title: Short communication: Determination of the ability of Thymox to kill or inhibit various species of microorganisms associated with infectious causes of bovine lameness in vitro.
abstract: Infectious claw diseases continue to plague cattle in intensively managed husbandry systems. Poor foot hygiene and constant moist environments lead to the infection and spread of diseases such as digital dermatitis (hairy heel warts), interdigital dermatitis, and interdigital phlegmon (foot rot). Currently, copper sulfate and formalin are the most widely used disinfecting agents in bovine footbaths; however, the industry could benefit from more environmentally and worker friendly substitutes. This study determined the in vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations of Thymox (Laboratoire M2, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada) for a selection of microorganisms related to infectious bovine foot diseases. Thymox is a broad-spectrum agricultural disinfectant that is nontoxic, noncorrosive, and readily biodegradable. The values for minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration indicated that Thymox inhibited growth and killed the various species of microorganisms under study at much lower concentrations compared with the recommended working concentration of a 1% solution. Overall, the values found in this study of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of Thymox show its potential as an alternative antibacterial agent used in bovine footbaths; however, field trials are needed to determine its effectiveness for the control and prevention of infectious claw diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Dr., Madison 53706. Electronic address: mkulow@vetmed.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulow
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Dr., Madison 53706.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zibaee
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire M2, 4005-A, rue de la Garlock, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1L 1W9.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Dr., Madison 53706.
authors.forename: Dörte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Döpfer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019327:Copper Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D003612:Dairying; D058066:Digital Dermatitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005535:Foot Rot / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000382:microbiology; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D005557:Formaldehyde; D019327:Copper Sulfate
keywords: bovine lameness; digital dermatitis; footbath disinfectant; interdigital phlegmon