The effectiveness of natural claw spray in the treatment of Mortellaro disease

Digital dermatitis (DD), known as Mortellaro disease, is endemic in most dairy farms. The acute M2 stage is painful. In this study, an antibiotic free spray based on natural products was used instead of standard treatment with antibiotic spray.

Mortellaro disease causes many problems. Besides serious economic losses also animal welfare factors are at stake. The usually applied antibiotic-containing spray does not fit in the current policy of resistance prevention and reduction of antibiotic usage.

Objective was to test a treatment according a protocol of Mortellaro M2 lesions with Klausan©-spray¹ aimed at an outcome cure rate of ≥60%.

The required number of cows with an M2 lesion was 97 divided over 5 average size farms. Farms were selected according to defined criteria. The empiric methodology was equal to a clinical trial by Utrecht University². Assessment was executed in accordance with the international system of Döpfer et al.³.

A total of 111 M2 lesions have been assessed, treated and monitored. This involved 93 animals on 5 farms. The results reveal that treatment delivers up to the hypothesis, namely a minimum cure rate of 60% of treated Mortellaro M2 lesions. The average cure rate was 73% (52 – 82%).

Fig. 1: Development stages M2, M3 and M4 (all farms)

The treatment protocol followed did meet expectations. Klausan-spray is an attractive antibiotic-free alternative for existing therapies. Treatment of Mortellaro remains farm tailored. Differences indicate that also other factors are of influence and can affect cure rate. Further studies should focus on exploring more in depth influencing factors.

[1] Klausan© (Calendulae flos, Chamomillae flos, Terebinthina laricina, Cortex Quercus, Balsam Peruvianum), Ecostyle, Netherlands.

[2] Jorritsma R et al. University of Utrecht, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.2013.

[3] Döpfer D et al. Veterinary Record. 1997; 140:620 – 623. Source: Kissels et al.Tijdschrift voor Diergeneeskunde.2017.