Foot-and-Mouth Disease in North American Bison (Bison Bison) and Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni): Susceptibility, Intra- And Interspecies Transmission, Clinical Signs, and Lesions

Abstract

ABSTRACT:There is limited information about the pathogenesis and epidemiology of foot-andmouth disease (FMD) in North American bison (Bison bison) or elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni). In these two experimental infection studies, we compared the susceptibilities of bison and elk to FMD virus (FMDV), respectively, with that of cattle; determined whether intra-and interspecies transmission could occur in bison and cattle, and elk and cattle; determined suitability of conventional available laboratory tests to detect FMDV infection in bison and elk; and investigated whether bison or elk are efficient long-term carriers of FMDV. In both studies, after a period of acclimation to the containment at Plum Island Animal Disease Center, animals were infected by intraepithelial tongue inoculation with 10,000 bovine tongue infective doses of FMDV, strain O1 Manisa. Inoculated animals were kept with contact animals; subsequently, inoculated and/or exposed contact animals were placed in rooms with unexposed animals. All bison developed oral mucosal and foot lesions similar to those of cattle. Bison developed fever, lameness, inappetence, and ptyalism. Physical examinations on bison revealed numerous small vesicles and erosions affecting tongue, gingiva, muzzle, hard and soft palates, coronary bands, and interdigital skin. Inoculated elk developed transient fever and mild focal tongue and foot lesions. Contact elk developed neither clinical signs nor gross pathologic lesions of FMD. At necropsy, lesions in bison included numerous extensive vesicles, erosions, and/or ulcers in the oral cavities, feet, and rumen pillars depending on the stage of disease. Less extensive oral, foot, and rumen lesions were present in the inoculated elk. All bison and inoculated elk developed antibodies to FMDV and were positive for FMDV by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Transmission occurred between cattle and bison, and bison and bison. It did not occur between elk and cattle. Elk-to-elk transmission studies resulted in only one contact elk developing serologic evidence of a subclinical infection. Other exposed elk developed neither clinical, pathologic, virologic, nor serologic evidence of disease. FMDV was not isolated from animals past 28 days postinfection.

Serotyping of foot and mouth disease virus and Pasteurella multocida from Indian gaurs (Bos gaurus), concurrently infected with foot and mouth disease and haemorrhagic septicaemia

“…The lesions noticed in the animals were pathognomonic of a severe and acute FMD in wildlife in general and bison in particular (Thomson et al 2003;Rhyan et al 2008). The vesicular lesions noticed in the animals and detection of O type of FMD virus are in accordance with Grubman and Baxt (2004) and Chandranaik et al (2014) who have reported involvement of O type of FMD virus in over 80 % of FMD outbreaks, worldwide.…”

“…The information available on FMD in Indian gaurs is limited and is mostly confined to news paper reports. There are a few reports of experimental induction of FMD in American bison (Rhyan et al 2008); however, there is a scarcity of literature available on the systematic studies involving clinical findings, pathology, confirmation and molecular characterisation of the virus type involved in FMD outbreaks in Indian gaur (Indian bison).…”

Distribution and Interspecies Contact of Feral Swine and Cattle on Rangeland in South Texas: Implications for Disease Transmission

“…A sturdy, low, mesh fence easily deters feral swine from accessing these feeders but still allows deer to have access to the supplemental feed. Deer are not considered to be highrisk transmitters of FMDv (Gibbs et al, 1975;Rhyan et al 2008), but they are susceptible to FMD and are abundant on rangeland. On many ranches, in fall and winter, shelled corn is used to bait deer into open areas for survey and harvest.…”

Emergence of Diseases From Wildlife Reservoirs

“…For example, bison with severe foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) display marked stoicism, making the detection of affected animals more difficult. 30 Predation and scavenging of wildlife may obscure the observation of dead animals and usually complicate the diagnostic process when carcasses are found.…”

“…For example, experimentally, FMD virus type O is both highly pathogenic and transmissible in bison, pronghorn, white-tailed deer, and mule deer but not in elk. 22,30 In each emerging disease situation, every effort should be made to understand the pathogenesis and epidemiology of the disease in the species at risk including unique behavioral and environmental factors. Extrapolation from other species and environments is often the best we can do but should not be considered adequate in a thorough disease investigation or disease planning exercise.…”