Stomatitis requirements for State Fair

Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) infection has been found in Wyoming livestock in Goshen County. As a result, the Wyoming State Fair and the Wyoming Livestock Board are requiring a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection within 14 days prior to going to the state fair on all livestock originating from any county in Wyoming or other states where VSV has been found. The following statement must appear on the certificate: “The animals represented on this certificate are not from a premises under quarantine for VSV and they are not showing any clinical signs of the disease.”

Livestock from counties where VSV has not been found are required to have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection within 30 days prior to coming to state fair.

Wyoming Livestock Board and Wyoming Department of Agriculture personnel will be conducting the animal health check-in at the state fair and will also be conducting animal health surveillance on the fair grounds.

VSV-infected horses and/or cattle have also been found in 2015 in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Arizona. VSV can affect horses (mules and donkeys too), cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. VSV is particularly significant because it is clinically indistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), swine vesicular disease, and vesicular exanthema of swine - all serious foreign animal diseases (FAD). Because of similarities to these FADs, it is essential to quickly confirm a diagnosis with laboratory testing. Of the vesicular diseases, VSV is the only one that affects horses, and the presence of lesions is suggestive of VSV.

The main symptoms of VSV are slobbering, blisters, sores and sloughing of skin in the mouth, on the tongue, on the muzzle, inside the ears, on the genitals, and on the coronary band above the hooves. Animals with VSV go off feed and are reluctant to drink. Lameness and weight loss may occur.

Flies and midges are the main vectors for VSV. The virus is also spread through direct contact with infected livestock and indirectly through contact with contaminated equipment and tack. Fly control is the most important step in preventing the disease. Good sanitation and bio-security measures can help avoid exposure.

If you suspect VSV in your animals, contact your veterinarian immediately. Vesicular Stomatitis is a reportable disease that should be immediately reported to the Wyoming state veterinarian at 307-857-4140 or to the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services’ Wyoming office at 307-432-7960.