Foot and mouth disease in cattle

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral vesicular disease of cloven-hoofed animals.  Foot and mouth disease virus is the prototype member of the Aphthovirus genus of the family Picornaviridae.

Although seldom lethal in adult animals, it causes serious production losses and is a major constraint to international trade in livestock and livestock products.

Foot and mouth disease spreads mots rapidly during the summer months because of the greater traffic in animals then.

Foot and mouth disease is most commonly associated with movement of infected animals and their contact with susceptible animals.

During the early stages of disease, infected animals shed virus in all their excretions and secretions, including their breath. The disease is characterized by depression, fever, and the appearance of vesicles filled with clear fluid in certain mucous membranes and portions of the skin.

The essential pathological change in the tongue is necrosis of epithelial cells in the stratum spinosum, intracellular edema and granulocytic infiltration.

The disease is endemic and at a high prevalence in many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and is also present in parts of South America.
Foot and mouth disease in cattle

Characteristics of foot and mouth disease

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven hoofed animals such as cattle.

Cattle develops a fever and blisters on their tongue, lips and between their hooves.

Foot and mouth disease, which was eradicated from the United States in 1929 is easily spread.

And while most animals survive, they are severely debilitated which limits milk and meat production.

The disease is quite hardy in the environment. It can persist for up to a month in contaminate fodder or the environment.

Foot and mouth disease virus is the prototype member of the Aphthovirus genus of the family Picornaviridae.

The virus exist in the form of seven different serotypes: A, O, C, Asia 1 and South African Territories I (SAT I), SAT 2) and SAT 3.

Foot and mouth disease is endemic in large areas of Africa, Asia and South America, and the infection has a remarkable ability to spread over long distances and to cause epidemics in previously free areas.
Characteristics of foot and mouth disease