Contagious pustular dermatitis (orf) infection in sheep and goats in Saudi Arabia
Housawi, F.M.; Elzein, E.M.; Amin, M.M.; al Afaleq, A.I.
Veterinary Record 128(23): 550-551
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 1909477 Document Number: 384950
Between 1987 and 1989, 3 outbreaks of disease involving indigenous sheep and goats of all ages occurred in Saudi Arabia. The clinical signs were slight pyrexia, anorexia and papular/pustular lesions around the mouth and inner lips. Morbidity rates ranged from 70 to 80% and mortality rates from 5 to 15%. All the deaths occurred in young animals. Scabs from the injected animals were ground up, made into a suspension and and inoculated into cell cultures for virus isolation. The virus was successfully propagated and isolated in cell cultures and primary embryonic lamb testicles, primary goat kidneys and Vero cells. This appears to be the first isolate of contagious pustular dermatitis virus from naturally infected sheep and goats in Saudi Arabia.