VetMasterJiIntegumentary · Cattle, pigs, sheep and goats
Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD, Aphthous fever) is a integumentary condition of cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Key signs are vesicles on tongue, dental pad, gums and lips, vesicles on coronary band and interdigital cleft and vesicles on teats; diagnosis rests on NOTIFIABLE — report to state/national veterinary authority immediately and RT-PCR on vesicular fluid or epithelium. Low direct mortality in adults (<5%) but devastating production losses, abortions, and trade restrictions.
At a glance
- Species
- Cattle, pigs, sheep and goats
- Body system
- Integumentary
- Also known as
- FMD, Aphthous fever
Key clinical signs
- Vesicles on tongue, dental pad, gums and lips
- Vesicles on coronary band and interdigital cleft
- Vesicles on teats
- Profuse salivation / smacking lips
- Severe lameness
- Fever (40–41 °C) early
Other signs
- Sudden drop in milk yield
- Anorexia, depression
- Sudden death in young animals (myocarditis — "tiger heart")
- Abortion
Differential diagnoses
- Vesicular stomatitis (clinically indistinguishable; affects horses)
- Bovine viral diarrhoea / mucosal disease
- Bluetongue
- Rinderpest (now eradicated)
- Orf (in small ruminants)
- Swine vesicular disease
Diagnosis
- NOTIFIABLE — report to state/national veterinary authority immediately
- RT-PCR on vesicular fluid or epithelium
- Virus isolation (BSL-3 reference lab)
- ELISA for antigen and antibody
Treatment outline
No curative treatment. In endemic regions: supportive care (soft palatable feed, antiseptic mouth/teat washes, parenteral antibiotics for secondary bacterial infection), restricted movement. In FMD-free regions: stamping-out with movement restrictions, ring-vaccination, and disinfection. Vaccination using inactivated polyvalent vaccines is the mainstay of control in endemic areas.
An outline, not a prescription. Check each drug’s dose for the species, the patient and the product in the drug calculator before use.
Prognosis
Low direct mortality in adults (<5%) but devastating production losses, abortions, and trade restrictions. Mortality up to 50% in young calves due to myocarditis.
Frequently asked questions
What are the signs of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle, pigs, sheep and goats?
Vesicles on tongue, dental pad, gums and lips, vesicles on coronary band and interdigital cleft, vesicles on teats, profuse salivation / smacking lips, severe lameness and fever (40–41 °c) early. Less specific signs include sudden drop in milk yield, anorexia, depression and sudden death in young animals (myocarditis — "tiger heart").
How is foot-and-mouth disease diagnosed?
NOTIFIABLE — report to state/national veterinary authority immediately, RT-PCR on vesicular fluid or epithelium, Virus isolation (BSL-3 reference lab) and ELISA for antigen and antibody. Differentials to rule out include vesicular stomatitis (clinically indistinguishable; affects horses), bovine viral diarrhoea / mucosal disease, bluetongue and rinderpest (now eradicated).
How is foot-and-mouth disease treated?
No curative treatment. In endemic regions: supportive care (soft palatable feed, antiseptic mouth/teat washes, parenteral antibiotics for secondary bacterial infection), restricted movement. In FMD-free regions: stamping-out with movement restrictions, ring-vaccination, and disinfection. Vaccination using inactivated polyvalent vaccines is the mainstay of control in endemic areas.
What is the prognosis for foot-and-mouth disease?
Low direct mortality in adults (<5%) but devastating production losses, abortions, and trade restrictions. Mortality up to 50% in young calves due to myocarditis.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition
Last reviewed · VetMasterJi