New vesicular stomatitis in Utah, several premises in quarantine
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Topics: VESICULAR STOMATITIS UTAH
These premises have been placed in quarantine.
The quarantine period has been established as 14 days from the last animal to show clinical signs on these premises.
Four more premises are currently under investigation and those samples that were submitted for testing should yield results before the end of the week.
Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease that primarily affects horses and cattle and occasionally swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas.
Humans can also become infected with the disease when handling affected animals, but this is a rare event.
In affected livestock, the incubation period for vesicular stomatitis ranges from two to eight days.
Often, excessive salivation is the first sign of the disease.
Close examination of the mouth initially reveals blanched and raised vesicles or blister-like lesions on the inner surfaces of the lips, gums, tongue, and/or dental pad.
In addition, these blister-like lesions can form on the lips, nostrils, coronary band, prepuce, vulva, and teats.
The blisters swell and break, which causes oral pain and discomfort and reluctance to eat or drink.
Lameness and severe weight loss may follow. ■