FMD infects cloven-hoofed mammals like cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and some species of wildlife.

Technique relies less on the use of small animals

A new diagnostic test for foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) has been developed by scientists at The Pirbright Institute.

Research published in the journal PLOS One describes the new method, which relies less on the use of small animals and could make the diagnosis of FMD virus (FMDV) more cost effective.


"The ability to rapidly produce a cost-effective universal diagnostic reagent for FMD is an important step forward in simplifying lab-based diagnostics and making these techniques more accessible to the many countries struggling to control this devastating disease," said study leader Gareth Shimmon.

FMD is highly contagious and infects cloven-hoofed mammals like cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and some species of wildlife. It occurs in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America, causing huge economic loss each year.


There are seven types of FMDV that have high mutation rates which continuously generate new FMDV variants. This makes fast diagnosis critical for vaccinating against the right type of FMDV and ensuring that control policies are quickly put into place.


In the past, diagnostic tests known as ELISAs have relied on small animals like guinea pigs and rabbits to produce antibodies. These antibodies bind to FMDV enabling the diseases to be detected in samples. Each strain of the disease needs highly specific antibodies, meaning new antibodies are regularly required to keep up with emerging new strains.


Instead of using animal antibodies, previous work shows that a protein called integrin αvβ6 can be used to detect the presence of FMDV. This works because integrin αvβ6 is a receptor that universally binds to field strain FMD viruses so they can enter cells.


In the study, the team used a bovine integrin αvβ6 in their ELISA tests that all FMDV types would cling to. They were able to create larger amounts of bovine integrin αvβ6 in the lab using a rapid technique called 'transient cell transfection'.

Researchers say this could make the diagnosis of FMD cheaper and easier, as only one integrin would be required to identify all strains of FDV, compared to the many antibodies that were needed before.


Further experiments are needed to optimise and confirm the test for routine FMDV diagnosis. Looking ahead, the team hope to use integrin αvβ6 in diagnostic kits that the institute distributes across the globe.