Host

Susceptibility

Related
topics

Age of Animal

FMD virus infects the cells of the myocardium in susceptible young animals, causing death. Mortality in older animals due to acute FMD is rare, but sometimes occurs following secondary complications. The higher mortality in young animals does not necessarily indicate a higher susceptibility to infection.

In enzootic situations young animals may appear less susceptible to disease because of variable degrees of protection derived from maternal antibody. Vaccinated or recovered dams will pass on immunity to infection via colostral antibody.

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