What Is Hoof and Mouth Disease in Cows?

Hoof and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle, pigs and other hooved animals. It can be spread between animals and to humans through contact with infected animals. A serious outbreak of hoof and mouth disease occurred in Britain in 2001 and brought much of the country to a standstill.

  1. History

    • Cattle have suffered from hoof and mouth blisters and sores for centuries, although the virus causing hoof and mouth disease was not discovered until the late 19th century. Hoof and mouth disease was first isolated by the German bacteriologist Friedrich Loeffler in 1897. Upon passing blood from an infected cow through a Chamberlain filter, he discovered that hoof and mouth could be passed onto healthy animals and was, in fact, a virus and not a bacterial infection.

    Outbreaks

    • Major outbreaks of hoof and mouth disease in cattle have happened in numerous countries around the world. The United States has suffered from nine outbreaks, with the last occurring in 1929. Three outbreaks have occurred in the United Kingdom; one in 1967, one in 2001 and the final occurring in 2007. Asia has had relatively few outbreaks due to the low numbers of cattle across the region, although infections were noted in 1997, 2005 and 2010.

    Symptoms

    • Cattle suffering from hoof and mouth disease appear lethargic and show signs of lameness. Sores and blisters form along the gums and tongues of affected animals, making eating and drinking painful. The soft tissue between the hooves is also prone to blistering, which results in limping and reluctance to move. Infected cattle may also drool and smack their lips. Most animals survive hoof and mouth disease, although infected calves have a higher mortality rate than adult animals.

    Treatment

    • There is no treatment currently available for hoof and mouth disease. The virus can only be contained in affected herds. Most countries have a protocol for handling outbreaks that involves the slaughter of all infected herds. The carcasses are then burned or buried to keep the disease from spreading. After disposal, all areas used during the eradication process are disinfected to prevent transmission to healthy cattle.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Vaccines have been produced to help control hoof and mouth outbreaks, although the virus is extremely adaptable and constantly changing, making the vaccines largely ineffective. Careful monitoring is the most successful prevention method for dealing with hoof and mouth outbreaks. Cattle moved between countries are tested before export to make sure they are free of the disease, and any infected cattle are disposed of to prevent transmission.