Summary of Viral Diseases in Ruminant Medicine

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

  • Synonyms: Apthous Fever, Hoof and Mouth Disease, etc.
  • Etiology: Caused by Aphtho virus (Picornaviridae) with 7 distinct serotypes (A, O, C, ASIA 1, SAT 1, 2, 3).
  • Transmission: Aerosols, direct contact, secretions; site of replication: pharyngeal mucosa.
  • Clinical Signs:
    • Fever, excessive salivation, stamping feet due to vesicle formation.
    • Vesicles on tongue, gums, lips, and interdigital space.
    • Young animals risk myocarditis ("tiger heart"), pregnant animals can abort.
  • Diagnosis: ELISA, PCR from vesicular epithelium.
  • Post-Mortem Findings: Vesicles in ruminal pillars, "tiger heart" lesions.
  • Prevention: Vaccination, slaughtering infected animals.

Rinderpest

  • Synonym: Cattle plague.
  • Etiology: Morbilivirus, characterized by high mortality.
  • Clinical Signs: Fever, necrotic stomatitis, watery diarrhea, and depression.
  • Transmission: Direct contact.
  • Post-Mortem: Lesions in GIT, bronchitis.

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)

  • Etiology: Morbillivirus affecting goats and sheep, not harmful to cattle.
  • Clinical Signs: Fever, anorexia, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis.
  • Lesions: Necrotic stomatitis, lesions in the abomasum.
  • Diagnosis: ELISA, PCR.
  • Control: No specific treatment, vaccination available.

Rabies

  • Etiology: Lyssavirus of Rhabdoviridae, predominantly through bites.
  • Clinical Signs: Furious (aggression, unusual back behavior) or paralytic forms (ataxia, excessive salivation).

Malignant Catarrhal Fever

  • Etiology: Gammaherpesviruses.
  • Clinical Signs: Hemorrhagic diarrhea, corneal opacity, high fever.
  • Diagnosis: PCR.

Blue Tongue

  • Etiology: Orbivirus.
  • Transmission: Via arthropod vectors (Culicoides).
  • Clinical Signs: Swelling, fever, respiratory distress.
  • Diagnosis: ELISA, PCR.

Contagious Ecthyma

  • Synonym: Orf.
  • Etiology: Parapoxvirus affecting sheep and goats.
  • Clinical Signs: Lesions in and around mouth, potential spread to humans.
  • Diagnosis: Characteristic lesions, PCR.

Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Disease (BRSV)

  • Etiology: Pneumonovirus, important in respiratory disease complex.
  • Clinical Signs: Fever, cough, nasal discharge.
  • Diagnosis: FAT, PCR.

Bovine Leukosis

  • Synonyms: Bovine lymphosarcoma.
  • Etiology: Exogenous C-type oncogenic retrovirus.
  • Transmission: Blood transfer.
  • Clinical Signs: Subclinical, possible tumors.

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)

  • Etiology: Bovine herpesvirus 1.
  • Clinical Signs: Respiratory disease, abortions.
  • Treatment/Control: Antimicrobials/good hygiene.