BOVINE VIRAL DISEASES
1: FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD)
This is extremely contagious, acute, benign (mild fever) disease of all
cloven-footed animals characterized by fever, formation of vesicles
outside the mucosal membrane in oral cavity, udder and interdigital
spaces.
Has highest morbidity and mortality rates in young animals (MR;
young 20% adult 2%).
CAUSES
o RNA virus (Ophthovirus) under family of Piconarviridae.
o There are 7 immunologically distinct strains of virus: A, O, C, SAT-
1, SAT-2, SAT-3 and ASIA-1.
o The most common strain is ‘O’ and least common is ‘C’.
o There is no cross immunity between strains and sub-strains/sub-
types.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
oAnimal affected are Cattle, Buffaloes, Sheep, Goats and Pigs (Not
HORSES)
Transmission:
Animal gets the infection through either inhalation or ingestion.
The disease is spread from herd to herd or animal to animal either
directly or indirectly.
1) Direct Spread: By infected animals or infected humans. The
viruses are retained in the retropharyngeal region (in the carrier
animal) or salivary gland where secretion in the environment is at
maximum (in air 100km: wind born, dust, humidity and not rainfall)
2) Indirect Spread: By transportation of the virus on inanimate
objects, particularly uncooked and unprocessed meat, milk,
contaminated water, hay, straw and other animal by products.
CLINICAL SIGNS
a) The onset of FMD is heralded by a precipitate fall in milk production
(for lactating cows) and high temperature (40 – 41oC).
b) Severe dejection (depression) and anorexia.
c) Acute painful stomatitis.
d) Salivation: The saliva hangs in a long ropey string and the animal
chewing carefully.
e) Appearance of vesicles and bullae (1 – 2 cm in diameter) on the
buccal mucosa, dental pad and the tongue.
f) Vesicles rupture within 24 hours allowing flow of straw-coloured
fluid, leaving a raw painful surface which heals in about a week.
g) Lesions on the teat and particularly on the interdigital space cause
the animal unable to walk (lameness).
h) Pregnant animals abort.
i) Calves (young animals) are rather susceptible than adult, and heavy
mortality may occur during an outbreak without typical lesion being
present; only MYOCARDITIS causing hemorrhages in the heart.
j) A SEQUEL TO FMD IN CATTLE: due to probably endocrine
damage, a chronic syndrome of dyspnea, anemia, overgrowth of
hair and lack of heat tolerant (panting) may develop.
k) The MOBIDITY is 100% while MORTALITY is 50%.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
1. Mucosal Disease: (Lesion in buccal cavity, conjunctivitis, diarrhea
& dysentery.)
2. Rinderpest: (Lacrimation, discrete lesions (not vesicles), diarrhea &
dysentery.)
3. Malignant catarrhal fever: (Necrotic lesions, nasal discharge, CNS
signs & diarrhea)
4. Vesicular stomatitis: (Affect also horses, confirmed in laboratory)
5. Swine vesicular disease: (In swine Very short, mild with animals
recovering quickly)
6. Vesicular Exanthema: (In swine: Very short, mild with animals
recovering quickly)
DIAGNOSIS
i. Epidemiology: Host, morbidity and mortality.
ii. Clinical signs: vesicular type.
iii. Serological test: Complementary fixation test, Serum Neutralizing
test and ELISA.
iv. Animal inoculation: (Intradermal injection of fresh vesicular fluid into the plantar
pads of the guinea pigs. Vesicles appear on pads in 1 – 7 days and secondary vesicles in the
mouth 1 – 2 days later).
TREATMENT
1. Treatment with mild disinfectants to inflamed areas for prevention of
secondary infection is recommended.
2.Symptomatic treatment: e.g. use of Antibiotics to lower the high
temperature etc
CONTROL
1. Quarantine: Restrict movement of animals and by products in and out
of the area.
2. Slaughtering policy: Slaughter all affected animals and compensate
the farmers (not applicable in developing countries).
3. Vaccination: vaccine types depend on the serotype.
a) Vaccinate all animals around the outbreak (ring or barrier
vaccination).
b) Annual vaccination in endemic areas: vaccination can be done once,
twice or three times per year depending on the challenge.
c) Immunity lasts for 4 – 6 months and sometimes up to 1 year.
4. Treat animal products: Example, pasteurelization of milk.
2: RINDERPEST (SYN: CATTLE PLAQUE, SOTOKA)
This is an acute, highly contagious disease characterized by high
fever and focal, erosive lesions confined largely to the mucosa of the
alimentary tract.
The disease affects ruminants (cattle, goats, buffaloes, giraffes &
wildebeest) and swine.
AETIOLOGY
RNA virus: Morbillivirus (family Paramyxoviridae)
The virus have some antigenic relationship to the virus of Canine
Distemper (Canines), Newcastle disease (Poultry), Measles (Man)
and Peste des Petits Ruminants (Sheep & Goats).
EPIDEMIOLOGY
1. The disease occurs worldwide with exception of North America.
2. In outbreaks (occurring in highly susceptible population), morbidity
rate up to 100% and Mortality rate of 50%.
3. Wild ruminants (Buffaloes, Bushbucks, Waterbucks, and warthogs)
are common source of infection and are of great hindrance to an
eradication programs.
4. Among the races of cattle, the zebus are most resistant.
5. Close contact between infected and non-infected animals is usually
necessary for spread of disease to occur.
6. Entry of infection occurs principally by inhalation.
CLINICAL SIGNS
The incubation period ranges from 6 – 9 days
1. The first sign is high fever (40.5oC – 41.5oC) without localizing
signs.
2. Then follows: Anorexia, a fall in milk production, and a harsh,
staring coat.
3. There is inflammation of the buccal and nasal mucosa,
conjunctivitis, which is followed by hyperemia of vagina mucosa
and swelling of vulva.
4. Serous lacrimation, which late on become profuse, purulent and
normally accompanied by blepharospasm
5. Profuse salivation, which may be blood-stained and late on purulent
as mouth lesions develop.
6. Serous nasal discharge, which changes to purulent.
7. Discrete necrotic lesions inside the lower lips, adjacent gum,
cheek mucosa, tongue, nasal, vulva and vaginal mucosae.
8. Severe diarrhea and sometimes dysentery with tenesmus.
9. After a period of illness lasting from 3 – 5 days, there is a sudden
fall in temperature accompanied by dyspnoea, cough, severe
dehydration and sometimes abdominal pain.
10. Death occurs within 24 hours after a fall in temperature.
11. In enzootic areas, the disease is X2 by mild temperature, catarrhal
inflammation, small pustules on neck etc.
POSTMORTEM CHANGES
1) Small, discrete, necrotic areas in the mucosa of mouth, pharynx,
esophagus, nasal cavity, abomasums and small intestines.
2) Congestion, swelling and erosion of vulval and vaginal mucosae.
3) Haemorrhages at the iliocaecal junction; the haemorrhages are in
transverse way called ZEBRA STRIPS
4) Haemorrhages in heart and lungs and, edematous urinary bladder.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
1. FMD: (Vesicle formation)
2. Malignant catarrhal fever: (Eye lesion and CNS changes)
3. Mucosal disease: (Sporadic occurrence)
4. Blue tongue: (Sheep and goats only)
DIAGNOSIS
1.Epidemiology: large number of animals affected
2.Clinical signs
3.Serological tests: CFT, ELISA, AGD (Agar Gel Diffusion)
TREATMENT
Not recommended because of danger of disseminating the disease
CONTROL
Rinderpest is a notifiable disease
1.Quarantine (This is followed by ring or barrier vaccination)
2.Vaccination: Annual vaccination of all susceptible animals
3.Slaughter policy: Not feasible in developing countries
3: EPHEMERAL FEVER (SYN: THREE DAY SICKNESS)
This is arthropod – transmitted disease of cattle and buffaloes
characterized by transitory fever, lymphadenitis, watery nasal
discharge and myositis, which come in and subside within a few days
(mostly 3 days).
ETIOLOGY:
• Virus classified as Rhabdovirus
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Occurs in low-lying areas, damply areas, near river or at the onset of
rain season.
Insects transmission, culicoides and Mosquitoes. However, the
disease may occur in areas where insects are not found.
CLINICAL SIGNS
1) Biphasic fever and shivering
2) Inappetence (anorexia)
3) Lacrimation
4) Watery (serous) nasal discharge
5) Dyspnoea
6) Atony of forestomach
7) Depression
8) Stiffness and sometimes lameness (due to myositis)
9) Recumbence (8 hours to more than a week).
10) Drop in milk production and abortion may occur.
NB: Bulls and heavy cattle are most severely affected animals.
DIAGNOSIS
1. Clinical signs
2. Serological tests
3. Isolation of virus
TREATMENT
a) Complete rest is the most effective treatment
b) Anti inflammatory drug if given early are helpful
c) Antibiotic to control secondary infection
d) Calcium borogluconate given to recumbent animals.
