Systematic Veterinary Virology

INTRODUCTION

• Members of the family Picornaviridae are very small. The work pico in Greek means small. This family contains important viruses like
• Foot and mouth disease virus (first animal viruses to be known),
• Poliomyelitis,
• Duck viral hepatitis etc.
• Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is the most contagious disease of mammals and cause severe economic loss in susceptible cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and water buffalo).
• The disease is characterised by the formation of vesicles (fluid-filled blisters) and erosions in the mouth, nose, teats and feet. The infection is not very lethal in adult animals. But it causes serious production losses and is considered as a major problem in international trade.