Contagious ecthyma: how serious is the disease worldwide?

Abstract

Contagious ecthyma (CE) is an infectious disease of small ruminants caused by a parapoxvirus of family Poxviridae subfamily Chordopoxvirinae. The disease is obviously distinguished by an establishment of scabby lesions and ulcerative formation on less hairy areas including muzzle, ears, nostril, and sometimes on genitalia. The disease is endemic in sheep and goats. The virus is transmissible to other ruminants and is a public health concern in humans. Although the disease is known as self-limiting, it may cause a significant economic threat and financial losses due to lower productivity in livestock production. Information with regard to the risk of the disease and epidemiology in most parts of the world is underreported. This paper aims to provide relevant information about the epidemiology of CE in selected regions of Europe, South America, North America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. An in-depth comprehension of virus infection, diagnoses, and management of the disease will enable farmers, researchers, veterinarians, abattoir workers, health personnel, and border controllers to improve their measures, skills, and effectiveness toward disease prevention and control, toward reducing unnecessary economic loss among farmers. A herd health program for significant improvement in management and productivity of livestock demands a well planned extension program that ought to encourage farmers to equip themselves with adequate skills for animal healthcare.

Seroprevalence of Orf virus in sheep in Basrah province, Southern Iraq

“…On the other hand, the study of the spread of the disease in other animals, especially goats, should not be neglected, because goats are susceptible to infection with the virus as in sheep (30,35,36). Moreover, the investigation of the presence of antibodies in humans, especially animal breeders, is necessary to know the extent of transmission of the virus to humans, which often causes local skin lesions (8,42).…”

“…It causes large tumorlike vascularized lesions which can be removed surgically or treated using antiviral drugs (6,7). It is transmitted from infected animals to healthy ones through direct contact and environmental contamination (8). Orf virus typically gains access to host tissues through injury, abrasions, and breaks in the skin.…”

Investigación de parámetros bioquímicos y perfil de citocinas en ovejas con ectima contagioso

“…La enfermedad puede llegar a ser fatal en los corderos si las lesiones dificultan la lactancia acompañando por las lesiones fúngicas o bacterianas (7). En los animales adultos; las lesiones formadas en las ubres hacen que la lactancia sea dolorosa, que puede provocar el abandono de la misma (8).…”

Preparation and application of fluorescent monoclonal antibodies recognizing goat CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells

“…Contagious ecthyma ( orf ) is a contagious, epitheliotropic zoonotic disease caused by orf virus (ORFV), which causes pustules on the skin, lips, nose, and oral mucosa of sheep and goats (Bergqvist et al 2017 ; Haig and Mercer 1998 ; Lawan et al 2021 ; Tobler et al 2022 ). ORFV, likes Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), is a double-stranded DNA virus capable of causing recurrent infections (Abu Ghazaleh et al 2023 ; Farooq and Shukla 2012 ; Zhu and Viejo-Borbolla 2021 ).…”