Systematic Veterinary Virology

SYMPTOMS - CATTLE

• Initial signs are pyrexia (39.4-40.6^ºC), dullness, anorexia, and fall in milk production. These signs are followed by excessive salivation; drooling, serous nasal discharge; shaking, kicking of the feet or lameness; and vesicle (blister) formation.
• Sites of predilection for vesicles are the tongue, dental pad, gums, soft palate, nostrils, muzzle, interdigital space, coronary band, and teats. After vesicle formation, drooling may be more marked, and nasal discharge, lameness or both may increase.
• Pregnant cows may abort, and young calves may die without developing any vesicle. The course of an FMD infection is 2 to 3 weeks. Secondary infection may delay recovery.
• A lactating animal may not recover to preinfection production because of damage to the secretory tissue.
• Complications include tongue erosions, superinfection of lesions, hoof deformation, mastitis and permanent impairment of milk production, myocarditis, abortion, death of young animals, permanent loss of weight, loss of heat control ('such animals are called as panters').