Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Maria Villagrasa & Nuria Garcia

Foot and mouth disease (FMD), is a serious and highly contagious viral disease that affects livestock and has a significant economic impact; causes serious loss of production and, although most of the affected animals recover, they remain weak.

It is caused by a virus of the Picornaviridae family of which there are seven strains that are endemic in different countries of the world; each strain requires a specific vaccine. Infected animals exhale the virus that can infect other animals by air or oral route.

Nuria Garcia

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease caused by an Aphthovirus that spreads quickly and produces significant economic losses in the cattle industry. The virus is found in all excretions and secretions from infected animals, and the disease is characterized by fever and blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves.