Posted by Rick Burten on February 24, 2003 at 22:16:12:
In Reply to: Thrush posted by chris on February 24, 2003 at 12:10:35:
: Hi,
: I’m not “scientific” minded and a bit confused. I have read various texts on thrush to better understand the problem. Is Thrush a Bacterial problem, a fungal problem or both? What is the primary driver behind thrush and the degeneration of the frog? I have read that “Spherophorus neaophorus is the fungus that eats away at the tissues” and “thrush is an anaerobic bacterial infection.”
: Is thrush an anaerobic bacterial infection A.K.A. Spherophorus neaophorus the fungus that eats away at the dead horn material of the frog?
: Chris
From "Adams' Lameness in Horses" Fifth Edition, Ted S. Stashak, pp.719:
"Thrush, Etiology,: Contributing factors for thrush are wet, unhygienic stable conditions, especially when horses stand in urine and manure-soiled bedding; neglect of daily foot care; and lack of exercise. Inadequate or improper trimming and shoeing, which promotes long contracted heels and deepo sulci, appears to increase the risk of infection. Although no specific organisms hve been identified as the cause, FUSOBACTERIUM NECROPHORUM is commonly isolated."
Thrush is the result of an anaerobic bacterial infection.
Rick