Orf Disease - Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Introduction

Orf disease is an exanthemous disease caused by a virus called orf virus. This virus is a parapox virus that usually affects sheep, goats, and other animals. This virus can be zoonotic; this means that this viral infection can also affect human beings if exposed to infected animals. This viral infection was most commonly seen in the late 19th century in the areas where goats and sheep were raised.

What Is Orf Disease?

A virus called orf virus, which is a parapox virus, causes orf disease among goats and sheep. This viral infection was more prevalent among sheep and goats in the late 19th century. This infection is contagious and can affect another animal or a human being who comes in direct contact with the infected animal. Human beings can also contract this infection from one another when they directly contact the infected lesions.

How Does Orf Disease Look In Animals?

Orf virus infection in animals is commonly referred to as sore mouth, scabby mouth, or contagious ecthyma. Animals like goats, sheep, dogs, musk, red squirrels, reindeer, and steinbok can be affected by the orf virus. But, most commonly, sheep and goats are affected by this viral infection. When infected, the infected goat or sheep develop papules and pustules in the nose and lips of the sheep. Orf disease rarely affects younger lambs, and when they are infected, it prevents them from suckling, which may lead to weight loss. Later the papules and pustules convert to thick crusts that may bleed. The papules and pustules can also be seen in the lower legs region and ewes. When younger lambs are affected, bottle feeding might be required to help them with their nutrition. Usually, the infected animals are cured in a few weeks without any significant severe complications. When a human gets into direct contact with the lesions in the sheep or lamb, without wearing protective gloves, they can contract the virus and show symptoms.

Can Human Beings Get Orf Disease?

When a human comes in direct contact with an infected pustule or papule in an affected sheep or goat, there is a massive possibility of contracting the orf virus. Orf disease is a zoonotic disease and can cause infections in human beings if contracted.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Orf Disease?

When a person contracts orf virus from being exposed to the papules or pustules of the infected sheep or goat, the affected individuals show the following signs and symptoms,

• The signs and symptoms are confined to just hands, fingers, or palms in most cases.

• One or a few small size nodules appear in the fingers and forearms, or in some cases, it might affect the whole hands.

• When the infected person touches the other parts of the body with the infected fingers or hands, the nodules might also develop in the touch site.

• The nodules might also develop on the penis when the infected men touch the penis without wearing gloves.

• The nodules, pustules, or papules are usually small, and they may vary from 3 cm to 5 cm in diameter.

• The nodules usually become ulcerative lesions.

• The nodules are painful.

• The lesions are contagious and may spread to other parts of the body or may spread to other persons if proper precautions are not taken.

• Swelling of local lymph nodes is also usually seen.

• Some people may develop a fever.

• Chills.

• Fatigue.

• People with compromised immune system (e.g., HIV, lupus, or cancer therapy, etc.),are at higher risk of contracting infection and manifesting more severe disease including large tumor-like lesions, progressive disease, development of multiple lesions, or erythema multiforme reactions involving rashes on the mucous membranes and skin.

How Do People Usually Get Infected by the Orf Virus?

Orf disease is contagious in nature. This means that the orf virus can spread quickly from infected animals to other healthy animals or infect other humans when they come in contact with the infected lesions.

Most commonly,

• People who take care of sheep and goats are more prone to infection.

• The veterinary doctors who check the animals and their lesions without wearing gloves can contract the virus.

• The person who feeds the young infected sheep can contract the virus.

• When a person gets bit by an infected animal.

• Handling infected instruments can also spread the virus.

• There is no clinical evidence of transmission of Orf virus to be transmitted from one infected person to another.

How to Diagnose Orf Disease?

The lesions are most commonly confined to the fingers and hands. Sometimes, the lesions and blisters can spread to other parts of the body, like the face, body, and penis, if a person touches different parts of the body without covering the lesion. Your doctor might take a detailed history of your lesion to know if you came in contact with any animals that might be infected. Specific tests are available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where a specimen is tested for the presence of the virus responsible for the infection, orf virus.

What Are the Treatment and Preventive Measures to Prevent and Control Orf Disease?

There is no specific treatment for orf disease. The lesions usually cure themselves in about six weeks without any medicine. However, in some immunocompromised persons, the lesions might keep growing or the lesion might not clear up for more than six weeks. In such a condition, the infected skin might be removed to prevent the further spread of infection.

• In some cases, the lesions might be further infected by bacteria. In such cases, the general physician prescribes antibiotics to control the infection.

• The infected lesions must be covered with waterproof band-aids to prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the body and prevent the spread of disease to other people and animals.

• When treating or feeding infected animals, the person should wear latex gloves to avoid getting infected by the virus.

• Wash hands regularly after handling animals.

• Maintain good hygiene.

• Orf virus infections do not generate lifelong immunity. That means, a patient once infected, can get infected many times in his or her lifetime. The subsequent infections may be less severe and the lesions may heal more quickly.

Conclusion:

Orf disease can be prevented by following proper hygiene and appropriate hygiene measures while dealing with animals. Even if infected, the person is usually cured in about six weeks. Therefore, orf disease is not a life-threatening condition and can be managed and prevented easily.