Bumblefoot

Staphylococcosis, Staphylococcal Arthritis, Bumble Foot

Introduction

Caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, mainly S. aureus and seen in chickens and turkeys worldwide. Morbidity is usually low and mortality 0-15% though affected birds will often be culled on humane grounds. Infection is usually by the respiratory route with an incubation period of 2-3 days seen after artificial infection. Wounds, either accidental or induced by interventions such as beak trimming, and toe trimming may be a portal of entry with subsequent spread via the bloodstream to the typical sites of lesions. Damaged skin due to nutritional deficiencies (such as of biotin) may also be a point of entry.

Transmission occurs in the hatchery and in the general farm environment, and by fomites. Predisposing factors include reovirus infection, chronic stress, trauma, and imunosuppression.

Other Names

 lameness, foot lesions

Organism or Mechanism

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria infection of injured foot

Signs

• Ruffled feathers.
• Lameness.
• Low mobility.
• Swollen above the hock and around the hocks and feet.
• Some sudden deaths from acute septicaemia if very heavy challenge.

Post-mortem lesions

• Tenosynovitis, most commonly in the plantar area of the foot or just above the hock joint. This may progress to abscess formation in these areas.
• Infected joints may have clear exudate with fibrin clots.

Diagnosis

Lesions, isolation and identification of pathogen. Differentiate from septicaemia or tenosynovitis due to Colibacillosis, Salmonella spp., Mycoplasma spp., especially M. synoviae.

Management Treatment

 • Antibiotics, in accordance with sensitivity.

 • Implement all preventative measures if you have not already.

Physical Treatment

• Wash foot, open abscess, squeeze out core, clean with hydrogen peroxide, and wrap with gauze.
 • Apply warm linseed meal poultice, lance wound, wash with hydrogen peroxide, and pack wound with gauze.
 • Apply tea tree oil to cracks. 
 • Soak foot in Epsom salts. 

Prevention

 • Good hygiene in the nest, the hatchery and in any intervention or surgery (processing, e.g. toe clipping).
 • Possibly vaccination against reovirus infection, particularly of parent birds.
 • Good management, low stress and prevention of immunosuppression from any cause will all tend to help. 
 • Competitive exclusion with a non-pathogenic Staphylococcushas been shown to be effective (no commercial products yet available based on this technology). 
 • Recovered birds may have some immunity but vaccination with staphylococci has not been found to be helpful in preventing the disease to date.

 • Keep dry litter and avoid high perches.
 • Do not keep poultry on excessively rocky/stony/flinty ground.
 • Eliminate sharp objects.
 • Ensure perches are well designed, i.e. beech hardwood circular perches with a flattened upper and lower surface.
 • Feed hens a high oat content mash rather than crumbles.

Herbal Treatments

• Make a paste with ... 


1 tablespoon turmeric powder, 


1 clove of small Garlic and 


1 or 2   black peppers. 


Grind them with very little drops of water to make a thick paste. Soak the legs of the bird for 15 to 20 minutes... If it is an Asil fighter then you may do this after swimming practice. When the infected region is well soaked and moist apply Hydrogen peroxide to clean it. After wipe it and remove the infected muscles. Even if it bleeds it does not matter. Wash off the blood with lukewarm water and wipe off the water with a cotton swab. Now apply the paste on that spot and tie it with dressing using a piece of cotton cloth or alternatives. Leave it for 3 to 4 days allow the bird to walk on soft sandy surface without stones or pebbles because hard surface is one of the reasons for bumble foot. After this remove dressing and regularly apply the same paste every night for 1 week. Then the bumble foot will be removed. This is the special treatment of GAC (Global Asil Club)

Homeopathic Treatments

• Sulphur
 • Silicea 6C 
 • Bathe foot in lotion of 1 part Calendula tincture to 5 parts water and bind up foot.
 • Apply calendula cream (salve) to foot and keep bird on clean straw. Then give
 Hepar sulph or Silicea