Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD) is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs that is clinically indistinguishable from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Unlike FMD, the lesions/vesicles of SVD are mild and only affect pigs and, rarely, people.

SVD is contracted through consumption of contaminated food scraps fed to pigs. Once a pig is infected, the virus spreads rapidly through a herd through bodily secretions, feces, and contaminated equipment and clothing.

Endemic Areas

Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe. The United States and Canada are considered free of the disease.

Clinical Signs

• Lesions/vesicles around the mouth and snout
• Lesions/vesicles of the hoof/foot junction (coronary band)
• Fever
• Excessive salivation

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for SVD. Pigs usually recover without incident after 2 to 3 weeks. Any pig suspected of having SVD should be reported to the State Veterinarians or USDA Area Veterinarian in Charge immediately.

Prevention

SVD can be prevented from entering the United States by following basic farm biosecurity procedures including feeding properly processed food scraps (boiled for 30 minutes to kill bacteria and viruses) to pigs, and quarantining pigs of unknown health status.

There is no vaccine for SVD.

Public Health

Although there have been isolated incidents of laboratory workers' becoming infected with the virus, SVD poses little threat to public health.

Links

OIE-Swine Vesicular Disease

APHIS-Swine Vesicular Disease PDF

Iowa State University-Swine Vesicular Disease