PULLMAN, Wash. — A new study from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has found that a debilitating hoof disease affecting elk herds in the Pacific Northwest is caused by multiple bacterial species working together.
Researchers confirmed a link between treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) and Treponema spirochete bacteria. They also identified Mycoplasma as another significant contributor to the lesions associated with the disease.
Liz Goldsmith, the study’s lead author, emphasized the consistent presence of these bacteria in affected regions.
“The consistent presence of Treponema and Mycoplasma in TAHD lesions suggests these bacteria may be working together,” Goldsmith said.
TAHD, first noted in southwestern Washington in the late 1990s, causes painful lesions on elk hooves, leading to increased vulnerability to various threats. Although not fatal, the disease results in higher mortality rates among affected elk.
The research team examined hoof tissue samples from 129 elk across different regions. They found Treponema and Mycoplasma consistently in diseased tissue, alongside other bacteria like Fusobacterium and Corynebacterium, suggesting a complex microbial community is responsible.
Goldsmith noted the potential for these findings to aid in developing new diagnostic tools.
“Having a better description of the bacteria that are associated can really help us start to pin down what’s going on with this particular disease,” Goldsmith said.
Follow-up research is underway to explore how these bacteria interact and contribute to the disease’s progression.
