Foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O, East African Topotype 3 (EA-3) in a pastoral herd in Kaduna state, Nigeria

A case of foot and mouth disease involving an uncommon serotype of the Foot and Mouth disease virus (FMDV) is reported in a 6-year-old Bunaji bull from a pastoralist herd in Tohu, Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Clinical examination revealed erosions in the inter-digital spaces, dorsum and ventrum of the tongue and raised hair coat. The epithelial lining of the lesions on the foot and mouth were gently peeled off and used as samples for diagnosis. A confirmatory diagnosis of FMDV serotype O strain was done by virus isolation using Bovine thyroid gland primary cell line, antigen ELISA for FMD virus, while a phylogenetic analyses of VP1 nucleotide sequences revealed East African topotype 3 (EA-3). Presenting lesions in the interdigital space were cleaned with cotton wool soaked in a solution of 5% chlorhexidine and then sprayed with Oxyspray® after which Tetranor® long acting antibiotic was administered through deep intramuscular route at 20mg/kg body weight. The diagnosis of relatively alien topotype of FMDV in Nigeria calls for a holistic epidemiological survey of all the serotypes and topotypes present in the country in order to plan for effective control measures.