FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Lachitis is an infectious disease characterized by fever, the appearance of vesicles and erosion on the mucous membrane of the mouth, as well as on the skin between the fingers and the nails.

Pathogen - a virus that has high resistance in the environment, well tolerates drying and freezing. On clothes of personnel caring for sick animals, it lasts up to 3 months, on animal wool - about 1 month. Long remains viable in milk, meat, and also in manure. Boiling and the sun's rays act on him fatal. Of the disinfectants for the foot and mouth disease virus, 2% alkali solutions and 1-2% formalin solution are most active.

The main source of infection is cattle, less often pigs, sheep, goats. In animals, the disease is manifested by fever, rash of vesicles on the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, on the lips, tongue, udder nipples, in the intercross cleft, abundant drooling. Animals refuse to feed, limp. Standing out with saliva, milk, urine, feces, contents of the vesicles, the virus enters the litter, feed, water, drinking bowls, where it is stored for a long time.

People rarely get sick. Infection of people occurs more often with the use of raw milk, less often - meat slaughtered animals, patients with foot-and-mouth disease, when caring for sick animals. The virus can penetrate the body through damaged skin, the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth. The workers of animal husbandry (milkmaids, cowgirls, zootechnicians, etc.) are more often infected, as well as workers of meat-packing plants and slaughterhouses. The causative agent can be entered into livestock farms that are far from unfavorable in the foot-and-mouth areas, together with fodder, water, animal care products, dairy products, animal skin, etc.

Clinical picture . The duration of the incubation period is 2 to 15 days. In most cases, the disease begins acutely: chills, headache , weakness, pain in the muscles, bones, lower back, body temperature rises to 38 - 39.5 ° C. After 1-2 days, dryness and burning sensation in the mouth, sometimes photophobia , rezy with urination , are added. When examining patients on the lips, hard and soft skies, the mucous membrane of the cheeks against the background of severe hyperemia and edema, small oval vesicles are found, filled with light transparent contents, which quickly becomes cloudy-yellow. Especially a lot of bubbles happen on the edges and on the tip of the tongue. After 1-2 days, the vesicles themselves open and in their place appear painful irregular forms of bright red surface ulceration - aphthae , which sometimes merge with each other. Aphids can also occur on the mucous membrane of the nose, posterior pharyngeal wall, vaginal walls and urethra, on conjunctiva. After opening the vesicles, body temperature usually decreases slightly, but the patients feel worse. They complain of pain when swallowing, there is abundant salivation, the tongue is swelling, the speech becomes inarticulate, the lips are swollen, covered with sores and crusts. Vesicles are formed on the skin between the fingers and toes as well as at the base of the nails. In this case, the brushes and feet swell, marked burning, itching, a feeling of crawling.

Aphthae on the mucous membrane of the mouth, lips, tongue heal usually quickly, after 3-5 days, leaving scarring behind. Simultaneously, the majority of patients normalize the temperature, improve their well-being. The diagnosis is based on clinical data, epidemiological history (diseases of FMD in the area, the use of raw milk and dairy products, contact with sick animals, etc.) and the results of laboratory studies. Differential diagnosis is carried out with aphthous stomatitis, chicken pox, enterovirus diseases with damage to the oral mucosa. Treatment. Compulsory isolation and hospitalization of patients for at least 14 days from the onset of the disease. Careful care of patients is very important. You need liquid food 5 to 6 times a day. It is recommended to rinse the mouth with one of the following solutions: 3% hydrogen peroxide, 0.1% rivanol, 0.1% potassium permanganate, infusion of chamomile.

The sores are cauterized with 2-5% solutions of silver nitrate. When attaching a secondary infection, antibiotics are prescribed. Usually, by the end of the 2nd week, full recovery is achieved and work capacity is restored.

Prevention includes a set of veterinary and sanitary measures aimed at eliminating FMD diseases. Personnel in contact with sick animals should work in overalls (oilcloth apron, rubber gloves, boots), be under constant medical supervision. To prevent infection through milk, it must be boiled for 5 minutes. The current and final disinfection of the premises where sick animals are kept, transport, inventory is carried out with a hot solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, as well as 1-2% with formalin solutions. To work in unfavorable for foot-and-mouth disease cattle-breeding farms, pregnant, teenagers, and persons with micro-trauma of the hands are not allowed.