What symptoms are suspicious of a foreign animal disease (FAD)?

The symptoms indicative of a foreign animal disease (FAD) are characterized by specific clinical signs that commonly arise from infections caused by pathogens not typically found in a region. The presence of vesicles, which are fluid-filled blisters, along with central nervous system (CNS) involvement, such as neurological signs (e.g., ataxia, tremors, seizures), is particularly concerning.

These symptoms can signal highly infectious or contagious diseases that can rapidly spread among animal populations and may also pose risks to human health. For instance, vesicular diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease or vesicular stomatitis, are often linked with such clinical signs, making their detection crucial for initiating appropriate control measures.

In contrast, aggressive behavior in livestock may stem from various causes, including pain, environmental stress, or management issues, but is less specific to FADs. Loss of appetite alone, without accompanying symptoms, generally lacks specificity to indicate a serious infectious process. Lastly, the presence of regular ticks in livestock indicates a more traditional ectoparasitic challenge, rather than a symptom associated with a foreign zoonotic disease. Therefore, the combination of vesicles and CNS involvement serves as a critical red flag for the presence of a foreign animal disease.