Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. It is not the same as hand, foot, and mouth disease, which affects humans.
Key Characteristics of Foot-and-Mouth Disease
- Hosts: Primarily affects livestock, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, and buffalo.
- Cause: Caused by the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), an Aphthovirus of the Picornaviridae family. There are multiple serotypes and subtypes of FMDV, making control challenging.
- Transmission: Spreads rapidly through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated objects (fomites), airborne transmission, and even through the movement of people.
- Symptoms: Characterized by fever, followed by the development of vesicles (blisters) in the mouth, on the feet (between the claws and around the coronary band), and sometimes on the teats. Affected animals may drool excessively, become lame, and show reduced appetite.
- Impact: While mortality is usually low in adult animals, FMD can cause significant economic losses due to reduced milk production, weight loss, infertility, trade restrictions, and the costs associated with disease control measures (including culling infected animals).
- Control: Control measures include:
- Vaccination: Used to create immunity in susceptible populations.
- Movement restrictions: To prevent the spread of the virus from infected areas.
- Culling: Slaughter of infected and potentially exposed animals.
- Biosecurity: Implementing strict hygiene and sanitation practices on farms.
- Zoonotic Potential: Foot-and-mouth disease is not considered a zoonotic disease, meaning it does not typically infect humans. The human disease with a similar name is hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is caused by different viruses.
Table Comparing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
| Feature | Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) | Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) |
|---|---|---|
| Hosts | Cloven-hoofed animals | Humans (primarily children) |
| Cause | Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) | Coxsackieviruses, enteroviruses |
| Zoonotic | No | No |
| Economic Impact | High (livestock industry) | Low |
Foot-and-mouth disease poses a major threat to livestock industries worldwide. Prevention and control efforts are crucial for minimizing its economic and agricultural impact.
