{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,11]],"date-time":"2025-11-11T16:08:19Z","timestamp":1762877299291,"version":"3.45.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,11]],"date-time":"2025-11-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762819200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,11]],"date-time":"2025-11-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762819200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"Teagasc Walsh Scholarship","award":["2022016"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2022016"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Ir Vet J"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Ovine lameness represents a significant production and welfare challenge to farmers and comprises two main categories, infectious and non-infectious lameness. The leading infectious lameness conditions are interdigital dermatitis (ID), footrot (FR) and contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD). The predominant types of non-infectious foot conditions include toe granulomas (TG) and shelly hoof (white line disease; SH).<\/jats:p>\n                    <jats:p>There is a paucity of information available as to how Irish farmers treat infectious foot lesions in sheep. This study aimed to i) Establish farmer-reported prevalence of lameness in Irish sheep flocks, ii) Assess farmers\u2019 ability to identify infectious and non-infectious lameness types, iii) Examine the treatment methods employed by farmers for managing and treating infectious lameness in sheep.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The survey was conducted opportunistically and non-randomly. Three hundred and sixty-three valid responses were gathered. The median overall farm lameness prevalence reported was 6.0% (IQR: 4.0%\u201310.0%). Respondents reported ID as the most common lameness condition with a median estimated prevalence of 10.0% (IQR: 4.0 \u2013 15.0). Respondents identified 77.9%, 76.6%, 61.7%, 67.3% and 67.0% of ID, FR, CODD, TG and SH lesions correctly, respectively. Where the respective lesion was correctly identified 95.1%, 90.2%, 49.2%, 59.7% and 68.4% reported to have seen ID, FR, CODD, TG and SH lesions, respectively on their farm previously. Antibiotic aerosol was the most frequently utilised treatment for ID (71.3% [95% CI:65.2, 76.8%]) reported by survey respondents. Antibiotic injection was reported by respondents as the most used treatment for FR (72.2% [95% CI: 65.8,78.0%]) and CODD (85.1% [95% CI: 75.8, 91.8%]). Therapeutic foot trimming was practiced by 52.9% (95% CI:46.1,59.6%) of respondents for the treatment of FR.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Interdigital dermatitis (ID) posed the greatest burden to Irish farmers, with a median farm prevalence of 10.0%, while footrot affected 90.2% of flocks (median 4.0%). Contagious ovine digital dermatitis, previously considered rare, was reported in 47% of flocks (median 3%). Farmers\u2019 ability to correctly identify lesions varied from 79.9% for ID to 62.4% for CODD. Therapeutic foot-trimming, remain widely used within Irish flocks and was reported by 52.9% of respondents for the treatment of FR.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s13620-025-00313-3","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,11]],"date-time":"2025-11-11T15:00:00Z","timestamp":1762873200000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Ovine lameness in Ireland: a survey-based investigation of farmer reported prevalence, recognition, and treatment of lameness conditions"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"78","author":[{"given":"J. W.","family":"Delaney","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"E. T.","family":"Kelly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"J. W.","family":"Angell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"F. P.","family":"Campion","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"313_CR1","unstructured":"FAWC. Opinion on lameness in sheep. Farm Animal Welfare Council; 2011."},{"issue":"3","key":"313_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smallrumres.2005.08.016","volume":"62","author":"P Goddard","year":"2006","unstructured":"Goddard P, Waterhouse T, Dwyer C, Stott A. The perception of the welfare of sheep in extensive systems. Small Ruminant Res. 2006;62(3):215\u201325.","journal-title":"Small Ruminant Res"},{"key":"313_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106827","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smallrumres.2022.106827","volume":"217","author":"G Marcone","year":"2022","unstructured":"Marcone G, Carnovale F, Arney D, De Rosa G, Napolitano F. Relevance of animal-based indicators for the evaluation of sheep welfare as perceived by different stakeholders. Small Ruminant Res. 2022;217:106827.","journal-title":"Small Ruminant Res"},{"issue":"1","key":"313_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1079\/ASC41010023","volume":"81","author":"GJ Nieuwhof","year":"2005","unstructured":"Nieuwhof GJ, Bishop S. Costs of the major endemic diseases of sheep in great Britain and the potential benefits of reduction in disease impact. Anim Sci. 2005;81(1):23\u20139.","journal-title":"Anim Sci"},{"issue":"6","key":"313_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"911","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731116002445","volume":"11","author":"A O\u2019Brien","year":"2017","unstructured":"O\u2019Brien A, McHugh N, Wall E, Pabiou T, McDermott K, Randles S, et al. Genetic parameters for lameness, mastitis and dagginess in a multi-breed sheep population. Animal. 2017;11(6):911\u20139.","journal-title":"Animal"},{"issue":"1\u20132","key":"313_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2015.09.014","volume":"122","author":"JR Winter","year":"2015","unstructured":"Winter JR, Kaler J, Ferguson E, KilBride AL, Green LE. Changes in prevalence of, and risk factors for, lameness in random samples of english sheep flocks: 2004\u20132013. Prev Vet Med. 2015;122(1\u20132):121\u20138.","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"313_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2016.06.009","volume":"130","author":"A Dickins","year":"2016","unstructured":"Dickins A, Clark CCA, Kaler J, Ferguson E, O\u2019Kane H, Green LE. Factors associated with the presence and prevalence of contagious ovine digital dermatitis: A 2013 study of 1136 random english sheep flocks. Prev Vet Med. 2016;130:86\u201393.","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"313_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2019.06.002","volume":"250","author":"MC Reeves","year":"2019","unstructured":"Reeves MC, Prosser NS, Monaghan EM, Green LE. Footbathing, formalin and foot trimming: the 3Fs associated with granulomas and Shelly hoof in sheep. Vet J. 2019;250:28\u201335.","journal-title":"Vet J"},{"issue":"3","key":"313_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.1136\/inpract.26.3.130","volume":"26","author":"A Winter","year":"2004","unstructured":"Winter A. Lameness in sheep 2. Treatment and control. Pract. 2004;26(3):130\u20139.","journal-title":"Pract"},{"issue":"1","key":"313_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2014.03.004","volume":"115","author":"LA Witcomb","year":"2014","unstructured":"Witcomb LA, Green LE, Kaler J, Ul-Hassan A, Calvo-Bado LA, Medley GF, et al. A longitudinal study of the role of Dichelobacter nodosus and Fusobacterium necrophorum load in initiation and severity of footrot in sheep. Prev Vet Med. 2014;115(1):48\u201355.","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"313_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14429","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-019-50822-9","volume":"9","author":"R Clifton","year":"2019","unstructured":"Clifton R, Giebel K, Liu NLBH, Purdy KJ, Green LE. Sites of persistence of Fusobacterium necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus: a paradigm shift in Understanding the epidemiology of footrot in sheep. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):14429.","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"313_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Staton GJ, Angell JW, Grove-White D, Clegg SR, Carter SD, Evans NJ, Duncan JS. Contagious ovine digital dermatitis: A novel bacterial etiology and lesion pathogenesis. Front Veterinary Sci. 2021;8:722461.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2021.722461"},{"issue":"1","key":"313_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1186\/s13028-021-00595-x","volume":"63","author":"M Bernhard","year":"2021","unstructured":"Bernhard M, Frosth S, K\u00f6nig U. First report on outbreaks of contagious ovine digital dermatitis in Sweden. Acta Vet Scand. 2021;63(1):29.","journal-title":"Acta Vet Scand"},{"issue":"5","key":"313_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1628","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.00180-15","volume":"53","author":"L Sullivan","year":"2015","unstructured":"Sullivan L, Clegg S, Angell J, Newbrook K, Blowey R, Carter S, et al. High-level association of bovine digital dermatitis Treponema spp. With contagious ovine digital dermatitis lesions and presence of Fusobacterium necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus. J Clin Microbiol. 2015;53(5):1628\u201338.","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"issue":"1","key":"313_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1186\/s13028-020-00544-0","volume":"62","author":"PC Tegtmeyer","year":"2020","unstructured":"Tegtmeyer PC, Staton GJ, Evans NJ, Rohde J, Punsmann TM, Ganter M. First cases of contagious ovine digital dermatitis in Germany. Acta Vet Scand. 2020;62(1):46.","journal-title":"Acta Vet Scand"},{"issue":"2","key":"313_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1136\/inpract.26.2.58","volume":"26","author":"A Winter","year":"2004","unstructured":"Winter A. Lameness in sheep 1. Diagnosis Pract. 2004;26(2):58\u201363.","journal-title":"Diagnosis Pract"},{"issue":"21","key":"313_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"544","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.102978","volume":"176","author":"J Angell","year":"2015","unstructured":"Angell J, Blundell R, Grove-White D, Duncan J. Clinical and radiographic features of contagious ovine digital dermatitis and a novel lesion grading system. Vet Rec. 2015;176(21):544.","journal-title":"Vet Rec"},{"issue":"1","key":"313_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1136\/inp.j4575","volume":"40","author":"L Green","year":"2018","unstructured":"Green L, Clifton R. Diagnosing and managing footrot in sheep: an update. Pract. 2018;40(1):17\u201326.","journal-title":"Pract"},{"issue":"7","key":"313_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1111\/j.2044-3870.2008.tb00204.x","volume":"13","author":"L Green","year":"2008","unstructured":"Green L, Wassink G, Kaler J, Hawker E, Daniels S, Thomas RG. Practicalities of lameness management in sheep. UK Vet Livest. 2008;13(7):50\u20134.","journal-title":"UK Vet Livest"},{"issue":"5","key":"313_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.12968\/live.2019.24.5.246","volume":"24","author":"J Duncan","year":"2019","unstructured":"Duncan J, Angell J. Control of infectious lameness in sheep. Livestock. 2019;24(5):246\u201351.","journal-title":"Livestock"},{"issue":"1","key":"313_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2013.09.014","volume":"113","author":"J Angell","year":"2014","unstructured":"Angell J, Duncan J, Carter S, Grove-White D. Farmer reported prevalence and factors associated with contagious ovine digital dermatitis in wales: a questionnaire of 511 sheep farmers. Prev Vet Med. 2014;113(1):132\u20138.","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"issue":"4","key":"313_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1199","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.01934-08","volume":"47","author":"G Sayers","year":"2009","unstructured":"Sayers G, Marques PX, Evans NJ, O\u2019Grady L, Doherty ML, Carter SD, Nally JE. Identification of spirochetes associated with contagious ovine digital dermatitis. J Clin Microbiol. 2009;47(4):1199\u2013201.","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"issue":"1\u20132","key":"313_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2009.08.001","volume":"92","author":"J Kaler","year":"2009","unstructured":"Kaler J, Green L. Farmers\u2019 practices and factors associated with the prevalence of all lameness and lameness attributed to interdigital dermatitis and footrot in sheep flocks in England in 2004. Prev Vet Med. 2009;92(1\u20132):52\u20139.","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"313_CR24","unstructured":"Corporation M. Microsoft Excel 2016 ed. 2016."},{"key":"313_CR25","unstructured":"Dillion E, Donnellan T, Moran B, Lennon J. Teagasc National Farm Survey. 2023."},{"key":"313_CR26","unstructured":"(CSO) CSO. Census of Agriculture 2020 - Preliminary Results: Demographic profile of farm holders: CSO; 2020 [Cited 2024 Dec 20]Available from: https:\/\/www.cso.ie\/en\/releasesandpublications\/ep\/p-coa\/censusofagriculture2020-preliminaryresults\/demographicprofileoffarmholders."},{"key":"313_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105064","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2020.105064","volume":"181","author":"CM Best","year":"2020","unstructured":"Best CM, Roden J, Pyatt AZ, Behnke M, Phillips K. Uptake of the lameness Five-Point plan and its association with farmer-reported lameness prevalence: A cross-sectional study of 532 UK sheep farmers. Prev Vet Med. 2020;181:105064.","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"issue":"14","key":"313_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2066","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14142066","volume":"14","author":"KE Lewis","year":"2024","unstructured":"Lewis KE, Green M, Clifton R, Monaghan E, Prosser N, Nabb E, Green L. Footbathing and foot Trimming, and no quarantine: risks for high prevalence of lameness in a random sample of 269 sheep flocks in England, 2022. Animals. 2024;14(14):2066.","journal-title":"Animals"},{"issue":"1","key":"313_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2007.06.003","volume":"83","author":"J Kaler","year":"2008","unstructured":"Kaler J, Green L. Naming and recognition of six foot lesions of sheep using written and pictorial information: a study of 809 english sheep farmers. Prev Vet Med. 2008;83(1):52\u201364.","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"313_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"no","DOI":"10.1002\/vetr.674","volume":"190","author":"JS Duncan","year":"2022","unstructured":"Duncan JS, Angell JW, Grove-White D, Walsh TR, Seechurn N, Carter S, Evans N. Impact of research on contagious ovine digital dermatitis on the knowledge and practices of UK sheep farmers and veterinarians. Vet Rec. 2022;190(1):no\u2013no.","journal-title":"Vet Rec"},{"issue":"6","key":"313_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e3116","DOI":"10.1002\/vetr.3116","volume":"193","author":"A Jackson","year":"2023","unstructured":"Jackson A, Grove-White DH, Angell JW, Duncan JS. Comparison of clinical cure rates from footrot and contagious ovine digital dermatitis using zinc sulphate foot bathing and topical oxytetracycline: A randomised trial. Vet Rec. 2023;193(6):e3116.","journal-title":"Vet Rec"},{"issue":"6","key":"313_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"561","DOI":"10.1016\/S0007-1935(94)80041-3","volume":"150","author":"R Grogono-Thomas","year":"1994","unstructured":"Grogono-Thomas R, Wilsmore AJ, Simon AJ, Izzard KA. The use of long-acting Oxytetracycline for the treatment of ovine footrot. Br Vet J. 1994;150(6):561\u20138.","journal-title":"Br Vet J"},{"issue":"18","key":"313_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.154.18.551","volume":"154","author":"GJ Wassink","year":"2004","unstructured":"Wassink GJ, Green LE, Grogono-Thomas R, Moore LJ. Risk factors associated with the prevalence of interdigital dermatitis in sheep from 1999 to 2000. Vet Rec. 2004;154(18):551\u20135.","journal-title":"Vet Rec"},{"issue":"2","key":"313_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2006.09.005","volume":"78","author":"L Green","year":"2007","unstructured":"Green L, Wassink G, Grogono-Thomas R, Moore L, Medley G. Looking after the individual to reduce disease in the flock: a binomial mixed effects model investigating the impact of individual sheep management of footrot and interdigital dermatitis in a prospective longitudinal study on one farm. Prev Vet Med. 2007;78(2):172\u20138.","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"issue":"2","key":"313_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"420","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1939-1676.2009.0450.x","volume":"24","author":"J Kaler","year":"2010","unstructured":"Kaler J, Daniels S, Wright J, Green L. Randomized clinical trial of long-acting oxytetracycline, foot trimming, and flunixine Meglumine on time to recovery in sheep with footrot. J Vet Intern Med. 2010;24(2):420\u20135.","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"313_CR36","unstructured":"Lovatt F, Page P. Sheep lameness: risks, causes, treatment and management. 2017."},{"key":"313_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetmic.2018.03.024","volume":"218","author":"I Locher","year":"2018","unstructured":"Locher I, Giger L, Frosth S, Kuhnert P, Steiner A. Potential transmission routes of Dichelobacter nodosus. Vet Microbiol. 2018;218:20\u20134.","journal-title":"Vet Microbiol"},{"issue":"8","key":"313_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.102269","volume":"175","author":"LE Sullivan","year":"2014","unstructured":"Sullivan LE, Blowey RW, Carter SD, Duncan JS, Grove-White DH, Page P, et al. Presence of digital dermatitis Treponemes on cattle and sheep hoof trimming equipment. Vet Rec. 2014;175(8):201.","journal-title":"Vet Rec"},{"key":"313_CR39","unstructured":"DAFM. Ireland National Sheep and Goat Census December 2023. 2024."}],"container-title":["Irish Veterinary Journal"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13620-025-00313-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s13620-025-00313-3\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s13620-025-00313-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,11]],"date-time":"2025-11-11T15:00:06Z","timestamp":1762873206000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/irishvetjournal.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s13620-025-00313-3"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,11]]},"references-count":39,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["313"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13620-025-00313-3","relation":{},"ISSN":["2046-0481"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2046-0481","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,11]]},"assertion":[{"value":"24 July 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"6 October 2025","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"11 November 2025","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The present study was approved by the University College Dublin Human Research Ethics Committee (LS-LR-23-01; HREC-LS). Consent to conduct the survey was asked in advance. Participants could voluntarily leave contact information in the event of any follow up studies.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"29"}}