Abstract
The existence of a prolonged, subclinical phase of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection in cattle was first recognized in the 1950s. Since then, the FMDV carrier state has been a subject of controversy amongst scientists and policymakers. A fundamental conundrum remains in the discordance between the detection of infectious FMDV in carriers and the apparent lack of contagiousness to in-contact animals. Although substantial progress has been made in elucidating the causal mechanisms of persistent FMDV infection, there are still critical knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in order to elucidate, predict, prevent, and model the risks associated with the carrier state. This is further complicated by the occurrence of a distinct form of neoteric subclinical infection, which is indistinguishable from the carrier state in field scenarios, but may have substantially different epidemiological properties. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of the FMDV carrier state and identifies specific areas of research in need of further attention. Findings from experimental investigations of FMDV pathogenesis are discussed in relation to experience gained from field studies of foot-and-mouth disease.
Highlights
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals that has substantial impact on global agricultural production and trade [1]
Subclinical foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection can be divided into two distinct phases: 1; neoteric subclinical infection which refers to acute-phase infection of vaccinated hosts or animals which are naturally resistant to the clinical disease and 2; persistent infection, referred to as the FMDV
Since its’ first description in the 1950s, the FMDV carrier state has been a subject of controversy
Summary
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals that has substantial impact on global agricultural production and trade [1]. Apart from causing a debilitating clinical condition which directly impacts animal production and welfare, the uneven global distribution of the disease creates substantial trade barriers that prevent access to international markets for many lowand middle-income countries due to the endemic presence of FMD virus (FMDV) [2]. FMD endemicity typically includes a cycle of periodic outbreaks of clinical FMD combined with both neoteric (temporally acute) and persistent phases of subclinical infection. Subclinical FMDV infection can be divided into two distinct phases: 1; neoteric subclinical infection which refers to acute-phase infection of vaccinated hosts or animals which are naturally resistant to the clinical disease and 2; persistent infection, referred to as the FMDV carrier state
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