Foot-and-mouth disease virus in the llama (Lama glama): diagnosis, transmission, and susceptibility.
Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was shown to be transmitted from either cattle to llamas, llamas to swine (interspecies), or llamas to llamas (intraspecies). Response to FMDV varied greatly in the 6 llamas studied; 3 llamas developed generalized clinical disease with mild pyrexia, 2 after intradermolingual inoculation, and 1 after exposure to a calf infected with FMDV serotype A24. Another contact llama developed vesicular lesions on all 4 extremities but no oral lesions. Two contact llamas, in separate study groups, did not seroconvert or develop clinical signs of FMDV infection. All 4 llamas showing clinical disease developed virus-neutralizing antibodies against FMDV A24 and antibodies against the virus-infection-associated antigen. Virus-neutralizing antibody titers remained elevated for over 200 days postinoculation or exposure. Antibodies to virus-infection-associated antigen were detected several days after virus-neutralizing antibody appeared and became weaker 100-125 days post-FMDV exposure in 3 of the 4 clinically affected llamas. One inoculated llama was still positive for virus-infection-associated antigen at 360 days after inoculation. Foot-and-mouth disease virus A24 was not detected from esophageal-pharyngeal fluid specimens beyond 8 days postexposure using in vitro techniques.
Lubroth
J
J
US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Greenport, NY 11944.
Yedloutschnig
R J
RJ
Culhane
V K
VK
Mikiciuk
P E
PE
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D005537:Aphthovirus / Q000276:immunology; D002161:Camelids, New World; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000635:transmission*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral