What is foot and mouth disease virus? How is the infection transmitted? What are the symptoms of the disease in animals and humans? What is the danger of foot and mouth disease virus ? How is the disease treated? All this will be discussed in our publication.
Causative agent of the disease
The causative agent of the FMD virus is the specific structure of ribonucleic acids, which belongs to the picornavirus family. The size of such infectious particles is about 30 nanometers. The microscopic structure consists of RNA surrounded by a protein coat. Once in the human or animal body, the virus infects lymph. The development of infection occurs within 48 hours.
The foot and mouth disease virus is resistant to heat and cold in vivo. However, it instantly dies when exposed to temperatures above +80 ° C. Being in the feces of the animal, which turned out to be in the environment, the pathogen passes into the inactive phase, maintaining vital activity for more than 100 days. The foot and mouth disease virus loses its ability to reproduce under the influence of ultraviolet rays, as well as disinfectants.
The mechanism of infection
Having penetrated the body, the viral pathogen concentrates on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and damaged areas of the skin. In places of introduction into the tissue, the infection accumulates in small vesicles. Active reproduction of the virus is observed here . Then the infection spreads through the bloodstream, attacking the tissues of organs and systems. Over time, intoxication of the body develops. Pathological ribonuclein structures settle in the epithelium of the oral cavity and nasopharynx, and are concentrated in the urethra.
Risk groups
What population groups are at increased risk of foot-and-mouth disease virus infection? Usually the development of the disease is observed among the staff of livestock enterprises. As practice shows, most often a viral infection affects milkmaids, cattle herders, people who work in slaughterhouses and meat processing plants. Sometimes, as a result of neglect of work, the lizard virus in humans is observed among veterinarians and livestock specialists.
At the same time, not a single case of transmission of the causative agents of the disease from one person to another has been recorded. This is due to the low susceptibility of the person to infection. Among other things, after recovery, people acquire short-term immunity, which lasts about a year.
Symptoms of foot and mouth disease in animals
Often the infection affects young cattle. Immature animals do not have immunity against the virus and are more difficult to tolerate the disease. The development of the disease is characterized by the appearance of a fever, which is accompanied by rashes on the limbs, mucous membranes of the mouth, tissues that adhere to the horns, as well as on the skin of the udder.
FMD virus in animals attacks the body for 10-15 days. This is preceded by an incubation period, which lasts 2-4 days. In most cases, livestock can be safely treated. However, with a severe course of the disease, a fatal outcome occurs.
Symptoms in humans
What are the symptoms of foot and mouth disease virus in humans? Often already during the incubation period, the duration of which is about a week, the first characteristic signs of the disease are observed in an infected person. These include:
- chills;
- headache attacks;
- general malaise;
- muscle pain;
- temperature increase up to + 38 ... +39 ° .
Then, the human foot and mouth disease virus begins to progress. After a few days, a burning sensation and dryness in the oral cavity is added to the above symptoms. Photophobia is manifested, pain occurs during urination.
As for the external signs of the foot and mouth disease virus, the appearance of small whitish vesicles on the palate, lips, and the inner surface of the cheeks is noted. After about a day, such aphthae are opened, which leads to the formation of ulcers of a bright red color. At this stage of the development of the disease, a gradual decrease in body temperature is observed. Despite this comparative relief, the general condition of an infected person worsens. Severe pain occurs when swallowing, there is abundant salivation. Then the tissues of the tongue swell, the lips swell. Speech becomes slurred.
In the absence of adequate treatment for the disease of foot and mouth disease, in a person, vesicle formations move to the skin of the legs and hands. Here, aphthae heal much faster than on mucous membranes. Within 3-5 days, no trace remains of them.
The course of the disease in children is more severe. Nausea, frequent vomiting, digestive upset, changes in stool structure, diarrhea are often added to the above symptoms.
Features of transmission
Infection can spread between animals and from livestock to humans. People infected with the virus are only carriers. However, they are not able to transmit the pathogen to another person. Children are most susceptible to the virus. The presence of a fragile immune system contributes to this.
How is FMD virus transmitted? The infection is spread by contact. Infection occurs when the pathogen enters the body when caring for cattle. The virus can concentrate on animal hair, be contained in contaminants, feces.
Usually, people become infected by inhaling airborne dust. Sometimes infection occurs when dirty hands come in contact with the mucous membranes of the mouth. The disease can also develop when eating meat and milk of animals.
Treatment of foot and mouth disease in animals
The elimination of infection among cattle occurs by isolating sick animals from the rest of the herd. The latter are kept in separate rooms. They destroy the viral pathogen by introducing disinfecting serums into the body containing such substances as convalescents, lactoglobulins, immunolactones.
During the recovery period, animals are offered plenty of clean water and nutritious food. The mucous membranes of the oral cavity are periodically treated with antiseptics. In order to eliminate ulcers on the surface of the skin, ointments with a healing effect are prescribed. Additionally, antibiotics and painkillers can be used.
In case of widespread infection, quarantine is introduced in the herd. When epidemics occur, sick cattle are destroyed. Carcasses of animals are disposed of by burning in furnaces. Quarantine measures are terminated after 21 days from the moment of fixing the last case of infection.
Treatment of foot and mouth disease in humans
Therapy for infection with a viral pathogen requires the placement of an infected person in a hospital. Treatment involves regular disinfection of the oral cavity, healing of ulcers, the use of measures aimed at alleviating the general condition of the patient.
Easily digestible food with a semi-liquid consistency is offered to infected people. Food should have room temperature and not contain ingredients that can irritate the mucous membranes. With the widespread spread of ulcerative manifestations, nutrition is provided to the patient through the introduction of food through a probe.
For local treatment use the effect on the affected areas of the skin with laser and ultraviolet radiation. For the speedy healing of ulcers, tissue treatment is prescribed with florenal, oxolinic or interferon ointment.
To alleviate the suffering of the patient during treatment, painkillers, cardiovascular, antipyretic pharmacological drugs are used. If necessary, carry out activities aimed at removing toxins from the body. To maintain immunity, vitamin complexes are prescribed.
In most cases, foot and mouth disease does not pose a mortal danger to humans. The prognosis for such a viral infection is extremely favorable. Complete recovery with the formation of the corresponding immunity occurs in a rather short period. The disease leaves no consequences. Cases of fatal outcome are rarely observed only among newborns and young children.
Prevention
To prevent infection with the virus of foot and mouth disease allows, first of all, personal hygiene and compliance with sanitary standards. In order to prevent the disease, appropriate vaccination of animals is often carried out.
Of particular importance in terms of prevention is the implementation of instructions while working on farms, slaughterhouses, meat plants. According to the regulations, it is necessary to take care of cattle by putting on special clothing, a protective mask, and gloves. After finishing work, it is important to wash your hands with soap.
In order not to once again expose yourself to the danger of infection with the virus, it is worth eating exclusively proven, safe products of animal origin. Dishes in which meat or milk was stored raw should be thoroughly cleaned using a detergent.
The latest reported case of foot and mouth disease
In October of this year, a foot and mouth disease virus was recorded in Bashkiria. The emergency mode was introduced in the villages of Ermukhametovo and Urmekeevo, which are located on the territory of Tuymazinsky district. In the region, roads were blocked that lead to the marked settlements, as well as established checkpoints. Special emergency response units equipped disinfection stations. Active measures have been launched to disinfect farms.
In the course of eliminating the epidemic, foot and mouth disease virus was detected in dairy products. Selling the latter from hand to hand was banned. Cattle in the above settlements had to be exterminated. The remaining animals in the surrounding regions were vaccinated. At the moment, meat and milk are not sold to both the population and enterprises until the FMD virus in Bashkiria is completely destroyed.
Finally
As you can see, foot and mouth disease is a rather dangerous infection of a viral nature, which can cause significant losses to livestock farms. However, subject to established instructions and personal hygiene, the disease does not pose a danger to humans. If the infection still manages to infect the body, the forecasts for a full recovery are positive here.