- Variola caprina
Variola caprina (Goat Pox) is a contagious viral disease caused by the
pox virus which affectsgoats . The virus usually spreads via the respiratory route or sometimes through abraded skin and is most likely to occur in crowded stock. Sources of the virus include Cutaneous lesions,Saliva , Nasal Secretions andFaeces . There are two types of the disease; the Papulo-vesicular form and Nodular form ('stone pox'). The incubation period is usually between 8-13 days but may be as short as 4 days.It is thought the same virus spreads Sheep pox. European sheep breeds are highly susceptible to Sheep Pox. In dried scabs the virus may be present for up to 6 months. In endemic areas morbidity rate 70-90% and Mortalitiy rate 5-10% (but may reach nearly 100% in imported animals).
Resistant animals may show only a mild form of the disease, which may be missed as only a few lesions are present, usually around the
ears or thetail .Classification
* Other names: Goat Pox
* Virus family:Poxviridae
* Genus: Capripoxviruspread of Goat Pox
Goat Pox is seen in
Africa north of the equator, theMiddle East ,Central Asia andIndia .Goat Pox may be spread between animals by:
* Direct contact
* Indirect transmission by contaminated implements, vehicles or products (litter, fodder)
* Indirect transmission by insects (mechanical vectors) has been established (minor role)
* Contamination byinhalation , intradermal or subcutaneous inoculation, or by respiratory, transcutaneous and transmucosal routesClinical signs
*Initially rapid onset of
fever ,salivation , nasal discharge andconjunctivitis .
* After a few daysskin lesions erupt which first develop intovesicles ,pustules and then scabs .The scabs are hairy, dark coloured and may take up to 6 weeks to heal. These are often in hair or wool-free areas such as the udders, perineum, inguinal area, scrotum, muzzle, eyelids and axillae.
* Small, red spotty areas appear on udders and teats which may form scabs. The orifices of the teats may become infected and causemastitis .
* Affected skin is senstive.
* Internal lesions in thelungs may causerespiratory distress .
* Depression
* Polynoea
*Oedema of eyelids,photophobia ,Rhinitis andlacrimation
* Nodules develop in the lungs causingbronchopneumonia
* AnorexiaThe Papulo- vesicular form
*
Papules become a white-grey colour, desiccate and form crusts that are easy to remove Papules are 0.5-1.5cm diameters and are hard to touch. The papules become depressed, gray andnecrotic . May be surrounded by an area ofhyperemia .
* Rarely, papules may transform into large, fluid-filled vesicles. After rupture of vesicles, a thick crust covers the lesionsThe Nodular form
* Papules give rise to nodules involving all the layers of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue.
* Necrosis and sloughing of the nodules leaves a hairless scar.econdary problems
* Septicaemia
*Abortion (rare)
*Infections
*Fly strike
* Digestive localisationReferences
[http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/goatpox/index.htm defra]
[http://www.oie.int/eng/maladies/fiches/a_A100.htm OIE]
[http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/factsheets/pdfs/sheep_and_goat_pox.pdf cfsph]
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