Differential diagnosis

• Other vesicular diseases(swine vesicular disease, vesicular exanthema, vesicular stomatitis)
• infectious bovine rhinotracheitis
• rinderpest
• bluetongue
• bovine papular stomatitis
• mucosal disease
• peste des petits ruminants
• mycotic stomatitis
• phototoxic dermatitis
• footrot
• chemical irritants and scalding
• traumatic lesions of mouth and feet

Specimens required for diagnosis 
For virus isolation
From live animals collect vesicular fluid, vesicular epithelium, oesophageal-pharyngeal fluid and whole blood. From dead animals tissue specimens should be taken € lymph nodes, thyroid, adrenal, kidney, spleen and heart.

For serology
Blood collected in plain tubes and the sera separated. 

For histopathology
Samples of lesion tissue, in 4% buffered formaldehyde 

Unpreserved tissue and blood specimens should be forwarded to the laboratory chilled with ice or frozen gel packs (dry ice if delays of more than 48 hours are expected) in specially appropriate containers. Special precautions should be observed when sending suspect FMD material within and between countries (more detailed information is available in the OIE manual & IATA regulations).