Severe Persistent Orf in Young Goats

Abstract

Abstract. Orf (contagious ecthyma) is a viral disease of small and wild ruminants, humans, and less frequently other species. In sheep and goats, the disease is characterized by the formation of vesiculo-proliferative lesions in the skin of lips and nostril. Here, a form of generalized orf in 16 goat kids from 2 different locations in west Texas is described. The disease was characterized by multifocal, severe, proliferative dermatitis that persisted from about 2 months of age until the goat kids were euthanized 3 months later. All affected goats were Boer or Boer crosses under 1 year of age. The mean immunoglobulin concentration in sera of affected goats was elevated compared with healthy control goats. Severe to moderate lymphadenomegaly of the nodes draining the areas of the skin affected with orf lesions was present in all 16 goat kids. Suppurative arthritis, chronic fibrinous pneumonia, and premature thymic involution were found in 3, 5, and 7 of the goat kids, respectively. The skin lesions of 3 goat kids were infested with larvae of the opportunistic black garbage fly (Ophira sp.). The orf virus was identified in skin lesions by isolation in Marbin-Darby ovine kidney cells, electron microscopy, and amplification of viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction. The orf virus was not detected in peripheral blood or lymph node mononuclear cells of any of the goats. Cross-neutralization experiments showed that an ovine orf virus antiserum raised in sheep was more effective in neutralizing a sheep orf virus isolate than a caprine orf virus isolate. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these orf cases may be the result of susceptibility factors within some individuals of the Boer breed of goats.

Orf in Goats in China: Prevalence and Risk Factors

“…Boer goats and crosses are more susceptible to ORFV infection and develop severe disease according to existing reports [24]. In this study, Anglo-Nubian goats were more susceptible to orf, whereas Saanen dairy goats appeared to be more resistant to ORFV infection.…”

Severe Persistent Case of Contagious Ecthyma (Orf) in Goats

“…Previous studies have shown that aged sheep and goats remained susceptible to Orf virus infection if they had not undergone a previous attack of the disease during their early life (Ismail, 1994 (De La Concha-Bermejillo et al, 2003;Yeruham et al, 2000). In addition, the severity of the disease can be intensified by exposure of animals to stress and immunosuppression conditions as a result of therapy or primary viral infection (Hosamani et al, 2009).…”

“…In more severe cases, the skin of the eyes and feet also may be affected (Allworth et al, 1987;McKeever et al, 1988). Persistent infections with severe, generalized skin proliferative lesions have been reported; (De La Concha-Bermejillo et al, 2003). Persistently infected carrier goats and sheep have been demonstrated to be the main source of disease and infection in the farm that can relapse during time of stress (Nettleton et al, 1996).…”

“…In this case a decision to cull the persistently infected Boer goat was made in order to curtail the maintenance and spread of the infection in the flock. It has been believed that persistent infections with severe, generalized skin proliferative lesions have been reported (De La Concha-Bermejillo et al, 2003;Abdullah et al, 2015;.…”

Comparison of effectiveness of parenteral lincomycin/spectinomycin combination and dexpanthenol application in goat kids with contagious ecthyma

“…CE is a self-limiting disease, and spontaneous recovery without treatment occurs within 3-4 weeks in susceptible species. However, the recovery period for CE can be affected by some variables, including nutritional and passive transfer status, season type, and the presence of a secondary bacterial infection, such as staphylococci, alpha haemolytic streptococci or Corynebacterium (2,15). These variables may increase the mortality rate of the affected animals (13).…”