**4. Serotypes of the FMDV**

There are seven serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus divided into A, O, C, Asia-1, SAT 1, SAT 2, and SAT 3, and there are many subtypes of each serotype. Most of the world has had outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, the most common of which is serotype O. Six of the seven serotypes (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, and SAT3) have occurred in Africa, while four serotypes (O, A, C, Asia1) in Asia and only three serotypes (O, A, C) in South America [108]. However, there are also SAT 1 and SAT 2 viruses from as well as from Africa entering the Middle East [108]. In addition, the most recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease caused by serotype C virus occurred in 2004 and is now probably extinct [109].
