Foot and mouth disease (FMD)
Sushmita Moirangthem *
Foot and mouth disease is an acute febrile highly contagious disease of cloven footed animals caused by foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) particularly known as Apthus virus.It is characterised by vesicular eruptions in the epithelium of buccal cavity, tongue, nares, muzzle, feet, teats and udder.
The foot and mouth disease virus(FMDV) are grouped in seven serotypes viz. O, A, C, SAT-1, SAT-2, SAT-3 and Asia-1 among which “O” strain is the most common in India.Cattle are more susceptible. Buffalo, sheep, goat, pig, deer, reindeer, hadge hog are also affected. Transmission of the disease takes place at an extremely rapid rate through direct contact of the infected animals, infected materials, food stuff, feeding utensils, waterer, etc.
The incubation period of the disease is 2-8 days under natural conditions but it may extend to as long as 2-3 weeks. Body temperature rises accompanied by generalised malaise, depression, dejection and apathy to food.
Infected cattle develop fever, inappetence and a drop in milk production. Profuse salivation with characteristic drooling and smacking of lips accompanies the formation of oral vesicles which rupture leaving raw, painful ulcers.Ruptured vesicles in the interdigital cleft and on the coronary band leads to lameness. In severe cases, lesions are severe hooves may slough.
Recently in 2003, an incident was reported in Imphal. Veterinary Department, Chandel in association with Diseases Investigation Laboratory, Sanjenthong, Imphal investigated and treated several cows and buffaloes suspected to be suffering from FMD in surrounding villages of Chandel district Head Quarter.
There is no specific treatment for the clinical FMD. Antiseptic mouthwash with potassium permanganate, sodium carbonate, boric acid and glycerine may be applied over mouth lesions.
Control of the disease can be done with large scale vaccination programme, strict quarantine and slaughter measures. Straw or hay that have been in contact with suspected animals are destroyed and the premises are disinfected.
Some commercial polyvalent vaccine are
a) Foot and mouth disease vaccine
b) Foot and mouth disease vaccine(Hoechst India Ltd)
c) Raksha-FMD vaccine (Indian Immunologicals)
Points to be taken into considerationin an enzootic area where the outbreak is eminent:
* Restriction of animal movements should be made through regulation. No purchased animal from an area where FMD is prevailing be allowed to enter in disease free village.
* Cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats should be vaccinated against FMD.
* Vaccination of all animals of an area/village is to be done at one time.
* Always purchase/produce fodder from a place where FMD has not been recorded for a period of 6 months or so.
Points to be considered following outbreak of FMD in an area:
* Isolate and confine the affected animals immediately after detection.
* Animals should not be allowed to graze in common grazing pasture
* Healthy animals should be attended first and then the affected ones. On attending the sick animals, persons should wash himself and his clothes with 4% sodium carbonate solution.
* Sushmita Moirangthem wrote this article for The Sangai Express
The writer is student of Bvsc & AH 3rd year, College of veterinary sciences and animal husbandry, Selesih, Aizawl.
This article was posted on October 26 2015.
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