THE ROLE OF ANAEROBE IN THE OCCURRENCE OF DERMATITIS DIGITALIS-ET-INTERDIGITALIS IN CATTLE

Altogether 52 tissue samples and swabs from the corium of the claw of diseased cattle were investigated. Microbiological examinations reveal ed the presence of 11 strictly anaerobic bacterial strains that belong ed to the species Peptococcus asacharolyticus, Pc. sacharolyticus, Pep tostreptococus anaerobius, Bacteriodes asacharolyticus and B. melanino genicus. The remaining isolates were classified as Bacteroides, Fusoba cterium, Streptococcus and Clostridium. In the above mentioned strains observations of their biochemical, morphological and enzymatic proper ties (Tab. I) were carried out. Their resistance to antibiotics was ev aluated from the qualitative viewpoint (Tab. II). Capillary isotachoph oresis was used to determine the amounts of volatile fatty acids that developed during glucose fermentation (Tab. III). In the single clinic al samples the above-mentioned strains occurred as association of micr oorganism. The anaerobic genera Bacteroides and Fusobacterium were fou nd in 52 % of the samples (Bacteriodes sp. and Fusobacterium sp. were recorded in 25 % and 12 % of the samples, respectively, whereas in 15 % of the samples both species occurred). According to our results the etiology of dermatitis digitalis et interdigitalis is closely connecte d with the incidence of anaerobes. Of the latter, those belonging to t he genera Bacteroides and Fusobacterium are of major importance.