Genes influence risk for global cattle disease

Bertram Brenig Photo: Adrienne Lochte Research team discovers tiny mutations responsible for Digital Dermatitis Two tiny mutations in the genome of cattle likely cause some animals to be significantly more susceptible to Digital Dermatitis, an extremely painful disease that is widespread in cattle kept indoors. The two candidate genes were discovered by an international team of researchers from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the University of Göttingen and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US. The scientists analysed data from more than 5,000 dairy cows. The findings could help improve the breeding of disease-resistant animals. The results of the study were published in Frontiers in Genetics Digital Dermatitis is a disease caused by bacteria of the genus Treponema . It affects the area between the claw of the hoof and the hairy part of the leg at the back of the foot. -The disease was first discovered in Italy in 1974, however, it has become so widespread that it can now be found to varying degrees in almost every cattle barn around the world,- says Professor Hermann Swalve from the Institute of Agricultural and Food Sciences at MLU.