First identification of camel Contagious Ecthyma Virus in camels from Altay, Xinjiang, China

In April 2023, outbreaks of a novel oral disease were observed in Bactrian camels in Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. To clarify the etiology and epidemiology, we surveyed 1863 camels from 12 farms across three major camel-producing counties. A total of 311 camels (16.7 %) exhibited characteristic lesions, with significantly higher incidence in adults (18.1 %) than juveniles (9.7 %) (p < 0.05). Tissue samples from 12 clinically affected camels were subjected to PCR testing for multiple poxviruses. Only Camel Contagious Ecthyma Virus (CCEV) was detected, and sequencing of the B2L gene confirmed its identity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Xinjiang isolates shared >98 % nucleotide homology with strains from Saudi Arabia and Sudan, with no variation among the 12 local sequences. Histopathology showed epidermal necrosis, hyperplasia, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, consistent with parapoxvirus infection, and electron microscopy revealed typical poxvirus morphology. These findings document the first confirmed detection and molecular characterization of CCEV in camels in China, highlighting its potential impact on the camel industry and the need for further investigation of its epidemiology and zoonotic risk.