Bos indicus cattle resistant to digital dermatitis exhibit a balanced proinflammatory cytokine response upon exposure to Treponema phagedenis in contrast to Bos taurus cattle
Abstract
Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is a globally distributed infectious hoof disease that negatively impacts the wellbeing and productivity of the affected animal. Treponema species and in particular Treponema phagedenis are the microbes strongly associated with the disease. Recently, it has been reported that Bos indicus cattle are more resistant to BDD and to the colonization by Treponema phagedenis in contrast to many Bos taurus breeds. This study investigated whether Bos indicus mount a different immune response to Treponema phagedenis compared with Bos taurus cattle, to better understand the different disease outcome in the two subspecies. Therefore, we exposed freshly isolated primary bovine blood cells to Treponema phagedenis and dissected subsequent bovine immune responses. The comparison between the two subspecies revealed significant different immune responses to Treponema phagedenis. We observed a stronger Th1/proinflammatory cytokine induction in Bos taurus animals mainly driven by CD4+ T and CD21low B cells in secreting IFN-γ. We assume that these distinct initial immune responses are linked to the control of Treponema phagedenis and the outcome of BDD. Additionally, we observed significant higher levels in the expression of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Bos indicus cattle, which likely benefits the host response to Treponema phagedenis.
Related
- Evaluation of treatment-related serological changes in Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum infection using latex-based immunoassays, with comparison to Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum
- IFN-γ and proinflammatory cytokines induce astrocyte programs that support antigen-dependent CD4+ T cell restimulation
- Neutrophil-derived oncostatin m contributes to endothelial cell dysfunction during Treponema denticola interaction
- Continental-scale survey of Treponema pallidum in African nonhuman primates: expanding the range to the Mediterranean basin
- Association Between Zinc Status and Tight Junction Integrity and Proinflammatory Cytokine Expression in Crohn's Disease.
BibTeX
@article{demoulins2026indicus,
title = {{Bos indicus cattle resistant to digital dermatitis exhibit a balanced proinflammatory cytokine response upon exposure to Treponema phagedenis in contrast to Bos taurus cattle}},
author = {Thomas Démoulins and Thatcha Yimthin and Laura Tassera and Isabelle Brodard and Lukas Eggerschwiler and Andrew Hemphill and Joerg Jores and Peter Kuhnert},
journal = {Veterinary Research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s13567-026-01848-1},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05793442v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Bos indicus cattle resistant to digital dermatitis exhibit a balanced proinflammatory cytokine response upon exposure to Treponema phagedenis in contrast to Bos taurus cattle
AU - Thomas Démoulins
AU - Thatcha Yimthin
AU - Laura Tassera
AU - Isabelle Brodard
AU - Lukas Eggerschwiler
AU - Andrew Hemphill
AU - Joerg Jores
AU - Peter Kuhnert
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Veterinary Research
DO - 10.1186/s13567-026-01848-1
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05793442v1
AB - Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is a globally distributed infectious hoof disease that negatively impacts the wellbeing and productivity of the affected animal. Treponema species and in particular Treponema phagedenis are the microbes strongly associated with the disease. Recently, it has been reported that Bos indicus cattle are more resistant to BDD and to the colonization by Treponema phagedenis in contrast to many Bos taurus breeds. This study investigated whether Bos indicus mount a different immune response to Treponema phagedenis compared with Bos taurus cattle, to better understand the different disease outcome in the two subspecies. Therefore, we exposed freshly isolated primary bovine blood cells to Treponema phagedenis and dissected subsequent bovine immune responses. The comparison between the two subspecies revealed significant different immune responses to Treponema phagedenis. We observed a stronger Th1/proinflammatory cytokine induction in Bos taurus animals mainly driven by CD4+ T and CD21low B cells in secreting IFN-γ. We assume that these distinct initial immune responses are linked to the control of Treponema phagedenis and the outcome of BDD. Additionally, we observed significant higher levels in the expression of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Bos indicus cattle, which likely benefits the host response to Treponema phagedenis.
SN - 0928-4249
SN - 1297-9716
ER -