Genetic characterization of orf virus associated with an outbreak of severe orf in goats at a farm in Lusaka, Zambia (2015)

• DOI: 10.1007/s00705-017-3352-y
• Publication Date: 2017-04-05T10:28:49Z
• Authors: Edgar Simulundu; Nandi Mtine; Thoko F. Kapalamula; Masahiro Kajihara; Yongjin Qiu; James Ngoma; Victor Zulu; Geoffrey Kwenda; Chrispin Chisanga; Isaac K. Phiri; Ayato Takada; Aaron S. Mweene
• Keywords: Medical microbiology

Orf or contagious ecthyma is a neglected and economically important zoonotic disease caused by a dermatotropic parapoxvirus that commonly affects domestic small ruminants. Although orf is globally distributed, there is a paucity of information on the disease in many African countries. Here, a suspected severe outbreak of orf in goats at a farm in Lusaka was investigated. Orf virus (ORFV) infection was confirmed by PCR amplification of viral DNA (RNA polymerase, B2L and virus interferon-resistance genes) in clinical samples. Some detected genes were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. This is the first report on molecular characterization of ORFV in goats in Zambia.