Foot and Mouth

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Facts On The Disease

General
Foot-and-mouth disease is an acute infectious viral disease causing fever, followed by the development of vesicles (blisters) chiefly in the mouth and on the feet.It is probably more infectious than any other disease affecting animals and spreads rapidly if uncontrolled. It affects cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. Wild and domestic cloven hooved animals and elephants, hedgehogs and rats are also susceptible.

Background of the virus
Previous outbreaks occurred in the eastern and south-eastern counties of Britain when the disease had been prevalent on the continent of Europe. In these cases infection was apparently brought to this country by airborne carriage of the virus under favourable climatic conditions.Imported meat, infect with the virus, may also be a source of infection.

Spread of the disease
Airborne spread of the virus can take place and under favourable climatic conditions the disease may be spread considerable distances by this route.

The virus is present in great quantity in the fluid from the blisters, and it can also occur in the saliva, exhaled air, milk and dung. Any of these can be a source of infection to other stock. At the height of the disease, virus is present in the blood and all parts of the body. Heat, sunlight and disinfectants will destroy the virus, whereas cold and darkness tend to keep it alive. Under favourable conditions it can survive for long periods.

Animals pick up the virus either by direct or indirect contact with an infected animal, or by contact with foodstuffs, which have been contaminated by such an animal. Indirect contact includes airborne contact with infected foodstuffs or any other which may be contaminated by an infected animal or by eating or coming into contact with part of an infected carcass.

Any person who has attended diseases animals can spread the disease; and dogs, cats, poultry, wild game and vermin may also carry infected material.

	Plate 1 - Tongue of steer with 1-day-old vesicle which ruptured when the tongue was drawn from the mouth.
	Plate 2 - Steer with 2-day-old ruptured vesicle along upper gum and several 1-day-old unruptured vesicles on the tongue.
	Plate 3 - Two-day-old ruptured vesicles on the tongue, lower gum and lower lip of a steer. Note sharp edges to ulcerated areas.
	Plate 4 - A further example of 2-day-old lesions in the mouth of a steer. Again note sharp margins of lesions and red raw appearance of exposed dermis.
	Plate 5 - Tongue of steer with 3-day-old lesions. Sero-fibrinous exudation into the lesions has resulted in a loss of earlier red raw appearance and also sharpness of margination. Early granulation evident.
	Plate 6 - Same animal as in plate 5 with 4-day-old lesions. Note progressive loss of lesion margination and extensive fibrin infilling.
	Plate 7 - Steer’s tongue with a 10-day-old lesion characterised by loss of papillae, indentation at the site of the lesion and fibrous tissue proliferation.
	Plate 8 - Foot of a steer with a 2-day-old unruptured vesicle in the inter-digital space.
	Plate 9 - A different steer also with a 2-day-old inter-digital vesicle.
	Plate 10 - The heel bulbs of a steer’s foot with unruptured 2-day-old vesicles
	Plate 11 - The same foot as in Plate 10, 1 day later. The epithelium overlying the vesicle is friable and easily stripped off.
	Plate 12 - A 5-day-old lesion on a steer’s foot. Signs of early granulation are evident.
	Plate 13 - A 7-day-old lesion on a steer’s foot. Healing is progressing underneath the necrotic epithelium.
	Plate 14- Another example of a 7-day-old inter-digital foot lesion on a steer.
	Plate 15 - An 11-day-old foot lesion on the heel bulb of a steer. Note healing and under-running of horn tissue.
	Plate 16- One-day-old vesicles on the teat of a cow. Rupturing has not taken place but several vesicles have coalesced.

 

Clinical signs to look for

Cattle

	Slobbering and smacking of lip
	Shivering
	Tender and sore feet
	Reduced milk yield
	Sores and blisters on feet and mouth
	Raised temperature

Sheep & Goats

	Sudden, severe lameness
	Tendency to lie down
	Reluctant to move when made to stand
	Blisters on hoof and mouth
	May be off colour.

Pigs

	Sudden lameness
	Tendency to lie down
	Lameness, may squeal loudly
	Blisters from on the upper edge of the hoof, where the skin and horn meet
	Blisters on the snout or tongue
	Off feed

Advice to Owners

	Inspect all stock at least once a day
	Do not hurry your inspections
	Check thoroughly for signs of the disease particularly for blisters or sores on the mouth and feet.

THE EARLY REPORTING OF ANY SUSPICION OF DISEASES IS VITAL. IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, DON’T WAIT;
TELEPHONE THE LOCAL ANIMAL HEALTH OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.

If you report suspected disease, a Veterinary Officer will visit your farm as soon as possible to examine your animals, but until they arrive you should:

	Lock your farm gates and put a “Keep Out” sign at farm entrance
	Not allow persons or vehicles to leave or enter your farm
	Not move any stock, crops or anything else off the premises
	Isolate all animals
	Ensure that any good delivered are unloaded at the farm gate
	Ensure suspect animals are not moved on or across a public road

If you are a milk producer you should prevent the collection of milk from your farm by placing a “Do Not Collect” notice at your farm gate.

MINISTRY OF FOOD PRODUCTION & MARINE RESOURCES COUNTY VETERINARY OFFICES & PHONE NUMBERS
For further information please contact the following Veterinary Offices:
St. George	(868) 662-5986
Waller Field & Environs	(868) 667-8488
St. Andrew/St. David	(868) 668-2712
Caroni	(868) 662-5986
Victoria	(868) 652-2033
Nariva/Mayaro	(868) 644-2326
St. Patrick	(868) 647-4672
Carlsen Field	(868) 671-3082
Tobago	(868) 660-2008
Senior Veterinary Officer	(868) 642-0063 or (868) 642-0064