There are seven antigenically distinct FMDV serotypes; O, A, C, Asia1, SAT1, SAT2 & SAT3, with no cross protection between serotypes. There are five known antigenic sites on the FMDV capsid against which neutralizing antibodies bind to confer protection against the viral infection. VP1 contains the virus attachment motif (RGD) on the G-H loop that binds to the cellular receptor integrin for all the seven serotypes known and carries the serotype specific immune dominant epitope which is part of antigenic site 1. It has been shown that the RGD motif is not an essential constituent of peptides able to elicit neutralising antibody responses against the virus (Brown et al., 1999). Monoclonal antibody (Mab) D9 is a neutralising Mab that binds to the linear immune dominant epitope of G-H loop, where for serotype O, its neutralising activities are affected by the changes at amino acid positions VP1 (L144, L148 and K154). In this study we hypothesised that there are two different types of epitopes on the G-H loop, one is conserved between serotypes, and non-neutralising, while the second epitope is neutralising and serotype specific.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and Rift Valley Fever are examples of transboundary animal diseases having major consequences in terms of health and economics. PPR is a highly pathogenic viral disease infecting principally sheep and goats, but also some wild artiodactyls, camelids and suids. This disease circulates in large parts of Africa, Asia, Eurasia and Middle-East and it has recently appeared at the gates of Europe in Georgia (2016) and Bulgaria (2018). A vaccine sxiste and the disease is the target of an eradication campaign by 2030. RVF is an arbovirus also affecting small ruminants and camelids, but also cattle and can be transmitted to human. The virus is transmitted among ruminants through the bite of infected mosquitoes (belonging to the Aedes and Culex species) and to human through the direct contact with infected blood or tissues. The disease circulates mostly in most countries in North, East, West and Sahelian Africa as well as in the Arabian Peninsula. Despite the different way of transmission, transboundary animal movement is the most likely route of the spread of the two diseases. Even though the livestock trade is strictly regulated between endemic regions of the two diseases and most of the Mediterranean countries, regional, locally adapted strategies are needed to control the diseases efficiently. The aim of this talk is to provide a panorama of the epidemiological situation around Europe and provide some preliminary scenario for the introduction of the diseases, through animal movement, and risk of transmission due to the presence of competent vectors (only for Rift Valley Fever).

Foot -and- mouth disease (FMD) is an acute, highly contagious disease of cloven-hoofed animals with impacts on farming and is responsible for major economic losses. Serological assays that measure FMDV-specific antibodies are used to monitor the presence of FMDV, for checking quality of FMD vaccine and levels of post-vaccination immunity. The aim of this work was to develop a multiplex immunoassay with recombinant empty viral capsids for FMD serological diagnosis using Luminex technology. Such a test could be used as an indicator of pre-exposure of FMDV or vaccination and to estimate immune protection in a single reaction and from a single sample against all 7 serotypes

The benefits of complete genome sequencing have become increasingly clear, for example the identification of emergent lineages with altered phenotypic characteristics or the fine scale tracking of virus movements. Indeed, in the UK in 2007 complete genome sequencing enabled the tracing of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), in turn allowing the identification of a missing premises.
Previously, we showed that it was possible to sequence the capsid-coding region of the FMDV genome using nanopore sequencing technology (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) following amplification of the P1 region by RT-PCR. Here, we designed a universal RT-PCR based amplification strategy for the amplification of complete FMDV genomes prior to nanopore sequencing using the MinION sequencer.

Member Nations and relevant stakeholders have asked EuFMD to provide an efficient solution to enable National Veterinary services to map the progression of the individual skills, monitor the development of capacity and incentivize veterinarians’ education.
TOM aims to support National Veterinary authorities to develop capacity development, identifying the gaps in specific competencies and how to fill the gaps.

Post-vaccination serological monitoring is an important method for control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). In particular, a liquid-phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (LPBE) is more accessible than the virus neutralization test (VNT) for a large-scale serological screening. A FMD A/ASIA/Sea-97-G1 sublineage virus occurred and was named A/Pocheon/SKR/2010 (A/Pocheon) in 2010 in Korea. A vaccine strain was developed using the A/Pocheon virus. In this study, the LPBE was developed and evaluated for the detection of antibodies to A/ASIA/Sea-97-G1 sublineage virus using the A/Pocheon virus as an antigen for post-vaccination monitoring.

1st isolation, molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of FMDV A/AFRICA/G1, Sultanate of Oman by European Commission for the Control of FMD

In a sector that continues to witness increasing levels of risks that could disrupt our agricultural system, communities and economy, it is critical that we explore alternative means to preparing for and responding to emergencies. One such example has been the use of a virtual control centre (VCC) which has been considered here through a national (Exercise Network) and a state-based (QDAF VCC exercise series) example.

Post vaccination monitoring is essential to assess the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). There are several methods to screen FMD virus structural protein antibodies including Solid-phase competitive ELISA (SPCE), Liquid-phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) and Virus neutralization test (VNT). Among these, SPCE is widely used since VNT (gold standard test) has practical limitations. Commercially available SPCE kits which are serotype-specific do not have the same sensitivity for the detection of antibodies induced by the different vaccine strains. Here, we analyzed sera from animals vaccinated with O1 Campos, A24 Cruzeiro, and A2001 Argentina strains by Priocheck™, Izsler, and ID Screen™ ELISA kits (type O and A) and compared them with LPBE and VNT strain-specific methods.

Abattoir activities are key components of veterinary training, however, accessing facilities can be difficult. The digital abattoir (DA) is a novel teaching tool that combines the advantages of blended learning and Virtual Reality to replicate and complement abattoir visits. The Digital Abattoir (DA) portrays five commercial establishments, including read and white meat species, delivering the content of a traditional visit. Students from universities across the globe have implemented this tool and data are being gathered.