Chamois Contagious Ecthyma Virus

As a senior expert in the field of virus research, Creative Biolabs has accumulated rich experience. Our experienced team will work with you to develop reasonable solutions to facilitate breakthroughs in your chamois contagious ecthyma (CE) virus-related product and drug development projects.

Overview of CE

CE or Orf is a contagious skin disease that affects sheep, goats, and some other domesticated and wild ruminants. In most cases, CE affects the lips of animals. Primary CE lesions manifest as erythema, papules, vesicles, pustules, and crusts. It has been reported that chamois were infected by grazing on the same pasture as the infected animals. Furthermore, CE is a zoonotic disease that occurs in humans who have come into direct or indirect contact with an infected animal. Despite the high incidence of the disease, CE is not usually fatal.

Fig.1 Ecthyma outbreaks: clinical diagnosis and molecular confirmation. (Peralta, 2018)

Etiology of CE

CE is caused by infection with orf virus (ORFV), a member of the Poxviridae family. This family also contains some other members, such as the bovine papular stomatitis (BPS) virus and pseudovaccinia virus (PCPV). The virions are cocoon-shaped and covered with thin, filamentous tubes. The viral genome is one of the smallest in the Poxviridae family. Conserved genes are located in the central region, while variable genes are located at the ends. The central region is closely implicated in DNA replication and viral particle production in the cytoplasm of infected cells, while the termini part plays a crucial role in viral pathogenesis.

CE Detection and Prevention

• Inspection technology

A variety of technologies are employed in the detection of CE. For example, enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) is used to test serum and tissue samples of chamois. What's more, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were performed on healthy chamois and diseased chamois. The results indicated that no viral antigens were detected in any healthy animals.

• Prevention strategies

Vaccination is the most attractive way to control CE. In addition, proper disposal of infected chamois, contaminated materials, and disinfection of contaminated sites and equipment are also viable strategies. If the disease has spread widely, mass vaccination and control of animal movement in the area is an effective approach. It is worth noting that since CE is a viral disease, there is no clear treatment for infection in humans or animals. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antivirals, and surgical excision are not ideal.

Creative Biolabs is dedicated to providing services for the development of drugs and products related to the chamois CE virus. With our proven capabilities and advanced platform, we are confident in offering a wide range of flexible options, from which you can always find one that is more suitable for your specific project. If you are interested in our services, please contact us for more details.

Reference

1. Peralta, A.; et al. Phylogenetic analysis of ORF viruses from five contagious ecthyma outbreaks in Argentinian goats. Frontiers in veterinary science. 2018, 5: 134.