Foot and mouth disease: risk factors and control measures (review)

Abstract

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is classified by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as a Schedule A disease. Given the potential for rapid spread of the disease, all suspected cases should be reported and investigated immediately. Understanding the mechanism of FMD spread and control measures is key to outbreak investigation and allows the source of an outbreak to be traced along with potential routes of further spread. Foot-and-mouth disease is endemic in vast areas of Africa, Asia and South America. In 2022, the following countries remain unfavorable for FMD: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, Israel, Indonesia, UAE, Palestine, Algeria, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Tunisia, South Africa. In Russia, in 2022, foot and mouth disease was not registered. There are seven serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus: O, A, C, Asia 1, SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3. Cattle, buffalo, sheep, pigs, goats, African buffalo, deer, yaks and other artiodactyls are susceptible to it. The two principle ways in which an animal can become infected are by inhalation of virus particles in the air, and by ingestion of food material containing virus particles, also through abrasions, contaminated instruments or artificial insemination. Up to 50 % of ruminant animals become persistently infected after clinical recover and termed a "carrier". Key risk factors for virus introduction are the introduction of a new animal into the herd with an unknown FMD vaccination status, seasonality, lack of vaccination, herd size. The cause of infection is often the uncontrolled or illegal movement of livestock. The main risk of FMD introduction comes from livestock, vehicles, people directly working with livestock susceptible to FMD, wild animals. The key principles of biosecurity are isolation of sick animals, cleaning and disinfection of premises and equipment. Foot-and-mouth disease is a major barrier to international trade in livestock and animal products, so countries free of the disease are taking increased precautions to prevent the virus from entering.