Clinical signs of Foot and Mouth Disease

By Defra, UK - How to detect signs of Foot and Mouth in cattle, pigs and sheep.

8 August 2007

5 minute read

Signs of Foot and Mouth in Cattle

Slobbering and smacking lips.
Shivering
Tender and sore feet
Reduced milk yield
Sores and blisters on feet
Raised temperature

Pictures of infected cattle from Defra

Click on the images for a larger version.

	Plate 1 - Tongue of steer with 1-day-old vesicle which ruptured when the tongue was drawn from the mouth.
	Plate 2 - Steer with 2-day-old ruptured vesicle along upper gum and several 1-day-old unruptured vesicles on the tongue.
	Plate 3 - Two-day-old ruptured vesicles on the tongue, lower gum and lower lip of a steer. Note sharp edges to ulcerated areas.
	Plate 4 - A further example of 2-day-old lesions in the mouth of a steer. Again note sharp margins of lesions and red raw appearance of exposed dermis.
	Plate 5 - Tongue of steer with 3-day-old lesions. Sero-fibrinous exudation into the lesions has resulted in a loss of earlier red raw appearance and also sharpness of margination. Early granulation evident.
	Plate 6 - Same animal as in plate 5 with 4-day-old lesions. Note progressive loss of lesion margination and extensive fibrin infilling.
	Plate 7 - Steer’s tongue with a 10-day-old lesion characterised by loss of papillae, indentation at the site of the lesion and fibrous tissue proliferation.
	Plate 8 - Foot of a steer with a 2-day-old unruptured vesicle in the inter-digital space.
	Plate 9 - A different steer also with a 2-day-old inter-digital vesicle.
	Plate 10 - The heel bulbs of a steer’s foot with unruptured 2-day-old vesicles.
	Plate 11 - The same foot as in Plate 10, 1 day later. The epithelium overlying the vesicle is friable and easily stripped off.
	Plate 12 - A 5-day-old lesion on a steer’s foot. Signs of early granulation are evident.
	Plate 13 - A 7-day-old lesion on a steer’s foot. Healing is progressing underneath the necrotic epithelium.
	Plate 14- Another example of a 7-day-old inter-digital foot lesion on a steer.
	Plate 15 - An 11-day-old foot lesion on the heel bulb of a steer. Note healing and under-running of horn tissue.
	Plate 16- One-day-old vesicles on the teat of a cow. Rupturing has not taken place but several vesicles have coalesced.

All of the above images are Crown Copyright. Information on Crown Copyright and the use of this material is available on Defra website.

The images on this page are taken from the 'Foot and Mouth Disease Ageing of Lesions(1.3 MB - Please note this is a large file) publication which was revised in January 2005.

Signs of Foot and Mouth in Pigs

Sudden lameness
Prefers to lie down
When made to move squeals loudly and hobbles painfully
Blisters form on the upper edge of the hoof, where the skin and horn meet, and on the heels and in the cleft
May extend right round the top of the hoof with the result that the horn becomes separated
Blisters may develop on the snout or on the tongue

It is important to remember that Swine Vesicular Disease has identical symptoms to foot-and-mouth disease. Therefore anyone who sees blisters in pigs must report the sighting as suspected foot-and-mouth disease until laboratory tests prove otherwise.

See ThePigSite Foot and Mouth Section for more information relating to pigs

Signs of Foot and Mouth in Sheep

Sudden, severe lameness

Lies down frequently and is very unwilling to rise

When made to rise stands in a half-crouching position, with hind legs brought well forward, reluctant to move

Blisters may be found on the hoof where the horn joins the skin which may extend all round the coronet and in the cleft of the foot. When they burst the horn is separated from the tissues underneath, and hair round the hoof may appear damp the dental pad and sometimes the tongue

Detecting the disease in sheep

As a keeper of sheep you are often the first person who could be suspicious that your animals are affected and so we are providing this further information to assist you during your inspections. The disease can be difficult to recognise in sheep as sometimes as little as 5% of animals in infected flocks show any signs. Look for the following signs:

Sudden death in lambs. In several recent confirmed outbreaks the most obvious sign was apparently healthy lambs dropping dead.
Abortions
Lameness (this may only last for a short time)
Listless and off their food

Inspection of sheep

If you are noticing any of the above signs in your flock then you must inspect individual sheep. Make sure you have plenty of light either daylight or a good torch. For each sheep you must examine both mouth and feet. Do not ask another stock keeper to assist you. If you have any concerns contact your local Animal Health Divisional Office.

Mouth

The typical fluid filled blisters are difficult to see as they usually quickly burst. This will leave erosions or ulcers particularly on the dental pad of the upper jaw where the lower front teeth touch the pad. They may also be seen on the gums, lips and tongue and may be very small.

Feet

Foot lesions are less common but as the disease progresses they may become more obvious. Transient lameness will be a sign but you must look carefully for blisters, particularly between the claws, on the heel bulbs and the coronary band. Turn back the hair over the coronary band to check for horn separation. If the blisters have burst then hair may be damp and bacterial infection may be present, as could foot rot. Affected feet may feel hot and painful.

Defra 2007 - Crown Copyright