Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Name Origin and Clinical Features

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)—also called hoof-and-mouth disease—does include "mouth" in its name. The original text incorrectly claimed otherwise.

What It Is

A highly contagious viral disease (Picornaviridae, Aphthovirus) affecting cloven-hoofed animals: cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, deer. Not a human disease (rare, mild zoonotic cases only).

Clinical Signs in Animals

• Fever, lameness, reluctance to move
• Vesicles (blisters) on:
  • Feet: interdigital space, coronary band → lameness
  • Mouth: tongue, gums, dental pad, palate → drooling, anorexia
  • Teats (dairy animals)
• Ruptured vesicles → erosions, secondary infection
• Production drops (milk, weight gain)
• High morbidity, low mortality in adults; higher mortality in young

Control & Significance

• OIE-listed; trade-restricting.
• Control: vaccination (serotype-specific), movement restrictions, culling in outbreaks.
• Virus survives in environment, aerosols → rapid spread.

FMD is a major veterinary and economic concern. The name accurately reflects the lesion sites: feet and mouth.