FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE(FMD) IN FARM ANIMALS –PREVENTION ,TREATMENT & CONTROL

It is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven footed animals viz. cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pigs. In India, foot and mouth disease (FMD) continues to be the most wide spread viral disease affecting bovines as well as small ruminants, and the economic loss due to FMD is tremendous that occurred due to death of young animals, marked reduction in milk yield, abortion in advance stage of pregnancy and reduced working ability of drought animals, decline in quality of meat, reduction in fertility and poor quality of semen in breeding bull etc. The diseases also restrict the possible export of livestock and livestock products in the overseas.

Epidemiology ————–

Out of the possible seven, only four serotypes, e.g., ‘O’, ‘A’, ‘C’ and Asia 1 were ever recorded in India. It has been recorded that about 85% of the outbreaks of FMD in India are caused by serotype ‘O’, followed by ‘A’, which account for about 8 to 10% and the rest due to Asia 1. Generally, type ‘O’ has been comparatively more active in North Eastern Hill Regions of the country.

Sources of virus ————–

Incubating and clinically affected animals• Breath, saliva, faeces, urine and milk, and in semen• (up to 4 days before showing any clinical sign) Meat and by-products in which pH has remained• above 6.0 Carriers: particularly cattle and water buffalo;• convalescent animals and exposed vaccinates (virus can persists in the oropharynx for up to 30 months in cattle or longer in buffalo, 9 months in sheep) As compare to other species, infected pigs produce• enormous quantities of virus with over a hundred million infectious virus particles exhaled per day. Consequently, pigs are often referred to as the “amplifier hosts” of FMD.

Transmission ————

Airborne, especially in temperate zones (up to 60• km over land and 300 km by sea) Direct or indirect contact (droplets)• Animate (Milk-man, animal attendants etc.) and• inanimate vectors (dairy operation implements, vehicles etc.)

Symptoms-—————-

Cattle————–

Pyrexia, anorexia, shivering, reduction in milk• production for 2-3 days, then smacking of the lips, grinding of the teeth, drooling, lameness, stamping or kicking of the feet: caused by vesicles (aphthae) on buccal and nasal mucous membranes and/or between the claws and coronary band. After 24 hours: vesicles rupture leaving erosions• beneath it. Vesicles can also occur on the mammary glands• Recovery generally occurs within 8-15 days.• Post recovery complications: tongue erosions,• superinfection of lesions, hoof deformation, loss of weight, mastitis and permanent impairment of milk production, myocarditis (tigroid heart), abortion, death of young animals and loss of heat control (‘panters’)

Sheep and goats————-

Lesions are less pronounced. Foot lesions may go• unrecognized. Lesions in dental pad of sheep. Agalactia in lactating sheep and goats is a feature. Death of young stock is frequently observed.

Pigs —————

Lesions are most plentiful around the coronets but• are less plentiful on the nose and lips although this is where it is likely to be appeared first. They often appear on the teats of recently furrowed sows. By then the sows and some of the other pigs may be dribbling saliva and chomping their jaws. If they are on bedding they may not appear lame but if they are on concrete they probably will be.

Diagnosis-———–

Based on symptoms• Isolation of virus from vesicular fluid• Serological tests• Animal inoculation test•

Treatment————-

There is no specific treatment, however symptomatic treatment can be done to speed up recovery and to avoid complications. Mouth washing with 1 % KMnO4 or 2 % Sodium bicarbonate solution• Apply boroglycerine paste on mouth lesions• Foot washing with 2% Copper sulphate or 2-4 %• Sodium carbonate solution Apply mixture of coal-tar and copper sulphate (5:1)• on foot lesions Broad spectrum antibiotics should be given to check• the secondary bacterial infection

1.After washing of the lesions with Soda ash solution (97% Sodium bicarbonate) and daily application of honey and finger millet/maize /jowar flour, the lesions in the mouth of the cattle get healed after 3 days. The animals starts eating slowly on the second day. This fast healing may be attributed to the use of Soda ash solution, honey and finger millet flour.

Homeopathic Treatment:———-

1. Arsenic alb 30 : It is effective at the initial stage Dose : 4 times / 1 day

2. Mercsol 200 : For curative BID / 2 days, Prophylactic BID / 1 day

3. Rhustox 30 : When there is stiffness and lameness. It follows Merc. sol Dose : 4 times / 2-3 days

4. Nat. Mur 30 : When there is debility and weakness and can be given after 2 weeks. It follows Rhustox Dose : Q.I.D. / day

5. Fer. Phos 6x + Kali mur 6x : When there is pyrexia and respiratory signs, Repeated every 3 hrs at initial stage

6. Borax : When weakness, debility and inflammation Dose : Q.I.D

7. Five phos 6x + Alfaalfa 6 + Ipeca 30 : for speedy recovery and panters Dose : BID for 7 to 10 days

Active Foot and Mouth Disease:

– Mouth has to be washed 4 times in a day with 1 tea spoonful of sodium bicarb (cooking soda) in 2 liters of water or one tablespoon of washing soda (sodium carbonate) in a bucket of water.

– Merck sol 30, Rhus tox 30, Borax 30, Q. Echinacea, Variolinum 200, Nitric acid 200, Zincum metallicum 200, and each 10 drops in two teaspoonfuls of water 4 times in a day can be used.

– Q. Hydrastasis 1 part 9 parts water as mouthwash helps quick healing.

– Castor equi 200: Helps in hardening the soft hooves, but reduces the milk yield. Hence Calcaria Phos 200 is used along with this.

To prevent FMD 20 pills of Borax 200 can be fed once a week till vaccination.

After effects of Foot and Mouth Disease:

Iodum 200, Ipecac 200 each 15 pills, Selenium 30, Echinacea 30, Calcaria Phos 30, each 10 pills TID are advised for 7 – 10 days. Can be repeated after 1 week.

Prevention and Control ————-

Sanitary prophylaxis

Protection of free zones by border animal• movement control and surveillance Slaughter of infected, recovered, and FMDsusceptible contact animals• Disinfection of premises and all infected material• (implements, cars, clothes, etc.) Destruction of cadavers, litter, and susceptible• animal products in the infected area Quarantine measures• Young ones should not be allowed to suckle the• affected mother

Medical prophylaxis ——-

Sl. No.— Species— Schedule —Age of Primary vaccination –Regular vaccination interval

1— Cattle and buffalo –3 wks and above Booster: 3 months after primary—Annually

2— Sheep and goat– 4 months and above —–Twice in a year

3 –Pig— 4-8 wks Booster: 3 wks after primary –Every 6 month

Vaccines———–

Raksha FMD vaccine –(Hoechst/BAIF) @ 3 ml SC or FMD vaccine @ 5 ml SC every six months

Clovax (Intervet) @ 3 ml SC in bovines @ 2 ml SC in small ruminants

Raksha-OVAC (Indian Immunologicals) @2 ml I/M (deep) (cattle, buffaloes, calves) @ 1 ml deep I/M Sheep and goats

Tips to prevent the spread of FMD in herd during an outbreak ———–

Infect all cloven-footed animals in the exposed groups should be immediately slaughtered and burnt. But it is practically impossible in Indian circumstances. The following measures are, therefore, advised to cut down the spreading of the disease: Isolate and confine the animals immediately after• detection. An immediate quarantine of animals within a radius of 10-15 miles is advised. Containment of the infection by ringing the• outbreak area with a zone of vaccinated animals is advised. The inanimate objects, affected animal premises• and the environment immediately surrounding the infected premises should be regularly disinfected with either 1-2 % sodium hydroxide or formalin solution. Solution of 4 % sodium carbonate that kills the virus within minutes can also be used. Sprinkle lime powder in affected animal house is recommended. Vaccinate all animals kept in close contact with the• affected animals. Restrict movement of persons from the infected• premises. Do not purchase new animals for next six months.• Separate calves from affected mothers.• The symptomatic treatment should be started• immediately using light KMnO4 solution and boroglycerine mouth paint. An antibiotic umbrella to the animal is advised to check secondary bacterial infection. Detailed characterization of virus isolates including• antigenic analysis and molecular epidemiological studies are must to ensure that the virus strains incorporated in the vaccines are appropriate for controlling the strains circulating in the field. The following material should be submitted to the• nearest laboratory for virus isolation, characterization and histopathological studies. Histopathology:Pieces of tongue, heart, rumen and pancreas in 10% formalin Virus isolation: Vesicular fluid or tongue scrapings (about 2.0 gram) in 50% phosphate buffered glycerine in sterile vials

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Principle of bio security Bio security mainly involve three important elements.

1. Segregation It is one of the most effective bio security step post disease incidence, as virus cannot be transmitted unless it come into contact with fresh set of animals or equipments. Therefore, every effort should be made to use segregation wherever possible of peoples, animals’ objects that are taken to contaminated area. Segregation could be physical (e.g. wall/gates), temporal (e. g time of feeding), procedural/operational (e.g. use of appropriate footwear and aprons)

2. Cleaning Disinfectant cannot kill virus hidden beneath layers of dirty area where as many disinfectants are inactivated by organic material. Thus, attention needs to be given to clean all visible dirt (on footwear, premises) before disinfection.

3. Disinfection is important but it is only effective in presence of quality cleaning process. Additionally, the quality of disinfection improves with sufficient contact time with surface, area covered, concentration used. A number of commercial disinfection like citric acid (0.2%), FAM (30%), Virkon (1%) are effective agent FMDV. Any disinfectant which maintains pH below 6.5 or above 9 will be effective against FMDV.

• Separate the affected animals immediately from apparently healthy animals

• Do not allow the sick animals to mix with apparently healthy animals

• Avoid sending animals for grazing at common place in presence of epidemic wave

• Avoid common source of water for drinking purpose. Add 2% sodium bicarbonate in drinking water

• Restrict the traffic of people in and out of farm

• Isolate and quarantine new animals for at least 14 days before introducing to the native herd Physical barrier

• Clear demarcation to be made for of the clean and dirty area Vehicles should be parked outside the premises and never to be driven on to the farm

• Disposable coveralls and washable boots should be worn by the animal workers and visitors while visiting farm Cleaning/ Disinfection

• Setting up of disinfection point: it is helpful to have standard list of items required like Plastic Mat, Bucket, Detergent, Disinfectant, scrubber, zip-lock bag, tape, scissor, latex gloves, bio security suit, shoe cover etc.

• To prevent the spread of disease spray 4% sodium carbonate solution (400gm Na2Co3 in 10 liters of water) or Lime/Bleaching powder every day, at least once, around the farm premise and for at least 10 days

• at main entry/exit

• Clean and disinfect the vehicle before entry and exit, particularly the tyres and wheel arches Miscellaneous

• Digitize the photo repository for disease incidence

• Judicious and proper disposal of clinical items used at farm

• Disinfection of electronic equipments (e.g. cell phones, keys etc.) taken-to-and-from farm on zip-lock bag Preventive and palliative treatment

• Inform the nearest veterinary clinician/ unit for suspected cases

• Veterinary officer must go for ring vaccination in unaffected animals. During vaccination veterinarian must use separate needle of each animal

• Apply paste of boro-glycerine (850 ml glycerin and 120 gm boric acid powder) on tongue and mouth lesions for 3-5 days. A paste of finger millet flour in honey can also be used

• In case of severe clinical disease, analgesics and antipyretic and mild antibiotics like discrysticine, oxy tetracycline etc for 3-5 days to be used as directed by field veterinarian

• Apply fly replant like He max or neem oil on wound in areas other than mouth and buccal cavity. If there is

development of maggot in the foot lesions, turpentine oil may be applied on affected wound to remove maggots.
Reference-on request