THE foot-and-mouth disease is a disease caused by virus, which, contrary to what many people think, does not only affect the cattle, also affecting animals such as swine, sheep and goats. Animals with foot-and-mouth disease develop symptoms such as weight loss, fever and the appearance of blisters, erosions and ulcers. The first official record of foot-and-mouth disease in Brazil occurred in 1895, in the Triângulo Mineiro region, and the last case recorded in Brazil was in 2006.
FMD causes a lot economic loss, negatively affecting livestock. It triggers problems in the production of meat and milk, in addition to problems with the marketing of its products and by-products. When there are registered cases of the disease in a region, there is, for example, the emergence of trade barriers, which end up restricting the export of meat.
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What is foot-and-mouth disease?
Foot-and-mouth disease is a disease highly contagious triggered by a virus. It affects cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camelids, elephants and ruminants wild. In rare cases, humans can also be affected by the disease.
Foot-and-mouth disease occurs in different parts of the world, with cases being known in Africa, part of Europe, Asia, and much of South America, including Brazil. It is worth noting, however, that the last case of foot-and-mouth disease in Brazil was registered in 2006.
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What causes foot-and-mouth disease?
Foot-and-mouth disease is a disease caused by a virus of the family Picoraviridae andgender Aphthoviruss. Seven types of foot and mouth virus have already been identified: A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3 and ASIA1. Within each of these types there are subtypes of the viruses. In South America, the occurrence of three types of foot-and-mouth virus A, O and C is observed.
The virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease is very resistant to normal environmental conditions and can remain active for long periods. However, are quickly inactivated in high or low p situations.H, sunlight, high temperatures and certain disinfectants.
How is foot-and-mouth disease transmitted?
Foot-and-mouth disease is transmitted by contact of sick animals with susceptible animals or even by the contact objects, Water and contaminated food. The sick animal eliminates the virus through saliva, milk, urine, feces and semen, which leads to environmental contamination.
Usually the entry of the virus into the animal's body occurs through the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, when this animal feeds on contaminated water or food, or by the airway, when the sick animal releases droplets with the virus.
Read too: Are there diseases that occur in both humans and other animals?
What are the symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease?
Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious, however, does not present high mortality. In adult animals, mortality is around 2%, while in young herds, it is around 20%. Mortality in younger animals results from the appearance of cardiac lesions. Although most animals do not die from the disease, they are very debilitated.
The best known clinical sign of the disease is the onset of vesicles (thrush) in the mouth and feet region. In cattle, there is excessive salivation, difficulty feeding, fever, restlessness, reduced milk production, teat pain when breastfeeding or milking, and weight loss.
US sheep and goats, clinical signs in the mouth occur less frequently, with fever and severe laminitis (an inflammatory process affecting the hoof) being observed. In pigs symptoms include difficulty chewing and swallowing, fever, restlessness, and laminitis. In these animals, the signs in the mouth are less visible, but lesions on the tongue and muzzle may appear.
Is foot-and-mouth disease treated?
![Vaccination is an important process to achieve eradication of the disease. [1]](/f/c1b65230062ce58b124e3ca6d6f84a01.jpg)
Foot-and-mouth disease is a disease that there is no treatment, being observed the natural recovery of the animal between two and three weeks. However, all animals with foot-and-mouth disease must be euthanized in order to prevent the spread of the disease. Therefore, as soon as the owner of the animal suspects a case of foot-and-mouth disease, he must report it quickly to the veterinary service to confirm the diagnosis and for the appropriate sanitary measures to be sockets.
How is FMD prevention done?
Foot-and-mouth disease is prevented through vaccination, which began in Brazil in the early 1960s. The foot and mouth vaccine used in South America is trivalent inactivated against types A, O and C.
Currently, vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease is carried out in most Brazilian states, with only some regions, considered disease-free zones, without vaccination, where the vaccine is no longer required. The expectation is to suspend vaccination in all Brazilian states until 2026.
Editorial credit:
[1] Joa Souza / Shutterstock.com
by Vanessa dos Santos
Biology teacher
