Abstract
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection of significant financial
importance to the export and trade of agricultural products. The occurrence of persistently
infected ‘‘carriers’’ of FMD-virus (FMDV) in ruminant species adds further complications to
disease control. There have been significant discrepancies in reports regarding the
pathogenesis of FMDV infection in cattle with specific emphasis on the anatomical sites
involved in early and persistent virus replication. In this study, collection of small biopsy
samples from the dorsal soft palate (DSP) of live animals was used to investigate the level
of FMDV RNA present at this site at sequential time points during the infection. Results
were compared to measurements of virus excretion in samples of oropharyngeal fluid
collected at corresponding time points. Possible sites of virus persistence were
investigated through measurements of the levels of FMDV RNA in the DSP as well as
mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes beyond 28 days after infection.
Results indicated only low levels of FMDV RNA present in samples of pharyngeal
epithelia during both early and persistent phases of infection with significantly higher
levels of virus detected in pharyngeal excretions. It is concluded that the targeted area for
sampling within the DSP does not harbour significant levels of virus replication during
acute or persistent FMDV infection in cattle. Furthermore, the DSP and the mandibular and
retropharyngeal lymph nodes cannot be concluded to be principal sites for persistence of
FMDV.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Veterinary Microbiology |
Volume | 154 |
Issue number | 3-4 |
Pages (from-to) | 230-239 |
ISSN | 0378-1135 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- qRT-PCR
- Virus
- Bovine
- Pathogenesis
- Foot-and-mouth disease