Strains of Virus of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Recovered from Outbreaks in Mexico. Pathogenicity and Invasiveness

A report on the identification of samples of virus received from Mexico has been made.1Before referring to the general effects of the Mexican strains of virus in cattle exposed to infection by inoculation, by contact with diseased cattle, or by the nasal instillation of virus, something should be said about the animals employed in these experiments.Foot-and-mouth disease is not endemic in Great Britain but is introduced at irregular intervals, outbreaks occurring sporadically. Since the policy of control is by “stamping-out,” that is, elimination of infected and “in-contact” animals by slaughter and burning (or under the exigencies of war, by burial) along with the rigorous application of other disinfection and “stand-still” orders, it is possible only to purchase cattle with a “clean” history as regards foot-and-mouth disease. The cattle used in these experiments were Devon steers between V/2. and 2 years old, in good condition and weighing between 600-800 lbs, and they could be considered as relatively ...