The relationship between cellular immune response to foot-and-mouth disease virus Asia 1 and viral persistence in Indian cattle (Bosindicus).

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the most contagious animal disease, is associated with persistent viral infection in ruminants, despite the induction of systemic immune response. The present study was performed to decipher the relation between the persistent FMD virus (FMDV) infection and cellular immune response in Indian cattle (Bosindicus) following experimental inoculation of FMDV Asia 1. Persistent viral infection (carriers) was detected by antigen capture RT-PCR on the oesophageal-pharyngeal fluid.