Journal of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry Volume 6 | Issue 4 ISSN: 2348-9790 Review Article Open Access Reviewing Footrot in Sheep Caetano P*1,2, Bettencourt EV1,2 and Branco S1,2 1Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal 2Instituto de Ciência Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Évora, Portugal *Corresponding author: Caetano P, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal, Tel: 00351968440987, E-mail:
[email protected] Citation: Caetano P, Bettencourt EV, Branco S (2018) Reviewing Footrot in Sheep. J Vet Sci Ani Husb 6(4): 405 Received Date: May 25, 2018 Accepted Date: October 24, 2018 Published Date: October 26, 2018 Abstract Ovine footrot is the main cause of lameness in sheep around the world and is responsible for extensive economic and welfare impacts. It can be an extremely contagious disease, resulting from the invasion of the interdigital tissue by a complex mixture of bacteria, in which Dichelobacter nodosus is a required component. Strains of D. nodosus can be benign or virulent, but they are not always related with the clinical expression of footrot, complicating the diagnostic process. Several efforts have been made over recent decades to control the disease, but it remains endemic in the major sheep-raising countries of the world. The use of more efficient therapeutic procedures and better farm management practices or the development of new selective breeding tools and strategic vaccination protocols are some of the key measures that may improve footrot control in the future. Keywords: Ovine footrot; Sheep; Dichelobacter nodosus Introduction Ovine footrot is a contagious disease affecting the feet of sheep and other ruminants and presents in two different forms.