Foot and Mouth Disease

Question 1

What is foot and mouth (FMD)?

Answer 1

A viral disease of cloven hoof stock, both domestic and wild.

Question 2

What is the morbidity of FMD?

Answer 2

Almost 100%, FMD is extremely contagious.

Question 3

Why is FMD a pathogen of concern?

Answer 3

1. It is a potential organism for agroterrorism.
2. Can result in severe economic loss.

Question 4

Where has FMD been eradicated from?

Answer 4

1. North America (Since 1929).
2. Europe.*
   *Virus was found in the UK, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands in 2001.

Question 5

Is FMD zoonotic?

Answer 5

No.

Question 6

How is FMD transmitted?

Answer 6

Direct contact with secretions and excretions from: lesions, respiratory, oral, semen, milk, or fomites.

Question 7

By what routes does FMD enter the body?

Answer 7

1. Skin.
2. Mucous membranes.
3. Oral.
4. Respiratory.

Question 8

What are the clinical symptoms of FMD?

Answer 8

1. Fever.
2. Vesicles on mucous membranes: Teats, hard palate, tongue, interdigital space.
3. Secondary infections can cause laminitis.
4. Mastitis can be caused secondary to the vesicles on the teats.

Question 9

What method is used to eradicate FMD in an area where an outbreak has occurred?

Answer 9

Depopulation and burning the carcasses.

Question 10

What diseases have a similar presentation to FMD?

Answer 10

1. Soremouth.
2. Swine vesicular disease.
3. Bovine viral diarrhea.
4. Foot Rot in cattle.
5. Vesicular stomatitis.
6. Bluetongue.