Clinical signs of foot-and-mouth disease in pigs

A range of clinical signs may indicate the presence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in pigs.

Pig with FMD snout lesions. © UK DEFRA.

Typical clinical signs of FMD in pigs include:

pyrexia, though this clinical sign is inconsistent
severe foot lesions and lameness, with detachment of the claw horn, especially when housed on concrete
vesicles on pressure points of limbs, especially along the carpus, resulting in knuckling
vesicular lesions on the snout
abortion.

Pig's snout, gum and lips with 1-day-old vesicles.

Pig's snout with 2-day-old vesicles. Note necrosis of epithelium at lesion sites.

Pig's snout with 3-day-old lesions. Note extensive necrosis of affected epithelium.

Pig's tongue with 3-day-old lesions. Note sero-fibrinous in-filling and early healing evident in lesions at edge.

Pig's snout with 4-day-old lesions. Note scab formation and healing.

Pig's tongue with 4-day-old lesions. Note extensive fibrinous in-filling.

Pig’s feet with 3-day-old lesions along coronary bands of main and supernumerary digits.

Pig’s feet with 6-day-old lesions. Note sero-fibrinous in-filling.

Pig’s feet with 9-day-old lesions.

Also consider...