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Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious transboundary disease of domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals. FMD is associated with considerable economic losses due to decreased animal productivity and disease-associated restrictions on international trade in animal and animal products (Jamal & Belsham, 2013; World Organisation for Animal Heath (OIE), 2017). FMD virus (FMDV) belongs to the genus Aphthovirus within the family Picornaviridae and has been classified into seven genetically and immunologically distinct serotypes, including O, A, C, Southern African Territories (SAT) 1, SAT 2, SAT 3 and Asia 1; these serotypes have undergone further diversification into multiple topotypes and genetic lineages (Knowles & Samuel, 2003). The genetic and immunological diversity of this virus has been recognized as a great challenge with respect to efforts to diagnose and to prevent this disease.