Which animal is not typically affected by FMD and is used in differential diagnosis?

Which animal is not typically affected by FMD and is used in differential diagnosis?

• A. Cattle
• B. Horses
• C. Pigs
• D. Sheep

Answer: (B)

FMD virus has a broad host range among cloven-hoofed animals, but horses are not typically affected by the disease. This makes horses a useful reference point in differential diagnosis of vesicular diseases. Vesicular stomatitis virus, for example, can produce vesicles in horses, whereas FMD does not commonly cause disease in them. So in an outbreak of vesicular disease, if cattle, sheep, or pigs show lesions but horses remain unaffected, FMD becomes a leading consideration; if horses do develop lesions, vesicular stomatitis or another non-FMD vesicular disease is more likely.

FMD virus has a broad host range among cloven-hoofed animals, but horses are not typically affected by the disease. This makes horses a useful reference point in differential diagnosis of vesicular diseases. Vesicular stomatitis virus, for example, can produce vesicles in horses, whereas FMD does not commonly cause disease in them. So in an outbreak of vesicular disease, if cattle, sheep, or pigs show lesions but horses remain unaffected, FMD becomes a leading consideration; if horses do develop lesions, vesicular stomatitis or another non-FMD vesicular disease is more likely.