The airborne dispersal of foot-and-mouth disease virus from vaccinated and recovered pigs, cattle and sheep after exposure to infection.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus was detected during two periods in the air of looseboxes which housed susceptible, vaccinated or recovered pigs, cattle or sheep exposed to infection. The first was 30 min to 22 h after exposure and occurred in all animals. The second was two to seven days after exposure and occurred with those susceptible and vaccinated animals which developed clinical lesions, and with vaccinated and recovered pigs and sheep, which did not develop clinical lesions. Vaccination of animals before exposure resulted in less or no virus being detected. The virus during the first period was attributed to virus trapped on the animal during exposure, and the virus during the second period to limited multiplication in the respiratory tract. Control of movement for two weeks after contact with infection is suggested as a means of preventing spread of foot-and-mouth disease in areas that contain vaccinated animals.