FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN A SMALL SAMPLE OF EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED PRONGHORN (ANTILOCAPRA AMERICANA)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Wildlife Disease Ecology
• Infectious Disease Pathogenesis

Background:

• Limited data exists on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in North American wildlife, particularly pronghorn (Antilocapra americana).
• Understanding FMDV susceptibility and transmission in wildlife is crucial for disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare pronghorn susceptibility to FMDV strain O with cattle.
• Determine intra- and interspecies transmission potential between pronghorn and cattle.
• Evaluate pronghorn as potential long-term carriers of FMDV.

Main Methods:

• Experimental inoculation of pronghorn and cattle with FMDV strain O1 Manisa.
• Assessment of clinical signs, lesion development, and viral shedding.
• Evaluation of conventional diagnostic tests for FMDV detection in pronghorn.
• Monitoring for virus presence and antibody development.

Main Results:

• All inoculated and exposed pronghorn and cattle developed FMD, with pronghorn showing severe foot and mild oral lesions.
• FMDV transmission occurred between pronghorn, from cattle to pronghorn, and from pronghorn to cattle.
• Conventional diagnostic tests detected FMDV and antibodies in both species; virus was not detectable beyond 3 weeks post-infection.

Conclusions:

• Pronghorn are susceptible to FMDV strain O and can transmit the virus to cattle and other pronghorn.
• Pronghorn are unlikely to be efficient long-term carriers of FMDV.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering wildlife in FMD surveillance and control strategies.