Foot and Mouth Disease in animals is caused by which of the following ...
**Answer:**
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. It is caused by a virus belonging to the Aphthovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family.
**Explanation:**
**1. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)**
- Foot and Mouth Disease is a viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.
- It is highly contagious and can spread rapidly among susceptible animals.
- The disease is characterized by the appearance of fever, blisters, and erosions on the tongue, lips, gums, and hooves of affected animals.
- FMD can have severe economic consequences for the livestock industry due to production losses, trade restrictions, and control measures.
**2. Micro-organisms causing Foot and Mouth Disease**
The correct answer to the question is option 'c) Virus'. Foot and Mouth Disease is caused by a virus, not bacteria, fungi, or protozoa. Here's some information about the virus responsible for FMD:
- The virus that causes Foot and Mouth Disease belongs to the Aphthovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family.
- It is a small, single-stranded RNA virus with a protein coat.
- There are seven different serotypes of the FMD virus, namely O, A, C, Asia 1, SAT 1, SAT 2, and SAT 3.
- Each serotype can further be divided into multiple subtypes.
- The virus is highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with infected animals, their secretions, or contaminated materials.
- It can also be transmitted through airborne droplets or contaminated feed and water.
- The FMD virus has a high rate of mutation, which contributes to the diversity of strains and the difficulty in developing effective vaccines.
In conclusion, Foot and Mouth Disease in animals is caused by a virus belonging to the Aphthovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family. It is highly contagious and can have significant economic consequences for the livestock industry.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed Railways study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in Railways.