Control of Vesicular Diseases Group

In the Control of Vesicular Diseases Group we carry out applied research that will help to control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). We have three main lines of investigation.

 
  • We are seeking to understand and predict airborne spread of virus
  • We are investigating air samplers to detect FMD virus in the breath from infected animals
  • We are evaluating thermal imaging as a method to help diagnose FMD
   

The IAH and the Met Office, UK are collaborating on a series of laboratory and field experiments and atmospheric modelling studies related to the airborne transmission of FMD. In our joint project we collect data on virus release from infected and vaccinated/infected animals, study past outbreaks, establish improved air sampling devices, and refine models to predict virus spread. This will further develop our understanding of airborne transmission of FMDV, maintain existing knowledge and expertise, and provide Defra with a world-leading, ongoing service. Air sampling devices may provide a non-invasive field diagnostic test for FMD. We work closely with modelling groups outside IAH and with the FMD Vaccine Group and the Molecular Characterisation and Diagnostic Group within IAH.

Early identification of animals infected with FMD virus is vital if disease outbreaks are to be rapidly diagnosed and controlled. Thorough screening to identify signs of FMD is time consuming and labour intensive since it requires the restraint of suspect animals for clinical examination. This can be particularly difficult in some situations, for example where animals are at pasture, are difficult to handle or are present in very large numbers. Animals with FMD often develop fever during the early period of the disease, and the vesicular lesions that occur, most commonly on the feet and in and around the mouth, are associated with local inflammation, giving rise to an increase in skin temperature. On their own, these temperature changes are not specific for FMD but could be used to identify animals that warrant closer examination to detect more definitive signs and/or enable sampling for confirmatory testing. The surface temperatures of people and animals have been measured with a variety of infra red thermography (IRT) cameras (also known as thermal imagers) and use of such cameras for diverse medical and non-medical purposes has led to the availability of inexpensive portable models. We will evaluate some of the latest thermography equipment on normal and FMD affected livestock.

Publications:

  • Amaral Doel CM, Gloster J, Valarcher JF. (2009) Airborne transmission of foot-and-mouth disease in pigs: evaluation and optimisation of instrumentation and techniques. Veterinary Journal 179(2), 219-24. [Abstract]. 
  • Bashiruddin J B, Mann J, Finch R, Zhang Z, Paton D. (2006) Preliminary study of the use of thermal imaging to assess surface temperatures during foot-and-mouth disease virus infection in cattle, sheep and pigs. EUFMD conference, Paphos, Cyprus, 17 to 20 October 2006. [Abstract]. 
  • Gloster J, Doel C, Gubbins S, Paton DJ. (2008) Foot-and-mouth disease: Measurements of aerosol emission from pigs as a function of virus strain and initial dose. Veterinary Journal 177, 374-380. [Abstract]. 
  • Gloster J, Jones A, Redington A, Burgin L, Sørensen JH, Turner R, Dillon M, Hullinger P, Simpson M, Astrup P, Garner G, Stewart P, D'Amours R, Sellers R, Paton D. (2010) Airborne spread of foot-and-mouth disease - Model intercomparison. Veterinary Journal 183(3), 278-86. [Abstract]. 
  • Parida S, Fleming L, Oh Y, Mahapatra M, Hamblin P, Gloster J, Paton DJ. (2008) Emergency vaccination of sheep against foot-and-mouth disease: significance and detection of subsequent sub-clinical infection. Vaccine 26(27-28), 3469-79 . [Abstract]. 
  • Ryan E, Gloster J, Reid S, Li Y, Ferris NF, Waters R, Juleff N, Charleston B, Bankowski B, Gubbins S, Wilesmith JW, King DP, Paton DJ. (2008) Clinical and laboratory investigations of the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in the United Kingdom in 2007. Veterinary Record 163(5), 139-147. [Abstract]. 
  • Sellers R, Gloster J. (2008) Foot-and-mouth disease: a review of intranasal infection of cattle, sheep and pigs. Veterinary Journal 177(2), 159-68. [Abstract]. 
  • Paton DJ, Ferris NP, Hutchings GH, Li Y, Swabey K, Keel P, Hamblin P, King DP, Reid SM, Ebert K, Parida S, Savva S, Georgiou K, Kakoyiannis C. (2009) Investigations into the cause of foot-and-mouth disease virus seropositive small ruminants in Cyprus during 2007. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 56(8), 321-8. [Abstract]. 
  • Paton DJ, Sumption KJ, Charleston B. (2009) Options for control of foot-and-mouth disease: knowledge, capability and policy. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B Biological Sciences 364(1530), 2657-67. [Abstract].