July 9, 2004

Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed In Cattle In US State

This year's outbreak of vesicular stomatitis is found not only in horses in US Texas and New Mexico, but also in two head of cattle in Starr County, about 225 miles south of San Antonio.

The Texas Animal Health Commission, the state's livestock and poultry health regulatory agency, received notification of the positive laboratory results late June 29.

"The two infected cattle are on separate quarantined premises in Starr County and are the first confirmed cases in cattle in the U.S. since the l997 versus the outbreak involving New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah," said Max Coats, deputy director for the commissions Animal Health Programs.

The 1998 outbreak involved only horses.

On one of the premises in Starr County, one cow among a handful of cattle tested positive for the disease, and no other susceptible animals are on the site.

On the second premise, the owner has an infected cow and horse, and there are about 30 other head of cattle and several horses that have no clinical signs.

They have tested negative for the disease, Coats said. As of June 30, vesicular stomatitis infection in 2004 has been detected on a total of 15 premises in Texas and New Mexico.

Disease investigations also are continuing. With the exception of two sites in Starr County, all cases involve horses.

Vesicular stomatitis, a viral infection, occurs sporadically in the southwestern U.S. and is thought to be transmitted by sand flies and black flies.

This painful but short-term disease can cause blistering and erosions in and around the mouth, and around the muzzle, teats or hooves of horses, cattle, goats, swine, deer and some other livestock.