Foot and Mouth Disease

A virus
of the family Picornaviridae, genus Aphthovirus.
Seven immunologically distinct serotypes: A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2,
SAT3, Asia1
Resistance to physical and chemical action
Temperature: Preserved by refrigeration and freezing and
progressively inactivated by temperatures above 50°C
pH: Inactivated by pH <6.0 or >9.0
Disinfectants: Inactivated by sodium hydroxide (2%), sodium
carbonate (4%), and citric acid (0.2%). Resistant to
iodophores, quaternary ammonium compounds,
hypoclorite and phenol, especially in the presence of
organic matter
Survival: Survives in lymph nodes and bone marrow at neutral
pH, but destroyed in muscle when is pH <6.0 i.e. after
rigor mortis. Can persist in contaminated fodder and the
environment for up to 1 month, depending on the
temperature and pH conditions

EPIDEMIOLOGY
One of the most contagious animal diseases, with important
economic losses
Low mortality rate in adult animals, but often high mortality in
young due to myocarditis
Hosts
Bovidae (cattle, zebus, domestic buffaloes, yaks), sheep, goats,
swine, all wild ruminants and suidae. Camelidae (camels,
dromedaries, llamas, vicunas) have low susceptibility
Virus Transmission
Direct or indirect contact (droplets)
Animate vectors (humans, etc.)
Inanimate vectors (vehicles, implements)
Airborne, especially temperate zones (up to 60 km overland and
300 km by sea)
DISEASE TRANSMISSION
The disease may be transmitted in many ways, including:
Direct contact. FMD can be readily spread by direct contact
between infected and susceptible animals, and this is by far the
most significant mode of transmission. Stocking density is a
determinant of the rate of spread of the disease under intensive
farming. Conversely, disease spread in extensive grazing areas in
hotter climates can be more insidious. Congregation of animals,
for example at common watering-points, at gatherings for
vaccination, dipping, shearing, etc. or through transhumance or
nomadism, favours spread of the disease to new herds and areas.
The disease can also be disseminated very rapidly by movement
of infected animals through livestock markets and shows. In this
context, animals that are excreting virus but have not yet
developed obvious lesions are particularly significant. The role of
persistently infected animals in the transmission of FMD has been
uncertain.
Indirect transmission. The FMD viruses easily spread
mechanically by a variety of fomites including animal foodstuffs,
bedding, equipment, livestock holding areas, vehicles (particularly
the transport compartment of livestock vehicles), clothing, etc.
that have been contaminated with infected secretions and
excretions (saliva, milk, faeces and urine). Climatic and
environmental factors will determine how long the virus will
persist on fomites. Veterinarians and other workers who have
close contact with livestock are at risk of carrying the virus from
farm to farm.
Contaminated feeding. Contaminated silage and green
roughages in open grazing areas is one of the important factors in
spread of disease.
Windborne spread. Infection by wind over considerable
distances in temperate climates is believed to have occurred in
several outbreaks colder regions of the country. Although most
windborne spread over land is confined to 10 km, a spread over
water of 250 km may occur. Additionally, the following climatic
conditions are required: slow and steady wind speed and
direction, high relative humidity (optimally above 60 percent),
weak sunlight and absence of heavy rain.
Artificial breeding. Transmission of the FMD virus can occur
through artificial insemination using infected semen. However,
embryo transplantation using properly collected and washed
embryos with intact zona pellucidas (using
protocols described by the International Embryo Transfer Society
[IETS]) does not constitute a risk.
Sources of virus
Incubating and clinically affected animals
Breath, saliva, faeces, and urine; milk and semen (up to 4 days
before clinical signs)
Meat and by-products in which pH has remained above 6.0
Carriers: particularly cattle and water buffalo; convalescent
animals and exposed vaccinates (virus persists in the oropharynx
for up to 30 months in cattle or longer
in buffalo, 9 months in sheep). African
Cape buffalo are the major
maintenance host of SAT serotypes
Occurrence
FMD is endemic in parts of Asia,
Africa, the Middle East and South
America (sporadic outbreaks in free
areas)

DIAGNOSIS
Incubation period is 2-14 days
Clinical diagnosis
Cattle
Pyrexia, anorexia, shivering, reduction in milk
production for 2-3 days, then smacking of the
lips, grinding of the teeth and salivation
drooling, lameness, stamping or kicking of
the feet: caused by vesicles (aphthae) on
buccal and nasal mucous membranes and/or
between the claws and coronary band
after 24 hours: rupture of vesicles leaving
erosions
vesicles can also occur on the mammary
glands
Recovery generally occurs within 8-15 days
Complications: tongue erosions,
superinfection of lesions, hoof deformation,
mastitis and permanent impairment of milk
production, myocarditis, abortion, death of
young animals, permanent loss of weight,
loss of heat control ('panters')
Sheep and goats

Lesions are less pronounced. Foot lesions

may go unrecognised. Lesions in dental
pad of sheep. Agalactia in milking sheep
and goats is a feature. Death of young
stock

Lesions
Vesicles or blisters on the tongue, dental pad, gums, cheek, hard
and soft palate, lips, nostrils, muzzle, coronary bands, teats,
udder, snout of pigs, corium of dewclaws and interdigital spaces
Post-mortem lesions on rumen pillars, in the myocardium,
particularly of young animals (tiger heart)

Differential diagnosis
Clinically indistinguishable:
Vesicular stomatitis
Swine vesicular disease
Vesicular exanthema of swine
Other differential diagnosis:
Rinderpest
Mucosal disease
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis
Bluetongue
Bovine mammillitis
Bovine papular stomatitis
Bovine viral diarrhoea
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Sanitary prophylaxis
Protection of free zones by border animal movement control and
surveillance
Slaughter of infected, recovered, and FMD-susceptible contact
animals
Disinfection of premises and all infected material (implements,
cars, clothes, etc.)
Destruction of cadavers, litter, and susceptible animal products in
the infected area
Quarantine measures
Medical prophylaxis Control/Vaccine
To eradicate the disease a stamping out policy can be applied. This
involves quarantine, movement restrictions and slaughter and
disposal of all affected an in-contact livestock on affected
premises followed by cleaning and disinfection.
Inactivated vaccines have been successfully used in many parts of
the world. Although protected against disease, vaccinated animals
are not totally resistant and can still become infected and shed
virus. Resistance falls fairly quickly, so animals must be
revaccinated at regular intervals (4-6 months) to maintain
immunity.