Vesiculovirus

The genus Vesiculovirus belongs to the family Rhabdoviridae and is responsible for vesicular stomatitis. This is a viral disease that causes blisters in the mouths of cattle, horses, and mules, and on the snouts and feet of swine. Horses and cattle typically develop a fever two to five days after exposure, with recovery usually following once the blisters break and the fever subsides.12

The virus particle is bullet-shaped, measuring approximately 70 by 180 nanometers, and contains a single helical strand of RNA. A virion, or entire virus particle, consists of a protein capsid surrounding a nucleic acid core. Some virions, including those in the Vesiculovirus genus, are enveloped in a fatty membrane.13

Vesicular stomatitis can be mistaken for other diseases like foot-and-mouth disease due to similar symptoms, but differences in susceptibility among animal species help in diagnosis. In humans, infection can cause flu-like symptoms.24