Main factors associated with foot-and-mouth disease virus infection during the 2001 FMD epidemic in Uruguay.

Large epidemics provide the opportunity to understand the epidemiology of diseases under the specific conditions of the affected population. Whilst foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemics have been extensively studied in developed countries, epidemics in developing countries have been sparsely studied. Here we address this limitation by systematically studying the 2001 epidemic in Uruguay where a total of 2,057 farms were affected. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors (RF) associated with infection and spread of the virus within the country. The epidemic was divided into four periods: (1) the high-risk period (HRP) which was the period between the FMD virus introduction and detection of the index case; (2) the local control measures period (LCM) which encompassed the first control measures implemented before mass vaccination was adopted; (3) the first mass vaccination, and (4) the second mass vaccination round. A stochastic model was developed to estimate the time of initial infection for each of the affected farms. Our analyses indicated that during the HRP around 242 farms were probably already infected. In this period, a higher probability of infection was associated with: (1) animal movements [OR: 1.57 (95% CI: 1.19-2.06)]; (2) farms that combined livestock with crop production [OR: 1.93 (95% CI: 1.43-2.60)]; (3) large and medium farms compared to small farms (this difference was dependent on regional herd density); (4) the geographical location. Keeping cattle only (vs farms that kept also sheep) was a significant RF during the subsequent epidemic period (LCM), and remained as RF, together with large farms, for the entire epidemic. We further explored the RF associated with FMDV infection in farms that raised cattle by fitting another model to a data subset. We found that dairy farms had a higher probability of FMDV infection than beef farms during the HRP [OR: 1.81 (95% CI: 1.12-2.83)], and remained as RF until the end of the first round of vaccination. The delay in the detection of the index case associated with unrestricted animal movements during the HRP may have contributed to this large epidemic. This study contributes to the knowledge of FMD epidemiology in extensive production systems.

Histórico e perspectiva da situação sanitária da febre aftosa no Estado de São Paulo / History and perspective of Sanitary Status of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in São Paulo state

A febre aftosa é uma doença infecciosa aguda, causada por vírus do gênero Aphthovirus, da família Picornaviridae. Apresenta grande impacto sobre a sanidade dos animais e, em função da elevada capacidade de difusão, é considerada a doença com maior interferência no comércio internacional de carnes. Em virtude de suas consequências diretas e indiretas, o combate à febre aftosa é uma das maiores preocupações de todos os envolvidos com a pecuária nacional, desde o início do século passado. Em decorrência dos grandes esforços realizados, o Brasil passou a ser reconhecido como país livre de febre aftosa e, atualmente, busca galgar um novo patamar, com a suspensão da vacinação em todo seu território. A participação dos médicos-veterinários foi fundamental neste processo e continuará sendo essencial nos desafios futuros.(AU)

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus of the genus Aphthovirus, family Picornaviridae. FMD has a great impact on the health of animals and, due to high diffusion capacity, it is considered the disease with the greatest interference in the international meat trade. Due to its direct and indirect consequences, the combat against FMD has been a major concern for all those involved with national livestock since the beginning of the last century. As a result of the great efforts, Brazil started to be recognized as an FMD free country and, currently, it seeks to reach a new level, with the suspension of vaccination throughout its territory. The participation of veterinarians was very important in this process and will continue to be essential in future challenges.(AU)

Histórico e perspectiva da situação sanitária da febre aftosa no Estado de São Paulo / History and perspective of Sanitary Status of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in São Paulo state

A febre aftosa é uma doença infecciosa aguda, causada por vírus do gênero Aphthovirus, da família Picornaviridae. Apresenta grande impacto sobre a sanidade dos animais e, em função da elevada capacidade de difusão, é considerada a doença com maior interferência no comércio internacional de carnes. Em virtude de suas consequências diretas e indiretas, o combate à febre aftosa é uma das maiores preocupações de todos os envolvidos com a pecuária nacional, desde o início do século passado. Em decorrência dos grandes esforços realizados, o Brasil passou a ser reconhecido como país livre de febre aftosa e, atualmente, busca galgar um novo patamar, com a suspensão da vacinação em todo seu território. A participação dos médicos-veterinários foi fundamental neste processo e continuará sendo essencial nos desafios futuros.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus of the genus Aphthovirus, family Picornaviridae. FMD has a great impact on the health of animals and, due to high diffusion capacity, it is considered the disease with the greatest interference in the international meat trade. Due to its direct and indirect consequences, the combat against FMD has been a major concern for all those involved with national livestock since the beginning of the last century. As a result of the great efforts, Brazil started to be recognized as an FMD free country and, currently, it seeks to reach a new level, with the suspension of vaccination throughout its territory. The participation of veterinarians was very important in this process and will continue to be essential in future challenges.

Promising MS2 mediated virus-like particle vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has caused severe economic losses to millions of farmers worldwide. In this work, the coding genes of 141-160 epitope peptide (EP141-160) of VP1 were inserted into the coat protein (CP) genes of MS2 in prokaryotic expression vector, and the recombinant protein self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLP). Results showed that the CP-EP141-160 VLP had a strong immunoreaction with the FMD virus (FMDV) antigen in vitro, and also had an effective immune response in mice. Further virus challenge tests were carried out on guinea pigs and swine, high-titer neutralizing antibodies were produced and the CP-EP141-160 VLP vaccine could protect most of the animals against FMDV.

Virus de Fiebre Aftosa: una aproximación al estado del arte / Vírus da Febre Aftosa: uma aproximação ao estado da arte / Foot and Mouth Disease virus: an Approach to the state of the art

La fiebre aftosa es una enfermedad viral causada por uno de los miembros prototipo de la familiaPicornaviridae, y aunque dicha enfermedad ha sido descrita hace más de 5 siglos, sigue siendo una de lasprincipales barreras económicas y sanitarias tanto para importación como para exportación de ganadobovino y porcino y sus derivados. Dado que el 75% del hato bovino nacional se encuentra libre de laenfermedad con vacunación, es necesario que nos actualicemos en el estado del arte de la enfermedadpara poder así estar preparados para el anhelado momento en el que el país sea declarado libre sinvacunación y apartir del cual, un completo conocimiento de la enfermedad, sus factores de riesgo, sucorrecto reconocimiento y diagnóstico, van a ser clave para mantener este importante estatus zoosanitarioque beneficia tanto a la comunidad ganadera como al país.

Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) is a viral disease caused by a prototype member of the Picornaviridaefamily. Although the disease has been described for more than 5 centuries, it remains one of the majorhealth and economic barriers for cattle and swine import and export. Since 75% of the national cattle herdis FMD free, it is necessary to provide an updated literature review of the disease. Updated informationof FMD will assist in the decision making of the need and use of vaccines, especially at the time when thecountry is declared free of FMD.

A febre aftosa é uma doença viral causada por dos membros protótipo da família Picornaviridae.Embora que esta doença tem sido descrita a mais cinco séculos, tem sido a principal barreira econômicae sanitária pra a importação e exportação de gado bovino e suíno e seus derivados. Dado que o 75% dorebanho bovino nacional encontra-se livre da doença com vacinação, é necessária a atualização do estadoda arte da doença para poder assim estar preparados para o esperado momento em que o país seja declaradolivre de vacinação. Momento pelo qual, um completo conhecimento da doença, seus fatores de risco, seucorreto reconhecimento e diagnóstico, serão chaves para manter este importante status zoosanitario quebeneficia tanto aos criadores com ao país.