Vesicular Stomatitis detected in Central Texas Vesicular Stomatitis or VS is a viral disease that rarely occurs in the Southwest and can affect horses, cattle and pigs but can affect sheep, goats and wild animals. Recently several cases of VS have be diagnosed in central Texas. The major concern with this disease is that it mimics Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which has been eradicated in the United States since 1929. Introduction of FMD into the U.S. would have tremendous economic consequences so the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) monitors any disease that can look similar to FMD. The only way to distinguish VS from FMD in livestock is through laboratory tests. Horses are not affected by FMD. Clinical Signs The clinical signs of VS in horses include fever and blisters on the tongue, lips and coronary bands. The blisters are so painful that the horse may refuse to eat, develop excessive salivation or become lame if the coronary band is affected. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days. Transmission How VS spreads is not fully understood but it is believed to be transmitted by arthropods such as flies, mosquitoes and midges. Horses can spread the virus if the saliva from the ruptured blisters contaminates common areas such as water and feed buckets. The morbidity rate (the risk that an animal will become sick from a disease) is variable and can be as high as 90 percent in a herd. The mortality rate (the risk that an animal will die from a disease) for VS is low for horses. Affected horses may take seven to 14 days to recover and can suffer weight loss from the inability to eat well. Humans can contract the virus if they come into contact with horses that are affected. The clinical symptoms in humans are similar to influenza; fever, muscle aches, headaches and malaise. If you see symptoms in a horse or other animal that resembles VS please call Austin Equine Hospital or your regular veterinarian.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 13:59:26 +0000
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