Reconstructing the origin and transmission dynamics of the 1967–68 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in the United Kingdom

• DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.09.009
• Publication Date: 2013-09-13T00:31:17Z
• Authors: Caroline F. Wright; Nick J. Knowles; Antonello Di Nardo; David J. Paton; Daniel T. Haydon; Donald P. King
• Keywords: Microbiology (medical); 0301 basic medicine; Epidemic; Cattle Diseases; Genome, Viral; Microbiology; Article; Disease Outbreaks; 03 medical and health sciences; Genetics; Animals; Serotyping; Epidemics; Foot-and-mouth disease; Molecular Biology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Base Sequence; Full-genome sequencing; Sequence Analysis, DNA; United Kingdom; 3. Good health; Phylogenetics; Infectious Diseases; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus; Foot-and-Mouth Disease; DNA, Viral; Capsid Proteins; Cattle

A large epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) occurred in the United Kingdom (UK) over a seven month period Northwest England from late 1967 to summer 1968.This was preceded by number smaller FMD outbreaks country, two 1967, Hampshire and Warwickshire one Northumberland during 1966.The causative agent all four events identified as virus (FMDV) serotype O source attributed infected bone marrow lamb products imported Argentina.However, diagnostic tools available at time were unable entirely rule out connections with earlier UK outbreaks, well other potential sources Europe.The aim this study apply molecular sequencing investigate likely using VP1 region full genome (FG) sequences determined directly clinical epithelium samples (n = 13) or cell culture isolates 6), contemporary UK, Europe South America.Analysis provided evidence for least three separate incursions FMDV into including independent introduction that responsible main 1967/68 epidemic.Analysis FG outbreak 10) revealed nucleotide substitutions 94 genomic sites providing linear accumulation (rate 2.42 Â 10 À5 nt substitutions/site/day).However, there five where relationship absent, indicating evolutional dormancy virus, presumably outside host.These results help define evolutionary dynamics an contribute knowledge understanding which base future control strategies.