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Vesicular Stomatitis

There have been no cases of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in Montana in 2006. Wyoming is the only state with confirmed cases.

On August 10, 2005, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the finding of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey (VS-NJ) in horses on a premise in Yellowstone County, Montana. The complement fixation (CF) test results showed that one ill horse had a four-fold increase in antibodies to VS-NJ in paired sera collected on August 1 and August 8, 2005.  This meets the requirement for identification of the index case of vesicular stomatitis for a newly affected State.  This is the first confirmed case of vesicular stomatitis in the State of Montana in 2005. Montana had no cases of vesicular stomatitis in 2004.  Throughout the late summer and fall of 2005, a total of forty-six (46) premises were identified as vesicular stomatitis-positive premises, with 106 animals considered confirmed clinical cases. 76 equine and 30 bovine cases had both clinical signs and laboratory tests that confirmed vesicular stomatitis. On November 29, 2005, the Montana Department of Livestock released the quarantines on the last two vesicular stomatitis-positive premises in Montana .

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease characterized by fever, vesicles, and subsequent blisters. The vesicles form on the mouth, tongue, lips, feet, teats, and mammary glands of affective animals. These vesicles or blisters tend to be large and very painful.

VS affects a wide range of hosts. It primarily affects cattle, horses, and swine. This disease occasionally affects sheep and goats. Many species of wild animals, including deer, bobcats, goats, raccoons, and monkeys, have been affected. Humans can also become infected with vesicular stomatitis when handling affected animals.

ReportVesicular Stomatitis is a reportable disease. Report any confirmed or suspected case to: MT State Veterinarian 406-444-2043 and MT USDA APHIS Veterinary Services 406-449-2220.