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Skin as a potential source of infectious foot and mouth disease aerosols

Michael B Dillon1

  • 1Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, PO Box 808, L-103, Livermore, CA 94551, USA. dillon7@llnl.gov

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|April 1, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Exfoliated animal skin cells may spread infectious foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) through aerosols. This review suggests skin cells could be a significant FMDV transmission source, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Virology
  • Infectious Disease Transmission
  • Aerosol Science

Background:

  • Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a significant threat to animal agriculture.
  • Viral transmission via aerosols is a known phenomenon for various pathogens.
  • The role of exfoliated skin cells in FMDV aerosolization is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the hypothesis that exfoliated, virus-infected animal skin cells are a significant source of infectious FMDV aerosols.
  • To review existing evidence supporting or refuting this transmission mechanism.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing data.
  • Analysis of FMDV tropism for skin, viral loads in epidermis, and aerosol emission rates.
  • Comparison of FMDV aerosol characteristics (size, stability) with those of skin cell aerosols.

Main Results:

  • FMDV shows high tropism for animal epidermis, even in clinically normal skin.
  • Estimated FMDV skin cell aerosol emissions are substantial and exceed the minimum infectious dose.
  • FMDV aerosol characteristics align with those expected from skin cell carriers.
  • Timing of aerosol emissions correlates with high FMDV skin concentrations.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence supports the hypothesis that FMDV-infected skin cells contribute to infectious aerosol formation.
  • Further experimental validation is required to confirm this transmission route.
  • Potential implications include novel FMDV detection and control strategies and a broader understanding of skin cells in viral dissemination.

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