Sheep and Goat Pox
Capripoxvirus Infection
Sheep and Goat Pox
• Family Poxviridae
– Genus Capripoxvirus
• Sheep pox and goat
pox viruses distinct
– But hard to differentiate
– Recombination can occur
• One serotype, multiple strains
• Prolonged survival in environment
Economic Impact
• Presence of
disease can limit:
– Trade
– Export
– Import of
new breeds
– Development of
intensive livestock
production
History and
Geographic Distribution
• 1879: Goat pox
– Norway
• 2nd Century AD:
Sheep pox
– Central and
North Africa
– Central Asia
– The Middle East
– Portions of India
Morbidity/Mortality
• Mortality up to 50% in fully
susceptible flock
• Mortality up to 100% in young
animals
• Symptoms severe in
– Stressed animals
– Animals with concurrent infections
– Naïve animals
Morbidity/Mortality
• European sheep breeds
highly susceptible
• Subclinical cases
• No chronic carriers
• Only sheep and goats
affected
– Not seen in wild
ungulates
Animal Transmission
• Close contact
• Inhalation of aerosols
• Abraded skin
• Fomites
• Insects (mechanical)
• Infectious virus present in all
secretions, excretions, and scabs
Clinical Signs
• Incubation period: 4 to 21 days
– Fever
– Conjunctivitis
– Depression, anorexia
– Dyspnea, nasal or
ocular discharge
– Secondary bacterial
infections are common
Clinical Signs
• Papules forming into
hard scabs
• Lesions may cover
body or be restricted
to axilla, perineum
and groin, ears, or tail
• Death may occur at
any stage
Post Mortem Lesions
• Skin macules, papules
– Papules may extend into
the musculature
• Mucous membranes
necrotic or ulcerated
• Nodules in lungs
– Up to 5cm diameter
• Swollen lymph nodes
Differential Diagnosis
• Contagious • Peste des petits
exthyma ruminants
• Bluetongue • Parasitic
• Mycotic dermatitis pneumonia
• Sheep scab • Caseous
• Mange lymphadenitis
• Insect bites
• Photsensitization
Diagnosis
• Clinical
– Suspect in animals with characteristic
skin lesions, fever, and lymphadenitis
• Laboratory
– Virus isolation, electron microscopy
– PCR
– Viral antigen detection (AGID, ELISA)
– Serology
– Characteristic histopathologic lesions
Treatment
• Antibiotics for secondary infection
• Good nursing care
Public Health Significance
• No conclusive evidence of infection
in humans
• Anecdotal reports of sheep or goat
pox lesions in humans in India and
Sweden
– Not verified by virus isolation
Prevention
• Non-endemic areas
– Infected animals, fomites, and animal
products may introduce disease
– Keep free with import restrictions
Control and Eradication
• Endemic areas
– Vaccinate
• Outbreak in endemic area, small scale
– Quarantine, slaughter infected and
exposed, clean and disinfect
– Ring vaccination
• Outbreak in endemic area, large scale
– Massive vaccination
– Movement restrictions
Control and Eradication
• Outbreak in non-endemic area
– Quarantine, slaughter infected and
exposed, clean and disinfect
– Ring vaccination
• No carrier state
• Isolate infected herds and sick
animals for at least 45 days after
recovery
Disinfection
• Sodium hypochlorite
• Phenol 2% for
15 minutes
• Detergents
• Virus can survive
– For 3 months in wool
– For 6 months in the environment
– For many years in dried scabs
Vaccination
• Vaccination can provide effective
control in endemic areas
• Killed vaccines do not provide long
lasting immunity
• Attenuated virus vaccines give
immunity up to 2 years
