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Severe persistent orf in young goats.
A de la Concha-Bermejillo1, J Guo, Z Zhang
1Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Summary
Generalized orf in young Boer goats caused severe skin lesions and systemic illness. This study identified orf virus in skin but not blood, suggesting breed susceptibility factors.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Dermatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Orf (contagious ecthyma) is a common viral disease in small ruminants.
- Typically, orf presents as lip and nostril lesions in sheep and goats.
- Generalized orf cases are less common but can be severe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a severe, generalized form of orf in goat kids.
- To investigate clinical, epidemiological, and virological characteristics of these cases.
- To explore potential breed-specific susceptibility in Boer goats.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case description of 16 affected goat kids.
- Serological testing for immunoglobulin concentrations.
- Orf virus detection via cell culture, electron microscopy, and PCR.
- Cross-neutralization assays with orf virus isolates.
Main Results:
- Affected goats exhibited severe, proliferative dermatitis and lymphadenomegaly.
- Elevated immunoglobulin levels were observed in affected kids.
- Orf virus was confirmed in skin lesions but not peripheral blood or lymph nodes.
- Associated conditions included arthritis, pneumonia, and thymic involution.
Conclusions:
- This generalized orf presentation in Boer goat kids suggests potential breed-specific susceptibility.
- Orf virus identification was limited to affected skin tissues.
- Further research is needed to understand the pathogenesis and breed factors in severe orf cases.
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