April 9, 2013
Three new outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Zabaykalsky Krai were reported by the Russian veterinary authorities, affecting goat, sheep, pig, and cattle populations.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received follow-up report no. one on April 4 stating that the outbreaks took place on various farms across Zabaykalsky Krai.
In the case of cattle, a total of 4,398 animals were found susceptible, out of which 684 cases were reported. A total of 995 pigs were found showing signs of susceptibility to the FMD virus (Serotype A). No deaths were reported and no animals were destroyed and/or slaughtered.
According to the OIE, the village Duroi is located at 3.5 kilometres from the border with China, and the villages Priargunsk and Srednyaya Borzya are located at 1.5 kilometres from the border. The affected territory is part of the buffer zone where vaccination against FMD is practiced.
The isolates belong to genetic lineage SEA-97 of type A FMD virus. Complement fixation tests (CFT), indirect ELISA as well as indirect sandwich ELISA, nested reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as well as RT-PCR tests, and virus isolation were conducted in cattle, whereby the presence of the FMD virus was confirmed.
