Foot And Mouth Disease In Cattle

What is Foot and Mouth Disease?

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious virus disease of animals. It is one of the most serious livestock diseases. It affects cloven-hoofed animals (those with divided hoofs), including cattle, buffalo, camels, sheep, goats, deer and pigs. It is found in many parts of the world, and has been reported in countries in Africa, the Middles East, Asia and South America. While it can cause serious production losses the most significant impact of the disease occurs because of its effect on trade in livestock and livestock products. Countries without the disease, which include many of Australia’s major trading partners do not import from, or severely restrict imports from FMD-infected countries.

There are seven serotypes of the virus: A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3 and Asia1. These are further subdivided into more than 60 strains. The importance of these serotypes is that protection against one serotype (e.g. through vaccination) will not protect against infection with another serotype. Different serotypes dominate in different parts of the world.

Symptoms

• · Fever

• · Bilsters in the mouth and on feet

• · Drop in milk production

• · Weight loss

• · Loss of appetite

• · Quivering lips and frothing of mouth

• · Cows may develop blisters on teats

• · Lameness

Prevention

FMD is one of the most difficult animal infections to control. Because the disease occurs in many parts of the world, there is always a chance of its accidental introduction into an unaffected country.
Export restrictions are often imposed on countries with known outbreaks.
FMD outbreaks are usually controlled by quarantines and movement restrictions, euthanasia of affected and in-contact animals, and cleansing and disinfection of affected premises, equipment and vehicles.
Infected carcasses must be disposed of safely by incineration, rendering, burial or other techniques. Milk from infected cows can be inactivated by heating to 100°C (212°F) for more than 20 minutes. Slurry can be heated to 67°C (153°F) for three minutes.
Rodents and other vectors may be killed to prevent them from mechanically disseminating the virus.
Good biosecurity measures should be practiced on uninfected farms to prevent entry of the virus.

The Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Anti-A Antibody Rapid Test (FMDV-A Ab) is a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay for the qualitative detection of serotype-A FMDV antibodies in cattle’s serum, plasma. VP1 protein recombinant was applied in this assay, for the monitoring of FMDV-A antibody level and providing an important reference for the vaccination plan..

Assay Time:  10-15 minutes

Specimen:  serum or plasma

- Collect cattle’s fresh whole blood, and get the serum or plasma specimen for use. Immediately apply the testing once collected the specimen.

- Take out the test device from the foil pouch and place it horizontally.

- Place 2-3 drop (around 70-100uL) of serum or plasma specimen into the sample hole. Start timer and wait for result.

Interpret the result in 5-10 minutes. Result after 15 minutes is considered as invalid.