Feast of Sacrifice and Orf, Milan, Italy, 2015-2018.

Orf (ecthyma contagiosum) is an infection of the skin caused by a DNA virus belonging to the genus Parapoxvirus. We recently observed 7 cases of orf in Muslim men living in the metropolitan area of Milan, Italy, who acquired the infection after the Feast of Sacrifice.

Pathogenicity of blood orf virus isolates in the development of dairy goat contagious pustular dermatitis.

Contagious pustular dermatitis is an exanthematous zoonotic disease caused by the orf virus. Pandemic outbreaks of this disease cause great economic losses, while the pathogenesis of this disease still remains obscure. In this study, blood samples were collected from 628 asymptomatic goats across China for PCR-based virus detection. We detected the orf virus in the blood of asymptomatic goats. Moreover, the orf virus obtained from the blood of infected goats was infectious and induced typical symptoms of contagious pustular dermatitis after inoculation of uninfected dairy goats. In summary, our data provide evidence that asymptomatic animals may be carriers of orf virus. Our findings should contribute to elucidating the details underlying the pathogenesis of contagious pustular dermatitis.

An Overwiev of ORF Virus Infection in Humans and Animals.

BACKGROUND: Orf virus is a DNA virus that belongs to the Parapoxvirus genus. The virus is a causative agent of orf in humans or contagious ecthyma in animals which is mostly seen in sheep, goat and cattle. DISCUSSION: Orf is an emerging zoonosis with an increasing number of worldwide outbreaks that have been reported. It is a contagious disease that tends to spread very fast among livestock. The morbidity rate is very high, particularly among young unvaccinated animals. The fatality rate is low but can be seen due to secondary infections. The disease has a significant effect on livestock health and may lead to economical losses. Humans may become infected if they have a direct contact with animal lesions. The disease is seen as a cutaneous lesion with a mild clinical outcome. Human to human transmission exists but is very rare. Nosocomial transmission was reported with one outbreak in a burn unit. The diagnosis is mostly based on the history of animal contact and clinical findings. Molecular tests are used to confirm clinical diagnose. There is no specific treatment but a live vaccine is available for animals. Surveillance implementations and infection control measurements are very important for the prevention of infection. Currently, there are limited studies on orf or contagious ecthyma. It has been observed that there are few studies that have resulted in patents. CONCLUSION: The aim of this paper was to review the current relevant patents, epidemiological features, clinical presentations, the diagnosis and treatment of orf.

Associação da ocorrência do ectima contagioso (ORF vírus) em ovinos com os cuidadores desses animais / Occurrence of the Association contagious ecthyma (ORF virus) in sheep with these animals' caregivers

A enfermidade ectima contagioso está difundida em todo o estado de São Paulo. Foram amostrados 42 (8,64%) cuidadores de animais e 444 (91,36%) ovinos (n=486). A prevalência de reagentes para vírus-neutralização foi de 67% (IC95%=62-71%) nos ovinos, e em seus cuidadores de 76% (IC95%=63-89%), sendo P=0,22, ou seja, não houve diferença estatística significativa entre as espécies. A distribuição dos títulos teve diferença estatística significativa entre as espécies, com P=0,0048. As variações de titulação foram de 0,6 a 2,1 tanto nos ovinos quanto nos seus cuidadores. Dentre os 42 cuidadores de ovinos participantes do estudo, 32 apresentaram títulos de anticorpos expressos por log10 acima de 0,6.(AU)

These diseases are all widespread in the State of São Paulo. 42 (8.64%) animal caregivers and 444 (91.36%) sheep (n=486) were sampled. The reagents Prevalence paragraph virus neutralization was 67% (95% CI = 62-71%) in sheep and 76% (95% CI = 63-89%) for caregivers, with P=0.22 not being a statistically significant difference between the species. One of the distribution titles had significant difference between statistics as species with P=0.0048. The titration variations were 0.6 to 2.1, both in sheep and their caregivers. Among the 42 sheep caregivers participating in the study, 32 had antibody securities denominated in log10 above 0.6.(AU)

A case of human to human transmission of orf between mother and child.

Orf is caused by a parapoxvirus. In adults, it is commonly associated with specific occupations, whereas cases in children tend to be associated with household or recreational exposure. Spontaneous recovery usually occurs within 6 weeks. Infection in humans is believed to be through exposure to an infected animal or fomite. We present a case of a 13-month-old boy who was exposed to orf through his mother, a farmer, who had contracted the disease through administering medication to an infected animal. We believe that this may represent only the fifth case of human to human transmission of orf reported in the literature.

[A 61-year-old woman with an infected little finger]. / Een vrouw met een geïnfecteerde pink.

A 61-year-old woman was seen at the Emergency Department with a progressive infection of the little finger. A solid hemorrhagic bulla was seen with 2 central ulcers and the diagnosis 'ecthyma contagiosum' was made. This is a self-limiting infection caused by a parapoxvirus in sheep and can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals.

ORF virus infection in a hunter in Western Austria, presumably transmitted by game.

A variety of animals host parapoxviruses. Orf virus is prevalent in sheep and goats in the Tyrol region of Austria and Northern Italy. Zoonotic infections in humans mostly occur after occupational exposure. We report here a case of a hunter with a typical Orf lesion (contagious ecthyma) on the finger, with no history of direct contact with domestic animals. Three weeks previously he had been hunting chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) and cut his finger while handling a carcass. Parapoxvirus infection was confirmed by electron microscopy and PCR, and the species was identified by DNA sequencing. The sequence was highly homologous with prevalent sheep Orf virus and rather distant from parapoxviruses found in red deer in Northern Italy. As this case indicated that the infection was acquired via game, we performed spot testing in the suspected area and detected several seropositive animals. This is a strong indication that Orf virus has been introduced into chamois in Western Austria. This probably occurred via roaming domestic sheep sharing the high alpine areas during the summer months.

[Orf parapoxvirus can infect humans after relevant exposure]. / Orf-parapoxvirus kan smitte mennesker ved tæt kontakt

Orf virus occurs worldwide among sheep and goats. Transmission to humans is seen by close contact with infected animals, but the incidence in Denmark is unknown. We present a typical case in a sheep farmer with an orf infection of his hands. Upon conservative treatment the infected areas healed without sequelae. We shortly discuss the epidemiology, the natural history, the treatment and the complications of orf virus.

Sheep-to-human transmission of Orf virus during Eid al-Adha religious practices, France.

Five persons in France were infected with Orf virus after skin wounds were exposed to infected sheep tissues during Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice. Infections were confirmed by electron microscopy, PCR, and sequence analysis. Prevention and control of this underdiagnosed disease can be achieved by educating physicians, slaughterhouse workers, and persons participating in Eid al-Adha.

Human Orf virus infection from household exposures - United States, 2009-2011.

Orf, also known as contagious ecthyma, is a zoonotic infection caused by a dermatotropic parapoxvirus that commonly infects sheep and goats; it is transmitted to humans through contact with an infected animal or fomites. In humans, orf manifests as an ulcerative skin lesion sometimes resembling bacterial infection or neoplasm. Human infection typically is associated with occupational animal contact and has been reported in children after visiting petting zoos and livestock fairs. Cases lacking these exposure histories might be misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary treatment of orf lesions, which do not usually require any specific treatment. This report describes four cases of human orf associated with household meat processing or animal slaughter, highlighting the importance of nontraditional risk factors. Orf should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with clinically compatible skin lesions and a history of household meat processing or animal slaughter. Persons and communities with these exposure risks also should receive counseling regarding the use of nonpermeable gloves and hand hygiene to prevent infection.

Lamb pays lip service: two cases of ecthyma contagiosum (orf).

Ecthyma contagiosum (orf) is caused by a parapox virus, which results in ulcerative stomatitis of mainly sheep and goats. The disease may be transmitted to humans through direct contact. Complications are rare in healthy individuals, who rarely report the disease. Two married, recreational sheep farmers, were bitten on their index fingers by an affected lamb. While the husband made an uneventful recovery after oral flucloxacillin, his wife was admitted to hospital with necrosis of her finger, cellulitis and lymphangitis requiring intravenous clindamycin. She subsequently developed a generalized maculo-papular rash, which was initially thought to be an adverse drug reaction, but, on hindsight, may have been erythema multiforme associated with orf. Orf is a common zoonosis, rarely reported in general practice. The disease is usually self-limiting and resolves in 6-8 weeks, but complications may occur. The diagnosis should be considered in at-risk occupational and religious groups.