Footpad dermatitis in a NAGP program

Healthy animals just like healthy people, don’t need antimicrobials, and not all infections and diseases, need to be treated with antibiotics. Misuse, excessive use, or wrong use of antibiotics in humans and animals, is known to be the primary cause of the rise of superbugs, bacteria that have grown resistant to many antibiotics.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat, with major economic and health impact. World Bank estimated that drug-resistant infections will be responsible for a drag between 1.1 and 3.8% by 2050, on global GDP (Gross Domestic Products). A two years’ review in the UK concluded that 700,000 deaths each year can be attributed to Antimicrobial resistance.

A considerable fraction of bacterial resistance is raised from the livestock industry due to the vast history of antibiotic usage not only for treatment but as well as for growth promotion. Hence now the road to recovery and decreasing the risks of resistance also goes through the livestock industry.

And the first rule is: creating resistant animals, is a key to preventing diseases and decreasing the use of conventional treatment agents.

Due to the antibiotic resistance threat, the poultry industry worldwide is facing mounting pressure to phase out antibiotic use. The bacterial dysbiosis that has been created with antibiotic growth promoters, is now creating a significant misbalance of the individual gastrointestinal flora of animals in any region. But the only effect of antibiotics was not to create a dysbiosis. AGPs’ as well had physiological activities, such as suppressing inflammation or reducing the nutritional cost of immunity. Now the animals need to cope with more fight to balance the situation, by reaction with more systemic inflammation. There are different types of inflammations such as physiological or pathological inflammations. Although physiological inflammation is a natural element in each animal (immunity), pathological inflammation is the result of an acute microbial infection or tissue injury. One example of this kind of condition would be Foot Pad Dermatitis. In this case, the pathological inflammation would increase, and create subclinical physiological stress.

Footpad dermatitis is a great concern in the poultry industry related to animal welfare but as well as an economically important subject as chicken feet will be consumed as food in some regions of the world. Just China imports of chicken feet alone account for 300,000 tons each year.

Footpad lesions is a health condition which may require antibiotic usage, and it is suspected that broilers raised without antibiotics may have a greater incidence of footpad lesions in comparison to broilers that receive antibiotics under the same condition, as the antibiotic usage may mask some of the management failures. Thus, it is important to point out the factors increasing footpad dermatitis and controlling those factors.

There are studies showing the correlation between increased footpad lesions and unhealthy GIT, linked with elevated ammonia levels. Healthy gut, with higher intestinal integrity, supports litter quality and therefore is a useful tool to reduce footpad lesions. Improved nutrient digestibility as well as supports proper fat absorption and nutrient intake by an animal, hence reducing toxic metabolism by microbial fermentation, preventing a leaky gut as well. Thus, animals cope with less diarrhea, and water emission with feces, which contributes to better litter quality.

Ammonia, resulting from feed protein and amino acids, is detoxified to uric acid in the liver of birds and then excreted via kidneys. Hydrolyzed uric acid with the help of microbial ureases, is the first step in the production of NH3 gas in poultry manure. When the ammonia levels are higher than normal, than contact dermatitis may occur. Broilers that are not capable to move freely or that have weak bones, stand on wet litter for long times and this leads to tissue damage and pain. These animals have less movement and access to feeding. Especially when there is higher fecal contamination in the litter, the burn site on the pads, could be also the entry gate for certain bacterial agents. Once the tissue is damaged, the condition may extend to the other parts of the legs making animals totally paralyzed and susceptible to any other threat as well.

One of the best control methods is to focus on the leg and feet health in the early ages and to maintain flock uniformity. This will ensure all individual animal to have access to feed and drinking water. The stronger the animals and more homogenized the flock, as all vaccinations will work better, and all organs will be formed healthily, the animals will be resistant to an external factor or also some internal factors as the physical pain itself.

Overall tissue health, skin health, organ health, and bone health are directly related to the capacity of the animal to cope with any external factor such as bacterial and viral disease. Managing intestinal integrity, controlling bone health and uniformity, supporting kidney and hepatic health and ensuring proper oxygen intake; ensuring decreasing all stressing factors, will help us also to have control and to dominate the needs for antibiotic usage.

We as XVET have been supporting poultry with products/ programs to protect against footpad dermatitis together with good management. For more information please contact Techinal@xvetgermany.com