Learn Animal Disease with Braimy -B.Sc. Agriculture
About Lesson
  • Also known as FMD, Apthous fever and tiger heart disease.
  • Acute viral disease.
  • Formation of vesicles in the foot and mouth.
  • Characterized by fever, vesicles and conjunctivitis.

Namibia reports outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease - Peoples Gazette

a) Etiology:

  • Apthovirus or picorna virus ( Picornaviridae family)
  • Mostly affects cattle, swine, sheep, goat, etc.
  • Virus can cause severe lesions on the myocardium of young animals, leading to high mortality rate.

b) Epidemiology of disease:

  • Limited no. of infective particle can initiate host infection.
  • Inhalation of infected droplets or fomites.
  • Ingestion of contaminated food and water.
  • Mechanically by human and animals.
  • Main route of virus entry: Respiratory tract

c) Diagnosis of disease:

  • Virus isolation, Sandwich ELISA, Multiplex PCR, Indirect ELISA and realtime PCR.

d) Symptoms:

  • Fever ( 10.-105 0F)
  • Viscous salivation
  • Blisters formation in the mouth
  • Blister rupture within 24 hrs causing raw and painful ulcers.

e) Treatment:

  • Treatment of mouth lesions by antiseptic mouth wash.
  • Treatment of foot lesions by antiseptic dressing ( 2% CuSO4 solution)
  • Apply antiseptic ointment locally to relieve local severe burning pain.
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