Vesicular Stomatitis Diagnosed in US Cattle and Horses

July 15, 2005 — Harry Snelson

According to an OIE report dated July 11, 2005, NVSL has confirmed Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in cattle in New Mexico and Utah using the Complement Fixation Test. Equine cases of VS have also been confirmed in New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. VS is a viral disease affecting cattle, horses and pigs. Humans, sheep and goats as well as a number of wildlife species are also susceptible. The US has experienced sporadic outbreaks in a number of western and southwestern states over the last few years. It typically occurs in the warm summer months. Clinically, the disease is indistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease (blisters in the mouth and on the hooves and teats) in susceptible animals thus making accurate laboratory diagnosis critical. In humans, the disease manifests as flu-like symptoms including fever and general malaise. The virus is spread by biting insects, mechanical vectors and direct contact with saliva or fluid from ruptured vesicles. There is an incubation period of 2 to 8 days and affected pigs generally show signs of acute lameness.

Sources:

USDA Vesicular Stomatitis homepage (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/ncahs/nsu/surveillance/vsv/vsv.htm) OIE (http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_62.HTM#Sec2