Hoof and Mouth disease and VS may contribute to major negative economic impacts on the livestock industry. Cattle tend to suffer the greatest economic losses from these diseases since they develop lesions on their teats. This can result in decreased milk production, painful milking, depression, loss of appetite and potentially serious cases of mastitis. Vesicular Stomatitis usually occurs between late spring and early fall. The seasonal time frame of outbreaks lends to the theory that insects serve as vectors.
People can become infected and pass the virus between horses.
This may be an important consideration if horses are being vaccinated in the vicinity of infected animals. The incubation period for the disease can vary from two to eight days. The horse may develop a fever at the time that blisters begin to form on the tongue, gums or hoof area. Unfortunately, the blisters often go unnoticed until the horse goes off feed due to painful lesions left after the blisters have burst. Then, by the time the lesions are discovered and the animal quarantined, the entire herd may have already been exposed.