Profiling oral and digital lesions in XXXX in Ireland.

@entity11536 @entity4631 @entity742 @entity9645 @entity75 @entity2133 @entity13581
BACKGROUND: During the @entity4631 outbreak in Ireland and the UK in 2001, there was significant uncertainty amongstveterinary practitioners and government veterinary inspectors surrounding the clinical diagnosis of @entity4631 insheep. This situation was complicated by reports of @entity9645 that closely resembled @entity4631 ongross appearance which at that time were referred to as @entity2133 and gum obscure disease. METHODS: A field and abattoir study was carried out to determine the frequency, appearance and significance of oraland digital lesions in @entity742 in Ireland. A total of 3, 263 @entity742 were examined in 22 flocks, including 1, 969 @entity742 and 1, 294 adults. A further 2,403 animals were examined by abattoir inspections. Animals bearing lesions of interest were identified, samples of the lesions were taken and subsequently examined by bacteriology, electron microscopy, serology, immunohistochemistry and histopathology. RESULTS: Forty four oral and 20 digital lesions were identified and characterised. @entity75 were recorded mostfrequently in @entity742 , where the most common cause was @entity13581 infection. The majority of the oral lesions recorded in the adults was idiopathic and consistent with a diagnosis of @entity9645 . A variety of digital lesions was observed, consistent with scald, foot-rot and @entity11536 ( @entity11536 ). All of the animals with lesions were seronegative to @entity4631 virus (FMDV). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difficulty in differentiating these lesions from those caused by FMDV on the basis of flockhistory and careful clinical examination.
