04/03/2025
Foot and mouth disease (FMD, Aphthous fever)
is an acute viral and extremely contagious disease of cloven footed animals such as cattle,sheep, goats, pigs and antelope.
It is manifested by vesicles and erosions in the muzzle, nares,mouth, feet, teats, udder and pillar of the rumen. There are three main strains of viruses causingFMD, namely A, O and C.
Three additional strains, SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3 have been isolatedfrom Africa and a further strain ASIA-1 from Asia and the Far East.
: Direct and indirect contact with infected animals and their secretions including
saliva, blood, urine, faeces, milk and semen, aerosol droplet dispersion, infected animal byproducts, swill containing scraps of meat or other animal tissue and fomites and vaccines.
:
Before vesicle formation:
1. Incubation is 1 - 5 days or longer
2. Morbidity: Nearly 100 %
3. Mortality: variable depending on the strain of virus and its virulence and susceptibility of
host; 50 % in young animals, 5 % in adults
4. Fever up to 41.7°C
5. Dullness
6. Lack of appetite
7. Drastic drop in milk production.
8. Uneasiness and muscle tremors
Vesicle formation:
9. Smacking and quivering of lips
10. Extensive salivation and drooling
11. Shaking of feet and lameness
The vesicles and later erosions are commonly found on the muzzle, tongue , oral
cavity, teat and on the skin between and above the hoofs of the feet. In more chronic cases in
cattle the hoof become loose and the animal may walk with characteristic “clicking” sound
(Slippering).
Some strains of FMD, particularly in swine, sheep and goats cause erosions instead of vesicles
findings :
1. Necrosis of heart muscle(tiger heart), usually only in young acutely infected animals.
2. Ulcerative lesions on tongue, palate, gums, pillars of the rumen and feet.
Judgement : In countries or in zones within a country free or nearly free of FMD diseased or
suspect animals are prohibited to be admitted in an abat
