New Approaches to Detect and Prevent Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Livestock is one of the most important pillars of Pakistan’s economy contributing 63.6% to agriculture value addition and 14.97 percent to country’s GDP. Millions of rural families depend on cattle and buffalo for milk, meat, and income.

However, a highly contagious viral disease called Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) continues to threaten this vital sector.

FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and many wild species. The disease spreads rapidly and causes fever along with painful blisters on the mouth, tongue, feet, and udder of infected animals.

These symptoms make it difficult for animals to eat or walk. As a result, milk production drops significantly, animals lose weight, and young animals may die. Even animals that recover may remain weak and less productive, causing financial losses for farmers.

In Pakistan, the situation is particularly challenging because several types of the virus circulate at the same time. These include serotypes O, A, and Asia-1, which frequently cause outbreaks in different parts of the country.

In addition, the virus changes rapidly due to genetic mutations, making it difficult for existing vaccines to provide long-lasting protection.

Controlling this disease requires both early detection and effective vaccination. This doctoral research focused on improving how we detect and understand this virus.

The first part of the research developed a multiplex RT-PCR diagnostic test, which can detect multiple types of the FMD virus in a single laboratory test. Traditional diagnostic methods often require separate tests for each virus type, which takes more time and resources.

The new method allows veterinarians and diagnostic laboratories to identify the virus more quickly and accurately. Faster detection helps authorities respond rapidly to outbreaks and limit the spread of infection.

Another important aspect of the study involved genomic analysis of the virus. By studying the complete genetic material of different virus strains, the research examined how the virus evolves and spreads across regions.

This information helps scientists understand the relationship between viruses circulating in Pakistan and those found in neighboring countries. Such knowledge is essential for improving surveillance and predicting future outbreaks.

The research also explored the use of computer-based vaccine design, a modern scientific approach known as immunoinformatics. Instead of using the whole virus, scientists can identify small components of viral proteins, called epitopes, which stimulate the immune system.

Using bioinformatics tools, the research predicted several promising B-cell and T-cell epitopes that may be useful in designing safer and more targeted vaccines. Although these vaccine candidates still require laboratory and field testing, this approach provides valuable insights for developing improved vaccines in the future.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease remains a major challenge for Pakistan’s livestock sector. However, advances in molecular diagnostics, genomic research, and computational biology offer promising tools for better disease control.

Strengthening scientific research and disease surveillance will help protect livestock, support farmers’ livelihoods, and contribute to the stability of Pakistan’s agricultural economy.