Med. Weter. 82 (10), 466-474, 2026
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| FLORINA MARIAN, DIANA OLAH, EMOKE PALL, EMILIA TRIF, MARINA SPÎNU |
| Microbial Dynamics of Ovine Footrot: Influence of Management Systems and Lesion Type on Bacterial Community Composition/td> |
| The microbial community plays a key role in animal health, influencing immunity, metabolism, and disease resistance. Ovine footrot is a complex bacterial disease involving Dichelobacter nodosus, Fusobacterium necrophorum, and other members of the hoof microbiome. This study investigated bacteriome dynamics in two sheep management systems – seasonal migration (System A) and permanent indoor housing (System B) – and their association with two clinical forms: interdigital dermatitis (ID) and virulent footrot (VF). A total of 371 bacterial strains were identified from 80 samples collected in many flocks of sheep located in Transylvania. System A showed dominance of Gram-positive bacteria (53.41%), while System B was characterized by a higher prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria (62.86%). ID lesions were predominantly associated with Gram-positive bacteria (65%), whereas VF lesions were largely linked to Gram-negative bacteria (75.4%). These findings illustrate shifts in bacterial landscape during footrot progression and suggest that management practices may influence the composition of disease-associated bacteriota. |
| Keywords: bacterial flora, sheep, management systems, interdigital dermatitis, virulent footrot |