Recurrent Contagious Ecthyma (Orf) in an Immunocompromised Host Successfully Treated with Cryotherapy

Abstract

A 48-year-old patient under immunosuppressive therapy for renal transplantation had contagious ecthyma which relapsed after excision. Stable healing was obtained by cryotherapy.

Rapidly growing orf in a renal transplant recipient: favourable outcome with reduction of immunosuppression and imiquimod

“…Although organ transplant recipients are at high risk of viral disorders, orf has been seldom reported in this patient group [4][5][6][7][8]. In all cases, lesions were extensive, did not regress spontaneously and were always difficult to treat because of their location on the fingers.…”

Orf virus infection in sheep or goats

“…Symptoms may include feel of pain, lymphangitis and adenitis or, less frequently, fever or malaise. The disease is usually self-limiting and can heal with no treatment in three to six6 weeks, however large lesions are seen in immunosuppressive patients (Degraeve et al, 1999).…”

Activities of Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonates against Orf Virus in Human and Ovine Cell Monolayers and Organotypic Ovine Raft Cultures

“…In animals and humans, especially in burned and immunocompromised subjects, extensive and recurrent lesions have been described; these lesions result in the development of giant orf or tumor-like lesions (15,16,28,31). While no treatment except for antibiotic therapy to prevent secondary bacterial infections is required for the self-limiting forms of the disease, in the complicated forms, cryotherapy, excision of the mass, and in the worse cases, amputation may be necessary (6).…”