Etiology

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Fiebre Aftosa in Spanish, belongs to the Picornaviridae virus of the genus Aphthovirus. According to the Office of International Epizootics (OIE), FMD is a List A foreign animal disease. There are seven serotypes identified (Type O, A, C, SAT 1, SAT 2, SAT 3, and AISA 1) with over 60 subtypes.

FMDv is pH sensitive as it becomes inactivated at a pH below 6.5 or above 11. FMDv will thrive at a pH ranging from 6.7 to 9.0 and a lower temperature is further conducive to FMDv survival. In cell culture, the virus can stay viable for up to a year at 4° C.

Virus Particle

Virus Life Cycle