Foot and mouth disease: Epidemiology

General Introduction

Contents

General Introduction

Virus

Host

Host/virus Interaction

Environment

The behaviour of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease in susceptible populations is understood by identifying the factors (determinants) which influence the frequency with which the disease occurs (Donaldson, 1987; Kitching, 1992; Kitching, 1998).

Determinants which influence the incidence of FMD are:

1. Virus
2. Host
3. Host/Virus Interactions
4. Environment

Not all animals that become infected will develop disease. Some will fail to show observable clinical signs while others have natural or acquired immunity which prevents disease, but does not stop infection.

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