IMPROVED LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF OVINE FOOTROT - AN UPDATE

Ovine footrot is a complex clinical disease syndrome primarily resulti ng from infection by the anaerobic bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus. In order to aid clinical diagnosis, various laboratory tests based on th e detection and measurements of phenotypic properties of D. nodosus ha ve been developed for genus-specific detection as well as virulence de termination. However, these tests are generally time-consuming, and te nd to be variable with external factors that affect the growth and met abolism of the bacterium. A new generation of diagnostic reagents, suc h as monoclonal antibodies, gene probes and polymerase chain reaction, has been developed recently. Preliminary assessment of these reagents has shown potential to vastly improve the laboratory identification a nd determination of the virulence of D. nodosus. It is important that these ne iv reagents are vigorously assessed against existing laborato ry tests, such as the elastase test and gelatin gel test, prior to the ir adoption for the routine diagnosis of footrot.