OIE has recently declared a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Morocco. It is thus necessary to remain alert to the possible appearance of FMD lesions at the slaughterhouses. In this post a few FMD lesions are reviewed.

Cattle are the species with the most conspicuous lesions, the disease, however, can involve any cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs…). Suspected lesions must be compulsory reported to the authorities.

 

Table 1: Typical FMD lesions.

Typical FMD lesions Antemortem changes
Bovine Sores and blisters in the oral mucosa, the tongue and the feet. Fever

Shivering

Lameness

Slobbering
Ovine Sheep rarely develop mouth blisters as a result of foot and mouth disease: lameness is the main sign of the disease.

Blisters on the hoof are more common. In either location the blisters tend to be very small and hard to spot.

 Lameness
Porcine Pigs rarely develop mouth blisters as a result of foot and mouth disease: lameness is the main sign of the disease.

When blisters appear they can be found at the upper edge of the hoof where the skin and horn meet, on the tongue and on the snout.

The lesions are indistinguishable from swine vesicular disease.

 Lameness

Pain and apathy

For more information check the DEFRA & APHA website.

 

Úlceres i vesícules a la llengua d’un boví (glossitis ulcerativa). Credit: Veterinary Pathology Image Database.

Ulcers and blisters in the tongue of a cow (ulcerative glositis).
Credit: Veterinary Pathology Image Database. UAB-JLUG

Boví, lesions a la geniva. Credit: FAO. https://www.flickr.com/photos/eufmd/albums/with/72157632539775904

Bovine, gum ulcerative lesions. Credit: FAO.

FMD

Bovine, gum ulcerative lesions. Credit: FAO.

FMD

Bovine, nipple lesions. Credit: FAO.

FMD

Bovine, feet lesions. Credit: FAO.

Porcí, lesions a la peülla. Vesícula trencada a la regió caudolateral de la banda coronaria. Credit: CFSPH-PIADC

Porcine, feet lesions: broken blisters at the edge of the hoof. Credit: CFSPH-Dr. D. Gregg, Noah’s Arkive, PIADC

FMD

Caprine, oral mucosa ulcerative lesions. Credit: CFSPH-PIADC