VASICULAR STOMATITIS DISEASE IN LIVESTOCK’S
Vesicular stomatitis:
Vesicular stomatitis is an infectious disease caused by a virus and characterized clinically by the development of vesicles on the mouth and feet. While primarily a disease of horses, it has come to assume major importance as a disease of cattle and pigs.
Etiology:
The causative virus is classified as a rhabdovirus. There are two antigenically distinct types, New Jersey and Indiana, with three sub types of Indiana, Fort, Lupton, Alagar (Brazil) and Cocal (Trinidad). The New Jersey strain is the most virulent and the one most commonly found. The virus is much less resistant to environmental influences then the virus of foot and mouth disease it is more readily destroyed by boiling.Cattle, horses, donkeys and pigs are susceptible, with pigs least so. Goats and sheep are resistant. Outbreaks of this disease are most common in cattle and to a less extent in pigs. Calves are much more resistant to infection than adult cattle. Humans are susceptible, infection causing influenza- like disease.
Epidemiology:
Geographically the disease is limited to the western hemisphere and is enzootic in parts of north, central and South America. The first major occurrence of the disease was in military horses in the United States during the 1914-18 war but in recent years it has come to assume greater importance in cattle and pig herds. The morbidity rate varies considerably (5-10% is usual but in dairy herds it may be as high as 80%) and there is usually no mortality. Outbreaks are not usually extensive but the disease closely resembles foot-mouth disease and has achieved considerable importance for this reason.
Pathogenesis:
As in foot and mouth disease there is a primary viremia with subsequent localization in the mucous membrane of the mouth and the skin around the mouth and coronets. The frequent absence of classical vesicles on the oral mucosa of affected animals in field outbreaks has led to careful examination of the pathogenesis of the mucosal lesions. Even in experimentally produced cases only 30% of lesions develop as vesicles, the remainder dehydrating by seepage during development and terminating by eroding as a dry necrotic lesion.
Clinical findings:
In cattle after a short incubation period of several days there is a sudden appearance of mild fever and the development of vesicles on the dorsum of the tongue, dental pad, lips and the buccal mucosa. The vesicles rupture quickly and the resultant irritation causes profuse, ropey salivation and anorexia. Confusion often arises in field outbreaks of the disease because of failure to find vesicles. In some outbreaks with thousands of cattle affected, vesicles have been almost completely absent. They are most likely to be found on the cheeks and tongue where soft tissues are abraded by the teeth.
Necropsy Findings:
Necropsy examination are not usually undertaken for diagnostic purposes but the pathology of the disease has been adequately described.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is based on the presence of typical signs and either antibody detection through serologic tests.
Virus antigen detection.
Complement fixation test.
Eliza.
Pcr.
Virus neutralization test.
Differential Diagnosis:
Foot and Mouth disease
Swine vesicular disease.
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis.
Bovine viral diarrhea.
Malignant catarrhal fever.
Bovine papular stomatitis.
Rinderpest.
Blue tongue
Foot rot
Chemical or thermal burns.
Treatment:
Topical Anticeptics
Treatment of lesions:
1% solution of KMNo4
2% solution CUSo4
2% solution of boro glycerin
4% solution of alum
Pure glycerin
Sprays can also be used like pink spray.
NOTE: we cannot use glycerin+KMNo4 because it causes burn.
Systematic antibiotics:
Amoxiceyllin broad-spectrum (10ml/kg) SID
Penicillin+streptomycin
Sulphadiazine+trimethoprim
NASID’s
Flunixin meglumine/loxin (1ml/45kg)
I.V fluids can also be used.
Soft diet is used.
Prevention:
Hygienic and quarantine precautions to contain the infection with in a herd are sufficient control, the disease usually dying out of its own accord. Immunity after an attack appears to be of very short duration, probably not more than six months.Control vectors.
Dr.BK RAUT,Livestock consultant
