ULCERATIVE PODODERMATITIS IN FREE-RANGING AFRICAN ELEPHANT (LOXODONTA-AFRICANA) IN THE KRUGER-NATIONAL-PARK

The occurrence of severe lameness in adult African elephant bulls in a shrub Mopane (Colophospermum mopane) ecosystem was investigated. Larg e ulcers in the soles of at least one front foot were seen in each of the recorded cases. Microscopically the lesion can be described as a s evere, chronic-active, ulcerative, bacterial pododermatitis (complicat ed by hypersensitivity/septic vasculitis). A variety of bacteria were isolated from these lesions as well as from regional lymph nodes. Stre ptococcus agalactiae was the most consistent isolate, while Dichelobac ter nodosus, the only organism known to be involved with foot disease in domestic ruminants, was isolated from two cases. Contributory facto rs such as body mass, portal of entry and origin of potential pathogen s may have predisposed to the development of the lesions.