Vaccination against foot and mouth disease: current state and perspectives

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in many parts of the world and poses a permanent threat for cloven-hoofed animals in all countries. The available vaccines against FMD are safe and efficacious. Combat of FMD by vaccination is controversial in currently FMD-free countries including the ones of the European Union. The article summarizes our knowledge concerning production and use of vaccines, virus persistence, differentiation between vaccinated and infected animals, vaccination programs and perspectives of vaccine development.