019). The efect of biotin and zinc supplementation on dairy cow hoof health and milk quality. Veterinarski Arhiv, 89, 799–820.
Ulko, L. G. (2013). Efektyvnist’ likuval’no-profilaktychnykh zakhodiv za asotsiyovanykh bakterioziv kintsivok u velykoyi rohatoyi khudoby [The effectiveness of therapeutic and prevention activities of associate bacteriosis limbs in cattle]. Veterinary Medicine, 97, 257–259 (in Ukrainian).
Vyrvykyshka, S., Rodionova, K., & Ihnatieva, T. (2026). Hygienic assessment of dairy cows under tie-stall housing. Agrarian Bulletin of the Black Sea Littoral, 118, 62–71.
Wales, A. D., Gosling, R. J., Bare, H. L., & Davies, R. H. (2021). Disinfectant testing for veterinary and agricultural applications: A review. Zoonoses Public Health, 68(5), 361–375.
Weber, J., Hillen, M., Seuberlich, T., Fürmann, A., Gurtner, C., Becker, J., Syring, C., Welham Ruiters, M., Alsaaod, M., Mazurek, L., Schüpbach, G., & Steiner, A. (2025). Successful implementation of a risk assessment and mitigation program to control bovine digital dermatitis at the herd-level. Scientific Reports, 15, 30577.
Winter, S. N., Fernandez, M. D. P., Taylor, K. R., & Wild, M. A. (2022). Associations between hair trace mineral concentrations and the occurrence of treponeme-associated hoof disease in elk (Cervus canadensis). BMC Veterinary Research, 18(1), 446.
Wong, N. S. T., Malmuthge, N., Gellatly, D., Nordi, W. M., Alexander, T. W., Ortega Polo, R., Janzen, E., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K., & Jelinski, M. (2024). Characterization of the hoof bacterial communities in feedlot cattle affected with digital dermatitis, foot rot or both using a surface swab technique. Animal Microbiome, 6, 2.
Wrzecińska, M., Czerniawska-Piątkowska, E., & Kowalczyk, A. (2021a) The impact of stress and selected environmental factors on cows’ reproduction. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 49(1), 318–323.
Wrzecinska, M., Kowalczyk, A., Czerniawska-Piatkowska, E., Kupczynski, R., & Araújo, J. P. (2021b). Orthopedic diseases in dairy cattle: Causes, effects, and preventions. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Zootechnica, 20(3), 45–50.
Yaremchuk, A., Chemerovskyi, V., Rublenko, M., Vlasenko, V., & Ilnitskyi, M. (2025). Monitoring of nosological forms of hoof diseases in cows under the university dairy farm conditions. Naukovyi Visnyk Veterinary Medicine, 1, 172–180.
Zhang, R. Y., Jin, W., Feng, P. F., Liu, J. H., & Mao, S. Y. (2018). High-grain diet feeding altered the composition and functions of the rumen bacterial community and caused the damage to the laminar tissues of goats. Animal, 12(12), 2511–2520.
Zhu, Z., Cheng, H., Wang, J., Ma, J., Wang, J., Wang, H., Zhou, X., & Yang, J. (2025). Occurrence of co-contamination and interaction of multi-mycotoxins in dairy cow feed in China. Toxins, 17(3), 137.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons «Attribution» 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
