FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS

exp date isn't null, but text field is

Causative Agents(s)

Foot and Mouth Disease Virus FMD. It is a member of the family Picornaviridae and genus Aphthovirus. It is a nonenveloped, icosahedral virus, 26–30 nm in diameter, containing a single positive-sense RNA of 8300 nucleotides in length.

Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology

FMDV infection is endemic in large areas of Africa (mainly the SAT types, but also type O, A and C), Asia and the Middle East (types O, A, and Asia 1).

The virus has shown an extraordinary ability to cross international boundaries and cause epidemics in previously free areas.

FMD is characterized by fever and the formation of vesicles and ulcers in and around the mouth, feet, snout, teats, mammary gland, prepuce, and vulva.

In some pigs, accessory digits, pressure points on the knees, hocks, and elbows, may be affected especially when animals are kept on concrete.

Lactating sows often develop vesicles on the udder.

Infected animals sometimes lose their claws.

The lesions of FMD are a consistent finding in all animals.

Diagnostic Considerations

Laboratory examination is the only way to distinguish FMD from other vesicular diseases of pigs.

The laboratory tests required for this are Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques.

Management and Treatment

There is no treatment against FMDV-infected pigs. Other approaches to management include:

Vaccines are available to control the disease however multiple serotypes of the virus should be considered when using vaccines to control the disease.

Once FMD becomes established in a herd, it is difficult to control by vaccination.