Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD):

• Also known as FMD, Apthous fever and tiger heart disease.
• Acute viral disease.
• Formation of vesicles in the foot and mouth.
• Characterized by fever, vesicles and conjunctivitis.

a) Etiology:

• Apthovirus or picorna virus ( Picornaviridae family)
• Mostly affects cattle, swine, sheep, goat, etc.
• Virus can cause severe lesions on the myocardium of young animals, leading to high mortality rate.

b) Epidemiology of disease:

• Limited no. of infective particle can initiate host infection.
• Inhalation of infected droplets or fomites.
• Ingestion of contaminated food and water.
• Mechanically by human and animals.
• Main route of virus entry: Respiratory tract

c) Diagnosis of disease:

• Virus isolation, Sandwich ELISA, Multiplex PCR, Indirect ELISA and realtime PCR.

d) Symptoms:

• Fever ( 10.-105 ⁰F)
• Viscous salivation
• Blisters formation in the mouth
• Blister rupture within 24 hrs causing raw and painful ulcers.

e) Treatment:

• Treatment of mouth lesions by antiseptic mouth wash.
• Treatment of foot lesions by antiseptic dressing ( 2% CuSO₄ solution)
• Apply antiseptic ointment locally to relieve local severe burning pain.