Foot and Mouth Disease
What is it?
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is an extremely
contagious viral disease. It affects all cloven hoofed mammals like cattle,
pigs, sheep and goats, and others. There are seven major types of the virus
belonging to the Picornaviridae family. One of the most relevant risks of the
disease is its ability to spread rapidly in livestock populations, which leads
to increased morbidity, depopulation, and trade restrictions. The disease is
regulated and tracked worldwide, and North America remains FMD free for the
last six decades. It is endemic in areas of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
How is it transmitted?
Disease
transmission is what makes FMD such a large concern for animal health
officials and the livestock industry. The virus is shed via an infected
animal’s excretions and secretions including their breath, milk, semen,
saliva, urine and feces. The aerosolized virus can travel great distances and
survive in the environment and on equipment for weeks and months. The virus is
also found in uncooked meat and meat products, which can affect animals like
pigs who are fed uncooked food waste.
What are the clinical signs?
The seven
serotypes of the virus present slightly differently in each species and can
range from mild signs to severe infection and mortality. A primary indicator
in most species is the formation of vesicles (blisters) on the animal’s face
or near its hooves. Because the vesicles rupture and are painful, they cause
noticeable signs in animals like depression, lameness, and reluctance to
stand. Vesicles within the mouth and on the tongue can also cause excessive
drooling and some animals will stop eating and drinking. A decline in milk
production and mortality in young or weak animals can also indicate a FMD
infection.
How is it diagnosed?
The most
common way to diagnose the disease is for a veterinarian to collect fluid
samples from vesicles on a suspect animal. Those samples are then tested in a
laboratory to confirm the disease. Samples are collected by trained government
veterinarians (Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians) and tested at the USDA’s
Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.
How is it treated?
There is no
treatment for FMD. If a case is detected in the U.S. the herd will be
quarantined and depopulated to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Is there a risk to people?
The disease
is not considered a public health risk. However, caution should always be
exercised around suspected cases to prevent transmission of the disease. A
similarly named disease (hand, foot and mouth) in people is not related to
FMD.
How can it be prevented?
Disease
surveillance and documented animal movements are the primary ways to identify
and subsequently prevent FMD. Animals cannot be imported from known endemic
areas. Additionally, with all diseases, producers should have biosecurity
practices in place on their property. Veterinarians should monitor for the
clinical signs in a herd and immediately report any suspect cases to the
Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
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