In Vitro Infection of Bovine Epidermal Cells and Bovine Skin Explants with Treponemes

Dermatitis digitalis (DD) is a multifactorial disease of the bovine digit. DD is an important welfare issue and it has a large economic impact. The mechanisms of its pathogenesis are still not completely understood. In addition to typical anaerobic bacteria, a variety of different Treponema phylotypes have been detected as probably involved in the pathogenesis of DD (Choi et al, 1997; Moter et al, 1998). There is a strong need for models enabling studies of virulence factors of DD (Edwards et al, 2003a). The aim of this work was to establish an in vitro model to study the role of Treponema spp. in the pathogenesis of DD, because a suitable in vitro model was not available until now. This paper reports on the successful in vitro infection of cultured epidermal cells and skin explants from the bovine digit with Treponema denticola and Treponema brennaborense ...