Disease, foot-and-mouth

Disease, foot-and-mouth
A highly infectious virus that can infect people but affects them most by infecting livestock — cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. The virus is in the same family of viruses as those causing the common cold. The virus is spread by many routes — by contact with infected animals; by people exposed to the virus who develop no symptoms or just skin lesions but who harbor and spread the virus; by items as varied as shoes, clothing, vehicles, farm implements, meat, milk and garbage that are contaminated with the virus; and by air. The virus incubates for from 2 days to over 2 weeks before an animal begins to show signs of the disease. Cattle develop fever and blisters in their mouths, lose their appetites, lose weight and produce less milk. Pigs develop severe foot sores that make it impossible for them to walk. In sheep and goats, the foot problems are less obvious and may allow them to spread the infection. In all species, adult animals typically recover within two weeks, but death rates among young animals can be high. The many other susceptible animals include rats, deer and even elephants. The available vaccines are directed against some of the serotypes (varieties) of the virus are ineffective because they induce immunity for only 6 months or so and vaccinated animals can become carriers of the virus even if they do not become sick. Vaccinated cattle who come in contact with the virus may harbor infectious virus in their mouths and throats for up to 30 months, and vaccinated sheep can become similar viral vectors for 9 months. The disease is endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. It has been kept out of the US for more than 70 years. Neither Canada nor Mexico has had an outbreak since the 1950's. But a single case would instantly shut down the export of all animal products. Foot-and-mouth disease is not to be confused with hand-foot-and-mouth disease which affects people and causes a rash on the hands and feet and in the mouth.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Foot-and-mouth disease — Infobox Disease Name = Foot and mouth disease Caption = DiseasesDB = 31707 ICD10 = ICD10|B|08|8|b|00 ICD9 = ICD9|078.4 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D005536 Taxobox color = violet name = Foot and mouth… …   Wikipedia

  • foot-and-mouth disease — /foot n mowth /, Vet. Pathol. an acute, contagious, febrile disease of cattle, hogs, sheep, and other hoofed animals, caused by any of various rhinoviruses and characterized by vesicular eruptions in the mouth and about the hoofs, teats, and… …   Universalium

  • Foot and mouth disease — Foot Foot (f[oo^]t), n.; pl. {Feet} (f[=e]t). [OE. fot, foot, pl. fet, feet. AS. f[=o]t, pl. f[=e]t; akin to D. voet, OHG. fuoz, G. fuss, Icel. f[=o]tr, Sw. fot, Dan. fod, Goth. f[=o]tus, L. pes, Gr. poy s, Skr. p[=a]d, Icel. fet step, pace… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • foot-and-mouth disease — [foot′ n mouth′] n. an acute, highly contagious viral disease of cloven footed animals, characterized by fever and by blisters in the mouth and around the hoofs; hoof and mouth disease: it is sometimes transmitted to humans …   English World dictionary

  • foot-and-mouth disease — foot′ and mouth′ disease n. vet a contagious viral disease of cattle and other hoofed animals, characterized by blisters in the mouth and about the hoofs Also called hoof and mouth disease • Etymology: 1860–65 …   From formal English to slang

  • foot-and-mouth disease — ► NOUN ▪ a contagious viral disease of cattle and sheep, causing ulceration of the hoofs and around the mouth …   English terms dictionary

  • foot and mouth disease — foot and mouth dis.ease n [U] a serious disease that kills cows and sheep …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • foot-and-mouth disease — foot and mouth dis,ease noun uncount a very infectious disease of sheep, cows, and pigs …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Foot-and-mouth disease — A highly infectious virus that can infect people but affects them most by infecting livestock cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. The virus is in the same family of viruses as those causing the common cold. The virus is spread by many routes by… …   Medical dictionary

  • Disease, hand-foot-and-mouth — A viral syndrome with a rash on the hands and feet and in the mouth. The internal rash (the enanthem) consists of blisters and little ulcers that may involve not only the lining of the mouth but also the gums, palate, and tongue. The external… …   Medical dictionary

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