Foot and mouth disease

Foot and mouth disease

The foot-and-mouth disease is a highly communicable disease affecting cloven-footed animals. It is characterized by fever, formation of vesicles and blisters in the mouth, udder, teats and on the skin between the toes and above the hoofs. Animals recovered from the disease present a characteristically rough coat and deformation of the hoof.

In India, the disease is widespread and assumes a position of importance in livestock industry. The disease spreads by direct contact or indirectly through infected water, manure, hay and pastures. It is also conveyed by cattle attendants. It is known to spread through recovered animals, field rats, porcupines and birds.

Symptoms

·         fever with 104-105^o F

·         profuse salivation - ropes of stringy saliva hangs from mouth

·         vesicles appear in mouth and in the inter digital space

·         lameness observed

·         cross bred cattle are highly susceptible to it

Treatment

·         the external application of antiseptics contributes to the healing of the ulcers and wards off attacks by flies.

·         a common and inexpensive dressing for the lesions in the feet is a mixture of coal-tar and copper sulphate in the proportion of 5:1.

Precautions

·         heavy milch animals and exotic breeds of cattle bred for milk should be protected regularly.

·         it is advisable to carry out two vaccinations at an interval of six months followed by an annual vaccination programme.

·         isolation and segregation of sick animals. It should be informed immediately to the veterinary doctor

·         disinfection of animal sheds with bleaching powder or phenol

·         attendants and equipment’s for sick animals should be ideally separate

·         the equipment’s should be thoroughly sanitized

·         proper disposal of left over feed by the animal

·         proper disposal of carcasses

·         control of flies

Ethnovet prevention practice:

When there is a outbreak in the nearby villages /surroundings take tulasi (Ocimum sp) leaves 100 gm, a pinch of common salt and turmeric rhizome 2 pieces and grind them. This has to be squeezed to obtain extract and administered orally. The residues left over can be used for smearing over the mouth region, foot region. This is repeated.