Justin T. Brown Iowa State University

Publish Date: May 18, 2023

In recent years, there has been an increase in the presence of vesicular lesions noted on swine, and consequently foreign animal disease investigations (Kasari, 2016). Vesicular diseases are a group of similar diseases in swine that produce a fever with vesicles (a fluid filled blister on the skin) that progresses to erosions (ulcers on the skin) that can occur on/near the mouth, snout, muzzle, teats and feet. Vesicular diseases that affect swine include, foot and mouth disease (FMD), senecavirus A, vesicular stomatitis (VS), vesicular exanthema of swine and swine vesicular disease. Any evidence of vesicular disease in swine must be investigated by a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician (FADD) – these are individuals who are state/federal employees that are specially trained to investigate suspect and confirmed FAD cases. Each suspect vesicular disease case must be thoroughly investigated as it closely resembles the clinical signs of FMD, a foreign animal disease (FAD). Foreign animal diseases, especially FMD, can have devastating animal health and economic impacts on the agriculture and food animal industry. Since FMD poses a threat to the United States, any lesions that present like blisters must be investigated by state/federal animal health officials through a foreign animal disease investigation to protect animal health and the agriculture industry.