People have speculated that VES may have resulted from feeding of marine mammal (seal) meat and fish as a protein supplement during the Great Depression. Thus, some are concerned that a VES-like disease could reappear in the United States because of the large number of marine mammals on the west coast. Marine calicivirus antibody has not yet been found in marine mammals in the Atlantic Ocean.
Host Range
Vesicular exanthema of swine occurred only in the pig. Related caliciviruses occur in marine mammals, fish in the Pacific Ocean, and in other mammals.
Geographic Distribution
Vesicular exanthema of swine occurred only in the United States and has been eradicated.
Transmission
The outbreaks up to 1939 may have been due to separate introductions of the virus. Starting in the 1939 outbreak, there was rapid pig-to-pig spread and spread from feeding infected pork scraps in uncooked garbage.
Incubation Period
The incubation period after natural exposure is 18 to 72 hours.
Clinical Signs
Clinical signs are very similar to those of foot-and-mouth disease and other vesicular diseases. There is a fever; vesicles in the mouth, on the snout (Fig. 122), and, on the feet (Fig. 123); and lameness. These signs are all grossly indistinguishable from FMD. Lesions in VES seem to be deeper, and granulation tissue commonly forms especially on the feet.
Morbidity and Mortality
Morbidity is quite variable but may be near 100 percent. Mortality is low.
Diagnosis
See chapter on foot-and-mouth disease.
Differential Diagnosis
Differential diagnosis for SVD should include foot-and-mouth disease, vesicular stomatitis, swine vesicular disease, and chemical and thermal burns.
Control and Eradication
Slaughter and disposal of infected and contact animals and disinfection of the premises.
Public Health
There has been no report of human infection by VES virus.
GUIDE TO THE LITERATURE
1. BANKOWSKI, R.A. 1965. Vesicular exanthema. Adv. Vet. Sci.,10:23-64.
2. BURROUGHS, N., DOEL, T., and BROWN, F. 1978. Relationship of San Miguel sea lion virus to other members of the calicivirus group. Intervirol., 10:51-59.
3. GELBERG, H.B., and LEWIS, R.M. 1982. The pathogenesis of VESV and SMSV in swine. Vet. Path., 19:424-443.
4. SMITH, A.W., and AKERS, T.G. 1976. Vesicular exanthema of swine. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 169:700-703.
5. SMITH, A.W., AKERS, T.G., MADIN, S.H., and VEDROS, N.A. 1973. San Miguel sea lion virus isolation, preliminary characterization and relationship to vesicular exanthema of swine virus. Nature, 244:108-110.
6. SMITH, A.W., SKILLING, D.E., DARDIRI, A.H., and LATHAM, A.B. 1980. Calicivirus pathogenic for swine: A new serotype isolated from opaleye (Girella nigricans) an ocean fish. Science, 209:940-941.
7. TRAUM, J. 1936. Vesicular exanthema of swine. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 88:316.
C.A. Mebus, D.V.M., Ph.D., USDA, APHIS, VS, Retired, Southold, NY 11971
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