Presentation of orf (ecthyma contagiosum) after sheep slaughtering for religious feasts.

ABSTRACT

We report two cases of orf (ecthyma contagiosum) acquired during religious practices. In the first patient, a 34-year-old Muslim man from Tunisia, orf occurred on the left hand after the patient had handled lamb meat during the "Feast of Sacrifice." In the second patient, a 57-year-old Jewish man, orf was acquired after the "kosherization" of lamb meat and occurred on a finger of the left hand. As approximately 350,000 Muslims reside in the metropolitan area of Milan (Italy), it is possible that in the next future cases of orf acquired after religious practices will occur more often.