Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the most economically devastating livestock diseases worldwide. While North America has remained free of this virus for decades, it is essential for farmers, veterinarians, and hoof care professionals to understand FMD so that we can continue to prevent it.
Hoof trimmers recognize that knowledge about serious viral diseases helps protect the livestock industry. This guide covers everything about Foot and Mouth Disease, from its causes to prevention strategies.
We’re sharing this information to help farmers understand FMD, not replace veterinary expertise. Diamond Hoof Care’s focus is on hoof health, but understanding serious viral diseases like FMD protects the livestock industry. Always consult your veterinarian for animal health concerns, and remember that FMD is a reportable disease: If you suspect it, contact your vet and local authorities immediately.
What is Foot and Mouth Disease?
FMD is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cattle. The World Organization for Animal Health identifies it as one of the most economically significant animal diseases globally, impacting cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals.
Seven distinct types of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) exist, with over 60 subtypes. This diversity means that immunity to one strain offers no protection against others, complicating vaccination strategies and disease control.
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reports that the US has been FMD-free since 1929, and Canada since 1952. Despite this success in North America, FMD remains endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, and South America, posing risks through international trade and travel.
Causes and Transmission
The FMD virus spreads through several pathways that threaten livestock operations. Research in Frontiers in Veterinary Science highlights the transmission routes farmers and veterinarians must understand to implement effective biosecurity measures.
Direct Contact and Contaminated Materials
The primary transmission method is direct contact between infected and susceptible animals. The virus also spreads through contaminated feed, water, bedding, and equipment. Personnel movement between farms can carry it on clothing, boots, and vehicles.
Airborne Transmission and Environmental Factors
Airborne transmission is a significant concern. Under favourable weather conditions with moderate temperatures, high humidity, and specific wind patterns, FMD virus can travel up to 50 kilometers over land and greater distances over water. This capability makes containment very challenging once an outbreak begins.
Wildlife can be carriers, especially where wild cloven-hoofed animals interact with domestic livestock. The virus persists in recovered animals for extended periods, creating ongoing transmission risks even after recovery.
Symptoms of FMD in Cattle
Bovine FMD symptoms appear 2-8 days after infection and follow a predictable pattern. The disease begins with fever and general illness, followed by the characteristic vesicles (blisters) that give it its name. Recognizing these early warning signs is crucial for prompt detection and response.
Fever
Initial FMD symptoms begin with high fever, about 104°F (⁓40°C), lasting 2-3 days. During this time, animals show depression, reduced appetite, and excessive salivation.
Affected cattle often separate from the herd and resist moving. This initial phase can resemble other viral infections, making early diagnosis challenging without lab confirmation.
Blisters on the Mouth
Within 24-48 hours of fever onset, characteristic mouth blisters develop – a key sign of bovine FMD. These vesicles appear in and around the mouth: on the tongue, gums, dental pad, and inside the lips.
The Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University notes that these blisters typically rupture rapidly, developing into erosions. When the blisters in the cow’s mouth rupture, they leave painful raw areas that significantly impact feeding behaviour. Excessive drooling creates long strings of saliva, which is a characteristic sign for farmers.
This mouth discomfort causes significant weight loss and dehydration if animals cannot feed properly.
Lameness
Our expertise lies in hoof care, and we see many causes of lameness. We handle the various challenges in our resource blog. FMD-related lameness is different from our treatments, and we’ve never seen it in North America. The UK’s 2001 outbreak provided valuable research documented by NADIS Animal Health Skills.
FMD creates painful blisters between the claws and around the coronary band (where hair meets the horn), causing cattle to be severely lame and reluctant to move. During the active disease phase, foot sores may become infected, worsening lameness. Animals may refuse to get up and lose significant weight due to their inability to eat and drink.
Sores start healing around day 10 after infection, but full recovery takes weeks. Cattle continue to lose body condition, and milk production remains severely reduced.
Reduced Milk Production
Dairy operations face severe production losses during FMD outbreaks, with drops of 25-50% or more, depending on the severity of the disease.
Milk production declines due to factors like fever, pain, reduced feed intake, and stress. After recovery from acute symptoms, production may remain below normal for weeks or months. Additionally, during infection, milk quality changes, with increased somatic cell counts and altered protein and fat content, making it unsuitable for processing.
Diagnosis and Treatment
How to Diagnose Foot and Mouth Disease
FMD diagnosis requires immediate veterinary involvement due to its reportable status and similarity to other vesicular diseases. The Merck Veterinary Manual emphasizes that clinical signs alone cannot definitively diagnose FMD.
Laboratory confirmation involves collecting samples from fresh vesicles for virus detection through RT-PCR or isolation. Serological testing can identify antibodies but requires multiple samples over time to confirm infection versus vaccination history.
Veterinarians must differentiate FMD from other vesicular diseases like vesicular stomatitis, swine vesicular disease, and vesicular exanthema. This differential diagnosis is essential since these diseases have different trade and control implications.
How to Treat FMD
No specific antiviral treatment exists for FMD. Management focuses on supportive care, including providing soft feed that requires minimal chewing, ensuring adequate access to water, and managing secondary bacterial infections.
Recent research from the University of Sydney suggests promising developments in FMD treatment. Clinical trials in Laos and Cameroon showed that Tri-Solfen, a topical wound treatment, accelerates recovery when applied directly to FMD lesions. Treated animals showed improvement in mobility and feeding behaviour within days, offering a potential alternative to traditional antibiotic therapy for managing FMD symptoms.
Preventing FMD
While FMD is absent from North America, prevention strategies remain critical. The interconnected nature of modern agriculture demands constant attention and preparation.
The most effective approach remains biosecurity prevention. We focus on preventing common hoof diseases, such as digital dermatitis, but broader hygiene protocols are essential for preventing this viral disease. Resources like Intracare’s hygiene protocols provide guidance for maintaining farm biosecurity against various threats.
Vaccination Programs
In regions where FMD is endemic, the primary defence against outbreaks is vaccination. Recent technology developments show promising advances. In 2024, Australia announced plans to produce mRNA vaccines against FMD domestically, representing a significant breakthrough. This development could transform FMD prevention globally, offering faster production and improved efficacy compared to traditional vaccines.
Biosecurity Measures
Strict biosecurity protocols are crucial for preventing FMD. These include:
- Quarantine procedures for imported animals and animal products.
- Disinfection protocols for vehicles, equipment, and staff.
- Restricted access to livestock facilities.
- Regular health monitoring and reporting systems.
Conclusion
Foot and Mouth Disease threatens global livestock industries. North America has maintained its FMD-free status for decades, but the interconnected nature of modern agriculture requires ongoing vigilance.
Understanding FMD symptoms, transmission routes, and prevention strategies helps livestock owners protect their operations. As hoof care professionals, we recognize that healthy animals start with comprehensive disease prevention programs addressing routine hoof maintenance and emergency preparedness.
The economic impact of FMD extends beyond individual farms, affecting entire regions through trade restrictions and control measures. Our strongest defence against this disease is maintaining awareness and implementing proper biosecurity measures.
Questions and Answers on FMD
Can humans get Foot and Mouth Disease?
Bovine FMD devastates cattle herds, but it rarely affects humans, and when it does, symptoms are mild. The Canadian Inspection website clarifies that FMD is not to be confused with Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, which is caused by a different virus. Understanding this distinction is crucial for farmers dealing with livestock viral diseases.
Is FMD fatal for cows?
FMD causes significant economic losses through reduced production and trade restrictions, but the disease has a low mortality rate in mature cattle.
How long does the FMD virus survive in the environment?
FMD virus survival depends on environmental conditions. Survival times can be weeks to months in cool, moist conditions, but only days in hot, dry environments. On contaminated equipment and clothing, the virus can survive for several weeks, while in frozen meat products, it can remain viable for months.
Important Notice: This article is for educational purposes only. Always consult your veterinarian for animal health concerns. FMD is a reportable disease. If you suspect FMD, contact your local animal health authorities and veterinarian.
