Foot-and-mouth disease

Authors: Arzt, Jonathan; SANDERSON, MICHAEL - Kansas State University; STENFELDT, CAROLINA - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Veterinary Clinics of North America
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2024
Publication Date: 3/14/2024
Citation: Arzt, J., Sanderson, M., Stenfeldt, C. 2024. Foot-and-mouth disease. Veterinary Clinics of North America. 40(2):191-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2024.01.001.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2024.01.001

Interpretive Summary: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a viral disease of livestock that would cause serious harm to U.S. Agriculture if there was an outbreak in the U.S. It is important that farmers and veterinarians are aware of the manifestations of FMD in infected animals, so that an outbreak of the disease may be detected before spreading extensively. This review provides a summary of the clinical signs of FMD and of the control measures that are applied to limit spread of the disease.

Technical Abstract: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a viral infection of livestock that is an important determinant of global trade in animal products. The disease causes a highly contagious vesicular syndrome of cloven-hoofed animals. Successful control of FMD is dependent upon early detection and recognition of the clinical signs, followed by appropriate notification and response of responsible government entities. Awareness of the clinical signs of FMD amongst producers and veterinary practitioners is therefore key in protecting U.S. agriculture from the catastrophic impacts of an FMD outbreak. This review summarizes key clinical and epidemiological features of FMD from a North American perspective.