Vesicular stomatitis fever is usually a 3-5 day, self-limited, flu-like illness. The vector for disease in animals is not known, but insects are suspected. Phlebotomine sandflies are reservoirs in enzootic areas. Infected animals transmit the disease to humans. Most human cases are subclinical.
CASES/YEAR
100 (US); 500 (Global)
OTHER NAMES
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV); Chandipura virus infection (Related Infection)
INCUBATION
2-8 days in animals; 24-48 hours in reported human cases; [PPID, p. 2125]
INITIAL SYMPTOMS
Asymptomatic or mild flu-like illness; Symptoms may include fever, headache, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,, vesicles in mouth, pharyngitis, and lymphadenopathy; [PPID, p. 2125]
COMMENTS
In domestic animals, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) causes a disease similar to the more dangerous foot-and-mouth disease. A generally mild disease occurs in humans living in endemic areas. The vector for disease in animals is not known, but insects are suspected. Phlebotomine sandflies are reservoirs in enzootic areas. Infected animals transmit the disease to humans. Most human cases are subclinical. Findings in human disease include fever, myalgias, stomatitis, pharyngitis, vomiting, lymphadenopathy, and diarrhea. Seizures and meningoencephalitis have been reported. [PPID, p. 2124-5] Transmission occurs by contact with infected animals (usually cattle) and by laboratory accidents. Symptoms include conjunctivitis, fever, vomiting, headache, myalgias, chest pain, pharyngitis, and lymphadenitis. Patients may have small vesicles on the buccal mucosa and fingers. The illness usually lasts 3-6 days. Encephalitis is rare. [Harrison ID, p. 948] Animals contract the disease from infected animals or by blood-feeding insects (sand flies and black flies). "Of primary concern in diagnosis is differentiation of vesicular stomatitis from clinically indistinguishable but much more devastating viral diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease in ruminants and swine, swine vesicular disease, and vesicular exanthema of swine. Horses are not susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease." The human disease is usually a 3-5 day, self-limited, flu-like illness. [Merck Veterinary Manual]
DIAGNOSTIC
Serology (rise in titer of complement fixing or neutralizing antibodies); [Harrison ID, p. 948] Serology or PCR tests; [Merck Veterinary Manual]
SCOPE
Western hemisphere; [Merck Veterinary Manual]
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
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>fever
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>myalgia
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E pharyngitis
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E stomatitis
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G diarrhea
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G nausea, vomiting
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H lymphadenopathy
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N headache
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N seizure
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O conjunctivitis, acute
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S skin blister or vesicles
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*encephalitis
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*meningitis
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*weight loss
ENTRY
Skin or Mucous Membranes (Includes Conjunctiva)
RESERVOIR
Cattle, Goats and Sheep, Horses, Swine
RISK FACTORS
- Handle domestic animals
- Touch infected farm animals
- Travel to endemic area
- Work in a medical or research lab
TREATMENT
No specific antimicrobial therapy; [Harrison ID, p. 948]
REFERENCES FOR CASES/YEAR
1. (US) Occurs sporadically in the USA with outbreaks reported every few years; [Merck Veterinary Manual] Outbreaks occur in horses and cattle in the southwestern US; Transmission by vectors or direct contact with infected animals; [Harrison ID, p. 948] Guesstimate: 100/year;
2. (Global) Enzootic in parts of Central and South America and on Ossabaw Island, Georgia; About 10% of cattle on affected farms were infected one year in Costa Rica; [PPID, p. 2125] Guesstimate: 500/year;