Foot and Mouth Disease

Cause of Foot and Mouth Disease

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is caused by a virus and is probably the most contagious and feared disease of animals. FMD has a great potential for causing heavy loss in susceptible cloven-hoofed animals. There are seven serotypes or subgroups of the FMD virus. Infection with one serotype does not confer immunity against another. FMD cannot be differentiated clinically from other vesicular diseases that have similar symptoms such as swine vesicular disease, vesicular stomatitis, and vesicular exanthema.

Threat of FMD

International trade in meat products and live animals depends on maintaining Canada free of FMD. If the disease should appear in Canada, the ability to export meat and livestock products ceases. Laboratory diagnosis of any suspected FMD case is therefore a matter of urgency to facilitate eradication.

Kinds of Animals Affected

Of the domesticated animal species, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, deer species and buffalo are all susceptible to FMD. In addition, many species of cloven-hoofed wildlife, such as deer, antelope and wild pigs, may become infected. Strains of FMD virus that infect cattle have been isolated from wild pigs and deer. For the diagnosis of FMD in wild species, procedures similar to those described for farm animals can be applied.
 

Symptoms of Foot and Mouth Disease

Infection of susceptible animals with FMD virus leads to the appearance of vesicles (blisters) on the feet, in and around the mouth and tongue, and on the mammary glands of females. Vesicles can also occur at other sites, such as inside the nostrils and at pressure points on the limbs - especially in pigs. Death may result in some cases. Mortality from a multifocal myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) is most commonly seen in young animals. Adult animals may occasionally succumb.
 

What to Do

If farm animals develop blisters of any kind in the mouth or on the feet just where the skin joins the hoof, call your veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian will notify the proper authorities. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for eradication and control of foreign animal diseases. There have been detailed procedures developed to eradicate FMD in Canada should it appear.
 

For More Information contact your Local Specialist or MAFRI GO Teams Office or Centre.