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Papillomatous Digital Dermatitis
Footwarts of Dairy Cattle

Deryck H. Read and Richard L. Walker
California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California, Davis

In cooperation with
California Department of Food and Agriculture

Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Medical Teaching and Research Center (Tulare)
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Distributed by
Veterinary Medicine Extension
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
J. Maas, DVM and D.J.Klingborg, DVM

During the past 10 years, footwarts has emerged as a serious problem in many dairying areas in North America. This disease of dairy cattle can cause widespread severe lameness, decreased milk yield, body weight loss, decreased fertility, and increased veterinary expenses. Veterinarians in the U.S. recall seeing sporadic cases of similar lesions on the feet of cattle about 20 years ago, but the apparently contagious nature of the present disease has occurred only over the past 2 to 3 years. Although the precise cause of this wartlike disease is unknown, the authors have made significant progress in understanding the disease process. Below is an outline describing what is known about papillomatous digital dermatitis, commonly called footwarts.
Photos: Four stages of footwart lesions.

Scientific Names

  • Papillomatous Digital Dermatitis
  • Digital Papillomatosis
  • Digital Dermatitis

Common Names

  • Foot Warts, Heel Warts, Hairy Footwarts
  • Strawberry Foot Disease
  • Raspberry Heel

Occurrence

  • Southern and Central California
  • Many other U.S. States; also Canada and Europe

Disease Situation

  • Emerged in southern California in 1988
  • Spreading geographically
  • 40% of southern California herds affected
  • Costs $5 million annually in southern California
  • 2% to 30% of cows in dry-lot herds may be affected
  • Up to 90% of cows in freestall herds may be affected

Causes

  • Under investigation
  • No virus detected
  • 96% of footwarts have invasive spirochetes (spiral anaerobic bacteria) of undetermined identity r significance
  • 95% of footwarts are highly responsive to antibiotics
  • Environment may predispose (poorly drained lots, freestalls, abrasive soil/concrete)

Disease Characteristics

  • First calf heifers most often affected
  • Feet only (usually 1 hind foot), sometimes several feet
  • Severe lameness, walking on toes, clubbed hooves, loss of body weight, and decreased milk yield and fertility
  • Little or no digital swelling (in contrast to "Footrot")

Lesion Characteristics

  • Usually at back of foot near interdigital cleft/heel bulb
  • Sometimes at front of foot and rarely in the interdigital cleft or above dewclaws
  • Early lesion: clearly demarcated, dime-sized, round to oval, moist, tufted, strawberry-like surface
  • Mature lesion: larger (up to 2" across), usually raised (up to golf-ball sized); sometimes with long brown/black tufts or hair-like projections on surface
  • Long (true) hairs at edge of lesion
  • Very painful and prone to bleeding, especially early lesions
  • May persist for many months or may regress with dry weather

Treatment and Control

  • Under investigation
  • Consult your veterinarian
  • Debridement plus topical application of antibiotics under a wrap are usually effective
  • Surgical removal may be indicated for large, raised lesions
  • Recurrent or new lesions may develop within 6&endash;9 weeks of successful treatment in 40% of cows
  • Autogenous wart vaccines are ineffective
  • Intermittent use of chemical or antibiotic foot baths may be effective (consult your veterinarian)

For further information contact:
Dr. Richard L. Walker
P.O. Box 1770 West Health Sciences Drive Davis, CA 95617 Telephone: (916) 752-8754 FAX: (916) 752-6253

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