UNDERSTANDING FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE INFECTION

by Cleon V. Kimberling Extension Veterinarian Colorado State University

FOR AN INFECTION TO OCCUR THERE IS A CHAIN OF EVENTS HOST AGENT MODE OF ESCAPE MODE OF TRANSMISSION MODE OF ENTRY SUSCEPTIBLE HOST

HOSTS
CATTLE SWINE SHEEP & GOATS ALL CLOVEN HOOFED ANIMALS. CAMELIDS ARE NOT HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE

RESISTANT SPECIES

HORSES
MAN

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IS NOT A HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD

AGENT (FMD VIRUS)

VIRUS EXTREMELY SMALL EXTREMELY HARDY NOT KILLED BY NORMAL PASTEURIZATION LIVES FOR MONTHS IN MEAT & MILK PRODUCTS

AGENT (FMD VIRUS)

RESISTANT TO MANY COMMON DISINFECTANTS

A LOW OR HIGH PH KILLS THE VIRUS VINEGAR CLOROX LYE (NaOH)

AGENT (FMD VIRUS)

SURVIVES FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS IN DRIED SECRETIONS SURVIVES LONG PERIODS IN COOL DAMP CLIMATES

AGENT (FMD VIRUS) HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS IT TAKES VERY FEW VIRUS PARTICALS TO CAUSE AN INFECTION A PIECE OF INFECTED MATERIAL THE SIZE OF A QUARTER WILL INFECT 1,000,000 HEAD OF CATTLE

HOW DOES THE VIRUS ESCAPE FROM THE ANIMAL? IN RUPTURED VESCICLE FLUID EXHALED AIR SALIVA MILK SEMEN FECES URINE

TRANSMISSION THE VIRUS IS SHED 5-10 BEFORE CLINICAL SIGNS APPEAR VACCINATED ANIMALS CAN SHED THE ORGANISM
RECOVERED CATTLE, SHEEP AND BUFFALO CAN BECOME CARRIERS

FMD VIRUS SURVIVES UP TO 3 DAYS IN MUSCLE FOR MONTHS IN CHILLED OR FROZEN LYMPH NODES, BONE MARROW, VISCERA AND RESIDUAL BLOOD CLOTS

SOME PLACES WHERE THE VIRUS HIDES OUT SAUSAGE/HAM/BACON 190 DAYS DRIED SKIM MILK 2 YEARS CURED HIDES 352 DAYS SURVIVAL OF THE FMD VIRUS DEPENDS ON pH, TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY

MODES OF TRANSMISSION
DIRECT CONTACT & RESPIRATORY AEROSOLS LIVE ANIMAL MOVEMENT ARTIFICIAL BREEDING WINDBORNE SPREAD PIG EMIT 1,000,000,000 I U /DAY

TRANSMISSION
ANIMAL PRODUCTS & BY-PRODUCTS VECTORS MECHANICAL SPREAD/FOMITES

MODE OF ENTRY
INGESTION INHALATION

ARTIFICIAL INSEMENATION

SUSCEPTIBILITY OF A NEW HOST PIGS, CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS AND WILD ANIMALS

WHERE DO WE BREAK THE CHAIN? PREVENT ENTRY OF THE VIRUS

ALTER THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE HOST BY VACCINATION

DISEASES THAT CAUSE BLISTERS AND SIMILAR SIGNS

VESICULAR STOMATITIS

IF YOU HAVE AN ANIMAL WITH MOUTH, FEET OR TEAT LESIONS CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN

HOW DO WE HANDLE A SUSPECTED CASE? IMMEDIATE PREMISE AND 1 MILE QUARANTINE

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH A FMD OUTBREAK? QUARANTINE AND CULLING OF ANIMALS VACCINATION AND CULLING

WHO IS IN CHARGE? WHO PAYS THE BILL? WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS?

WHERE DO I GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?

www.footandmouth.colostate.edu

www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/default.html
www.guardian.co.uk/gallery/0,2759,180825,00.html