Many disease agents can cause ulcers, blisters, or vesicles in animals’ mouths. Examples include:
• Bovine viral diarrhea virus can cause ulcers in the mouths of cattle as well as other problems.
• Vesicular exanthema of swine virus is not present in the United States and affects only swine.
• Foot and mouth disease virus affects all cloven-hooved animals and is not present in the United States.
• Swine vesicular disease virus affects only swine and is not present in the United States.
• Vesicular stomatitis virus occasionally appears in the United States; it can affect all livestock, including horses. It can also affect people.
• Bluetongue virus is present in the United States. It can cause oral ulcers and blisters in sheep and cattle.
• Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus can cause plaques and circular areas of dead skin in the noses of cattle.
• Malignant catarrhal fever virus affects ruminants and sometimes swine; it can cause oral ulcerations.