Malignant form of foot and mouth disease outbreak in sheep and goat with reference to cytological and histopathlogical findings

A total of 8 carcasses of sheep and goat were submitted to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science - Proddatur, Kadapa Dt., Andhra Pradesh, from nearby villages, during a period of approximately 30 days. Detailed necropsy was carried out and representative samples were collected and processed for cytological and histological studies by following the standard routine procedures. In all cases, pneumonic lesions were the consistent finding. In lambs and kids, greyish white necrotic foci on ventricular walls of myocardium were the regular and prominent finding. Touch impression smears from necrosed areas of myocardium revealed infiltration of lymphocytes and lymphoblasts predominantly. Heart revealed myocarditis with infiltrating lymphocytes, lymphoblasts and polymorphs. Certain areas of heart revealed necrotising myocarditis, with cardiac muscles undergoing hyaline degeneration. Based on the gross, cytological and histological findings, it is diagnosed and confirmed serologically as FMD in small ruminants.