Contagious Ecthyma Is a Highly Contagious, Zoonotic, Viral Skin Disease That Affects Ecthyma Sheep, Goats and Some Other Domesticated and Wild Animals

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Contagious Ecthyma Is a Highly Contagious, Zoonotic, Viral Skin Disease That Affects Ecthyma Sheep, Goats and Some Other Domesticated and Wild Animals Contagious Importance Contagious ecthyma is a highly contagious, zoonotic, viral skin disease that affects Ecthyma sheep, goats and some other domesticated and wild animals. The skin lesions are painful and often occur on the mouth and muzzle, where they can cause anorexia or starvation. Orf, Lesions on the udder may result in the abandonment of offspring, and foot lesions can Ecthyma Contagiosum, cause transient lameness. Secondary bacterial infections can occur and, in rare cases, the lesions may extend into the internal organs. Although contagious ecthyma usually Contagious Pustular Dermatitis, resolves spontaneously and the mortality rate is generally low, deaths can occur from Contagious Pustular Stomatitis, sequelae such as secondary infections or failure to nurse. The economic impact can be Infectious Labial Dermatitis, significant. Severe generalized infections have also been described occasionally. Soremouth, Most infections in humans are localized and heal spontaneously; however, large, Scabby Mouth poorly healing lesions can occur in people who are immunosuppressed. Etiology Last Updated: September 2015 Contagious ecthyma results from infection by the orf virus, a member of the genus Parapoxvirus in the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae and family Poxviridae. Species Affected Contagious ecthyma mainly occurs in sheep and goats. This disease has also been observed in other ungulates including alpacas, reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus), musk oxen (Ovibos moschatus), bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana), deer, pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) and wapiti/ elk (Cervus canadensis), and it is suspected to occur in some wild chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Limitations in diagnostic testing can sometimes result in a virus being identified initially as orf virus, but later reassigned to another species of parapoxvirus. For example, a disease initially described as contagious ecthyma in camels is now attributed to pseudocowpox virus. Rare cases of contagious ecthyma have been reported in dogs and cats. Rabbits and mice could be infected experimentally by some groups, but not others; their susceptibility might be influenced by factors such as the viral strain or dose. Zoonotic potential Orf has been reported in people who handled infected animals or their tissues. Geographic Distribution Contagious ecthyma has been found worldwide in all countries that raise sheep. Transmission Orf virus occurs in skin lesions and scabs. It can be transmitted by direct contact or on fomites, and is thought to enter the skin through cuts and abrasions. Whether saliva can transfer the agent in animals with oral lesions, such as reindeer, is still uncertain. Orf virus can be carried by clinically normal sheep; it is reported to remain viable on the wool and hides for approximately one month after the lesions have healed. This virus is very resistant to inactivation in the environment, and has been recovered from dried crusts for several months or years in the laboratory, with one account of survival for up to 12 years. Survival may be shorter in wet conditions. Humans can become infected by contact with infected animals or contagious ecthyma vaccines, which contain live virus. The vaccine viruses are also contagious when shed from recently immunized animals. Person-to-person transmission has reported in very rare instances, which included direct contact with lesions or a fomite that contacted both lesions and broken skin. Nosocomial transmission was responsible for one outbreak in a burn ward. Disinfection Sodium hypochlorite and two quaternary ammonium-based commercial disinfectants were effective against orf virus in a recent study, but ethanol was ineffective. Other disinfectants that have been suggested for poxviruses include detergents, alkalis, Virkon® and glutaraldehyde. In an early study, orf virus was inactivated by heating at 59°C for 30 minutes. www.cfsph.iastate.edu Email: [email protected] © 2005-2015 page 1 of 5 Contagious Ecthyma Infections in Animals locally in all three cats after excision and/or amputation of the affected digit, and resulted in eventual euthanasia. There Incubation Period is an additional report of a cat with multiple scabs on the face The incubation period is thought to be short. Clinical and back, which healed within 2 weeks, and were associated cases have been reported in sheep and goats 2 to 3 days with a parapox-like virus; however, the identity of the virus after exposure. Experimental infections in reindeer became in this case is uncertain. apparent in approximately 5 days. In the 1970s, contagious ecthyma was suspected in a pack of dogs that had been periodically fed entire, Clinical Signs unskinned carcasses from sheep and other animals. The Small ruminants and other ungulates dogs developed circular areas of acute, most dermatitis with ulcers and scabs, mainly around the head. The outcome was The signs of contagious ecthyma vary considerably in not described. These lesions occurred concurrently with a severity, from hyperemia and small pustules around the case of orf in the kennel huntsman, and were diagnosed by mouth and muzzle, to extensive proliferative and exudative inoculation into sheep, with electron microscopy to confirm lesions and scabs that may involve the mucosa as well as a parapoxvirus in lesions from the sheep. the skin. Initially, orf appears as papules, pustules and vesicles, typically found on and around the muzzle, mouth Mild to moderate skin lesions were reported in and nose, and sometimes on the ears, eyelids, feet, perineal experimentally infected rabbits, and consisted of self- region or other sites (e.g., the tail after docking). Lesions limited local erythema, macules, papules, small vesicles and may also occur inside the mouth, particularly in young pustules. Similar but very mild signs were reported in lambs and reindeer. Some reindeer were reported to have experimentally infected mice. oral lesions with no apparent cutaneous involvement. These Post Mortem Lesions Click to view images lesions can sometimes become very large. Rarely, lesions Lesions seen at necropsy generally resemble those in may extend into the esophagus, stomach, intestines or the live animal. Histopathological findings include respiratory tract. Nursing lambs can transmit the virus to ballooning degeneration of keratinocytes and eosinophilic their dam, resulting in lesions on the teats and udder. The cytoplasmic inclusions. Rarely, lesions have also been skin lesions eventually develop into thick, brown, rapidly reported in the esophagus, rumen, omasum, lungs, heart and growing scabs over areas of granulation, inflammation and lower intestinal tract. ulceration. The scabs are often friable and bleed easily. Papillomatous growths may also be seen. In addition to skin lesions, Boer goats with severe infections had severe to moderate lymphadenopathy of the Contagious ecthyma lesions are painful and can result draining lymph nodes in areas of affected skin. Suppurative in anorexia or even starvation. Young animals may refuse arthritis, chronic fibrinous pneumonia and premature to nurse, and lesions on the udder of the dam can cause it to thymic involution were reported in these animals. abandon its offspring. Foot lesions can result in lameness. Complications can include secondary bacterial infections Diagnostic Tests (including Dermatophilus congolensis on the feet) and Infections in animals are usually diagnosed maggot or screwworm infestations. Contagious ecthyma symptomatically. The diagnosis can be confirmed by can also predispose animals to bacterial mastitis, including electron microscopy of the scabs, which should be collected gangrenous mastitis. Uncomplicated cases of contagious from animals in an early stage of the disease; however, this ecthyma usually resolve within 1 to 2 months. technique cannot distinguish the orf virus from other Severe cases, with more generalized and/or persistent parapoxviruses. Histopathology is also helpful. PCR tests lesions, have been reported in some individual animals or may be available from some laboratories. A loop-mediated herds/flocks. In one unusual case, Boer and Boer cross isothermal amplification assay has also been published. goats developed multifocal, severe proliferative dermatitis Virus isolation is uncommonly used, but can be accompanied by chronic pneumonia, arthritis and moderate attempted in a variety of cell cultures or embryonated eggs. to severe lymphadenopathy. The disease persisted for three However, orf virus grows slowly and cannot always be months until the animals were euthanized. isolated. Serological tests that have been described include Other species serum neutralization, ELISAs, agar gel immunodiffusion In 2008, three cases of contagious ecthyma were (AGID), complement fixation and agglutination. Antibody reported in cats that had been exposed to farms with infected reactions are generally short-lived. small ruminants. In all three cases, the lesions occurred on Treatment the feet. One lesion was red and friable, with a cauliflower- like appearance. The second cat had a swollen, proliferative, Treatment for contagious ecthyma consists of ulcerated lesion between the digits, and the third developed a supportive care, which may include tube feeding, together proliferative, ulcerated lesion on a digit. The lesions recurred with antibiotics as needed for secondary infections. © 2005-2015 www.cfsph.iastate.edu Email: [email protected] page 2 of 5 Contagious Ecthyma
Recommended publications
  • Keshav Ravi by Keshav Ravi
    by Keshav Ravi by Keshav Ravi Preface About the Author In the whole world, there are more than 30,000 species Keshav Ravi is a caring and compassionate third grader threatened with extinction today. One prominent way to who has been fascinated by nature throughout his raise awareness as to the plight of these animals is, of childhood. Keshav is a prolific reader and writer of course, education. nonfiction and is always eager to share what he has learned with others. I have always been interested in wildlife, from extinct dinosaurs to the lemurs of Madagascar. At my ninth Outside of his family, Keshav is thrilled to have birthday, one personal writing project I had going was on the support of invested animal advocates, such as endangered wildlife, and I had chosen to focus on India, Carole Hyde and Leonor Delgado, at the Palo Alto the country where I had spent a few summers, away from Humane Society. my home in California. Keshav also wishes to thank Ernest P. Walker’s Just as I began to explore the International Union for encyclopedia (Walker et al. 1975) Mammals of the World Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List species for for inspiration and the many Indian wildlife scientists India, I realized quickly that the severity of threat to a and photographers whose efforts have made this variety of species was immense. It was humbling to then work possible. realize that I would have to narrow my focus further down to a subset of species—and that brought me to this book on the Endangered Mammals of India.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide for Common Viral Diseases of Animals in Louisiana
    Sampling and Testing Guide for Common Viral Diseases of Animals in Louisiana Please click on the species of interest: Cattle Deer and Small Ruminants The Louisiana Animal Swine Disease Diagnostic Horses Laboratory Dogs A service unit of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Adapted from Murphy, F.A., et al, Veterinary Virology, 3rd ed. Cats Academic Press, 1999. Compiled by Rob Poston Multi-species: Rabiesvirus DCN LADDL Guide for Common Viral Diseases v. B2 1 Cattle Please click on the principle system involvement Generalized viral diseases Respiratory viral diseases Enteric viral diseases Reproductive/neonatal viral diseases Viral infections affecting the skin Back to the Beginning DCN LADDL Guide for Common Viral Diseases v. B2 2 Deer and Small Ruminants Please click on the principle system involvement Generalized viral disease Respiratory viral disease Enteric viral diseases Reproductive/neonatal viral diseases Viral infections affecting the skin Back to the Beginning DCN LADDL Guide for Common Viral Diseases v. B2 3 Swine Please click on the principle system involvement Generalized viral diseases Respiratory viral diseases Enteric viral diseases Reproductive/neonatal viral diseases Viral infections affecting the skin Back to the Beginning DCN LADDL Guide for Common Viral Diseases v. B2 4 Horses Please click on the principle system involvement Generalized viral diseases Neurological viral diseases Respiratory viral diseases Enteric viral diseases Abortifacient/neonatal viral diseases Viral infections affecting the skin Back to the Beginning DCN LADDL Guide for Common Viral Diseases v. B2 5 Dogs Please click on the principle system involvement Generalized viral diseases Respiratory viral diseases Enteric viral diseases Reproductive/neonatal viral diseases Back to the Beginning DCN LADDL Guide for Common Viral Diseases v.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Analysis, Distribution, and Characterization of Microsatellites in Orf Virus Genome
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Comparative analysis, distribution, and characterization of microsatellites in Orf virus genome Basanta Pravas Sahu1, Prativa Majee 1, Ravi Raj Singh1, Anjan Sahoo2 & Debasis Nayak 1* Genome-wide in-silico identifcation of microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the Orf virus (ORFV), the causative agent of contagious ecthyma has been carried out to investigate the type, distribution and its potential role in the genome evolution. We have investigated eleven ORFV strains, which resulted in the presence of 1,036–1,181 microsatellites per strain. The further screening revealed the presence of 83–107 compound SSRs (cSSRs) per genome. Our analysis indicates the dinucleotide (76.9%) repeats to be the most abundant, followed by trinucleotide (17.7%), mononucleotide (4.9%), tetranucleotide (0.4%) and hexanucleotide (0.2%) repeats. The Relative Abundance (RA) and Relative Density (RD) of these SSRs varied between 7.6–8.4 and 53.0–59.5 bp/ kb, respectively. While in the case of cSSRs, the RA and RD ranged from 0.6–0.8 and 12.1–17.0 bp/kb, respectively. Regression analysis of all parameters like the incident of SSRs, RA, and RD signifcantly correlated with the GC content. But in a case of genome size, except incident SSRs, all other parameters were non-signifcantly correlated. Nearly all cSSRs were composed of two microsatellites, which showed no biasedness to a particular motif. Motif duplication pattern, such as, (C)-x-(C), (TG)- x-(TG), (AT)-x-(AT), (TC)- x-(TC) and self-complementary motifs, such as (GC)-x-(CG), (TC)-x-(AG), (GT)-x-(CA) and (TC)-x-(AG) were observed in the cSSRs.
    [Show full text]
  • Characterization of the Rubella Virus Nonstructural Protease Domain and Its Cleavage Site
    JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY, July 1996, p. 4707–4713 Vol. 70, No. 7 0022-538X/96/$04.0010 Copyright q 1996, American Society for Microbiology Characterization of the Rubella Virus Nonstructural Protease Domain and Its Cleavage Site 1 2 2 1 JUN-PING CHEN, JAMES H. STRAUSS, ELLEN G. STRAUSS, AND TERYL K. FREY * Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303,1 and Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 911252 Received 27 October 1995/Accepted 3 April 1996 The region of the rubella virus nonstructural open reading frame that contains the papain-like cysteine protease domain and its cleavage site was expressed with a Sindbis virus vector. Cys-1151 has previously been shown to be required for the activity of the protease (L. D. Marr, C.-Y. Wang, and T. K. Frey, Virology 198:586–592, 1994). Here we show that His-1272 is also necessary for protease activity, consistent with the active site of the enzyme being composed of a catalytic dyad consisting of Cys-1151 and His-1272. By means of radiochemical amino acid sequencing, the site in the polyprotein cleaved by the nonstructural protease was found to follow Gly-1300 in the sequence Gly-1299–Gly-1300–Gly-1301. Mutagenesis studies demonstrated that change of Gly-1300 to alanine or valine abrogated cleavage. In contrast, Gly-1299 and Gly-1301 could be changed to alanine with retention of cleavage, but a change to valine abrogated cleavage. Coexpression of a construct that contains a cleavage site mutation (to serve as a protease) together with a construct that contains a protease mutation (to serve as a substrate) failed to reveal trans cleavage.
    [Show full text]
  • The Phylogenetic Relationship of the Muskox and Takin Based on High Resolution, G-Banded, Chromosome Analysis
    Paper presented at The First Arctic Ungulate Conference, Nuuk, Greenland, 3-8 September, 1991. Expanded abstract The phylogenetic relationship of the muskox and takin based on high resolution, G-banded, chromosome analysis M. Pasitschniak-Arts1, P. F. Flood2, S. M. Schmutz3, S. Tedesco2 and B. Seidel4 1 Department of Biology, 2 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, and 3 Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W0. 4 Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde, Am Tierpark 125, D-1136 Berlin, Germany Key words: muskox, takin, chromosomes, G-banded karyotypes Rangifer, 12 (3) 203-205 Muskoxen, Ovibos moschatus, currently inhabit The relationship of the muskox to other parts of the Canadian mainland tundra, nume• members in the Bovidae is somewhat unclear. rous Arctic islands, regions of Alaska, Norway, Many related genera of bovids adapted to cold• Sweden, northern and eastern Greenland, and er climates are now extinct, leaving only the the Taymyr Peninsula (Lent, 1988). The takin, muskox and takin (Jia-Yan, 1989; Lent, 1988; Budorcas taxicolor, is an Asian species presently Neas and Hoffman, 1987). Despite the apparent found in mountainous areas of west central close relatedness of the two species, banded ka• China, Burma, Bhutan and India Qia-Yan, 1989; ryotypes of the muskox and takin have yet to Neas and Hoffman, 1987). Both species appear be compared. to have originated from a common ancestor in In the Bovidae, individual autosome pairs can• Asia and exhibit morphological similarities. not be reliably distinguished using conventional Muskoxen apparently dispersed from north cen• staining (Lin et aL, 1977), but they have been tral Asia to North America during the Illinoian identified using G-banding (Wang and Federoff, glaciation Qia-Yan, 1989).
    [Show full text]
  • Measles and Rubella Initiative Outbreak Response Fund Application Standard Operating Procedures
    M&RI SOP Feb 24, 2020 Final Measles and Rubella Initiative Outbreak Response Fund Application Standard Operating Procedures This update of the M&RI ORF Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) includes the following modifications: 1. To encourage countries to submit applications for ORF support early in the evolution of the outbreak in order to effectively stop measles virus transmission before it becomes more widespread, M&RI will monitor indicators of timeliness of outbreak response immunization in accordance with Immunization Agenda 2030 guidelines; 2. To accelerate the process to receive support, M&RI has removed requirements for advance notification when requesting ORF support and has established a limited timeframe to evaluate the application for ORF support and to provide feedback or issue a decision letter; 3. To more comprehensively address outbreak response linked to timely and efficient use of vaccine, M&RI will allow for greater flexibility in areas of support on an exceptional basis and with adequate justification; 4. To reduce the likelihood of requested additional information or clarifications from M&RI, the SOPs provide greater detail regarding the key data elements and analysis recommended when investigating measles outbreaks and preparing reports, plans and budgets; 5. To maximize use of outbreak investigations and their follow up to strengthen immunization systems, M&RI requests countries to include findings from root cause analyses and, based on these, plans to improve routine immunization, surveillance and outbreak preparedness in the required post-outbreak report. A. Background The Measles and Rubella Initiative (M&RI) has provided funding through an outbreak response fund (ORF) since 2012 to support bundled vaccine and operational costs for measles and rubella outbreak response immunization (ORI), with Gavi supporting up to a total of US$10 million per year for Gavi-eligible countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Dry Season Diets of Sympatric Ungulates in Lowland Nepal: Competition and Facilitation in Alluvial Tall Grasslands
    Ecol Res (2006) 21:698–706 DOI 10.1007/s11284-006-0177-7 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Per Wegge Æ Anil K. Shrestha Æ Stein R. Moe Dry season diets of sympatric ungulates in lowland Nepal: competition and facilitation in alluvial tall grasslands Received: 8 November 2005 / Accepted: 3 February 2006 / Published online: 17 May 2006 Ó The Ecological Society of Japan 2006 Abstract Based on microhistological analyses of faecal Keywords Hog deer Æ Swamp deer Æ Rhinoceros Æ material, we compared the early dry season diets of Elephant Æ Axis porcinus Æ Cervus duvauceli Æ greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis, Rhinoceros unicornis Æ Elephas maximus Æ Diet Æ swamp deer Cervus duvauceli and hog deer Axis porci- Food competition Æ Resource partitioning nus, which inhabit the same alluvial grassland habitat complex in lowland Nepal. Their diets were quite simi- lar, both at the forage category level and within sub- categories of graminoids and woody plants. Early Introduction successional tall grasses, especially Saccharum sponta- neum, were the dominant food of all three species, Interspecific interactions among sympatric ungulates, underlining the key role of the threatened alluvial such as food competition and resource partitioning, are floodplains in large mammal conservation in South much debated issues in theoretical ecology and practical Asia. The two deer species ate significantly more wildlife management (White 1978; Caughley and Sinclair graminoids (>66.5%) than did rhino (45.5%), and al- 1994; Putman 1996; Abrams 1998; Murray and Illius though they did not differ in proportions of graminoids, 2000; Arsenault and Owen-Smith 2002). Because re- swamp deer ate significantly more late successional tall source use overlap in terms of habitat and diet is a useful grasses (Narenga porphyrocoma and Themeda spp.) and approach to understanding such interactions (Schoener short grasses (mainly Imperata cylindrica) than hog deer.
    [Show full text]
  • Modulation of NF-Κb Signalling by Microbial Pathogens
    REVIEWS Modulation of NF‑κB signalling by microbial pathogens Masmudur M. Rahman and Grant McFadden Abstract | The nuclear factor-κB (NF‑κB) family of transcription factors plays a central part in the host response to infection by microbial pathogens, by orchestrating the innate and acquired host immune responses. The NF‑κB proteins are activated by diverse signalling pathways that originate from many different cellular receptors and sensors. Many successful pathogens have acquired sophisticated mechanisms to regulate the NF‑κB signalling pathways by deploying subversive proteins or hijacking the host signalling molecules. Here, we describe the mechanisms by which viruses and bacteria micromanage the host NF‑κB signalling circuitry to favour the continued survival of the pathogen. The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) family of transcription Signalling targets upstream of NF‑κB factors regulates the expression of hundreds of genes that NF-κB proteins are tightly regulated in both the cyto- are associated with diverse cellular processes, such as pro- plasm and the nucleus6. Under normal physiological liferation, differentiation and death, as well as innate and conditions, NF‑κB complexes remain inactive in the adaptive immune responses. The mammalian NF‑κB cytoplasm through a direct interaction with proteins proteins are members of the Rel domain-containing pro- of the inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) family, including IκBα, tein family: RELA (also known as p65), RELB, c‑REL, IκBβ and IκBε (also known as NF-κBIα, NF-κBIβ and the NF-κB p105 subunit (also known as NF‑κB1; which NF-κBIε, respectively); IκB proteins mask the nuclear is cleaved into the p50 subunit) and the NF-κB p100 localization domains in the NF‑κB complex, thus subunit (also known as NF‑κB2; which is cleaved into retaining the transcription complex in the cytoplasm.
    [Show full text]
  • Cic Pheonotype List Caprinae©
    v. 5.25.12 CIC PHEONOTYPE LIST CAPRINAE © ARGALI 1. Altai Argali Ovis ammon ammon (aka Altay Argali) 2. Khangai Argali Ovis ammon darwini (aka Hangai & Mid Altai Argali) 3. Gobi Argali Ovis ammon darwini 4. Northern Chinese Argali - extinct Ovis ammon jubata (aka Shansi & Jubata Argali) 5. Northern Tibetan Argali Ovis ammon hodgsonii (aka Gansu & Altun Shan Argali) 6. Tibetan Argali Ovis ammon hodgsonii (aka Himalaya Argali) 7. Kuruk Tagh Argali Ovis ammon adametzi (aka Kuruktag Argali) 8. Karaganda Argali Ovis ammon collium (aka Kazakhstan & Semipalatinsk Argali) 9. Sair Argali Ovis ammon sairensis 10. Dzungarian Argali Ovis ammon littledalei (aka Littledale’s Argali) 11. Tian Shan Argali Ovis ammon karelini (aka Karelini Argali) 12. Kyrgyz Argali Ovis ammon humei (aka Kashgarian & Hume’s Argali) 13. Pamir Argali Ovis ammon polii (aka Marco Polo Argali) 14. Kara Tau Argali Ovis ammon nigrimontana (aka Bukharan & Turkestan Argali) 15. Nura Tau Argali Ovis ammon severtzovi (aka Kyzyl Kum & Severtzov Argali) MOUFLON 16. Tyrrhenian Mouflon Ovis aries musimon (aka Sardinian & Corsican Mouflon) 17. Introd. European Mouflon Ovis aries musimon (aka European Mouflon) 18. Cyprus Mouflon Ovis aries ophion (aka Cyprian Mouflon) 19. Konya Mouflon Ovis gmelini anatolica (aka Anatolian & Turkish Mouflon) 20. Armenian Mouflon Ovis gmelini gmelinii (aka Transcaucasus or Asiatic Mouflon, regionally as Arak Sheep) 21. Esfahan Mouflon Ovis gmelini isphahanica (aka Isfahan Mouflon) 22. Larestan Mouflon Ovis gmelini laristanica (aka Laristan Mouflon) URIALS 23. Transcaspian Urial Ovis vignei arkal (Depending on locality aka Kopet Dagh, Ustyurt & Turkmen Urial) 24. Bukhara Urial Ovis vignei bocharensis 25. Afghan Urial Ovis vignei cycloceros 26.
    [Show full text]
  • Royle Safaris Sichuan Mammals Tour Trip Report
    In March 2019 Royle Safaris ran our second specialist Sichuan Mammals Tour with a focus on a particularly special species. The trip was run with Martin Royle, Roland Zeidler & Sid Francis as our guides. We visited 3 different locations (covering the rugged bamboo forests of the greater Wolong ecosystem, the high altitude grasslands of Rouergai and the wonderful forests of Tangjiahe. We were very successful with sightings of 44 different species of mammals and over 100 species of birds including Giant Panda, Red Panda, Pallas’s Cat, Chinese Mountain Cat, Indochinese Leopard Cat, Particoloured Flying Squirrel, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Chinese Ferret Badger, Eurasian Otter and Chinese Pipistrelle. We ran a second Sichuan’s Mammals Tour (back to back with this one) in April 2019 and we had even more success in some areas. The sightings log for that trip will follow in a few days. We have started to promote our 2020 Sichuan Mammals Tour (with special focus on a particular special species for half of the trip); we have already received many bookings on these two trips. Our first tour for 2020 (9th – 22nd March 2020) has just one place remaining and our second tour for 2020 (25th April – 8th May 2020) which also has only one place remaining. We have also started offering places on another specialist mammal tour of China, visiting Qinghai and the wonderful Valley of the Cats. This tour is for July 2020 (1st – 15th July 2020) and focuses on Snow leopards, Eurasian lynx, Himalayan wolf, Himalayan brown bear, Tibetan antelope, Wild Yak, White-lipped deer, Alpine musk deer, Glover’s pika, Bharal, McNeil’s deer and many more species.
    [Show full text]
  • Specimen Type, Collection Methods, and Diagnostic Assays Available For
    Specimen type, collection methods, and diagnostic assays available for the detection of poxviruses from human specimens by the Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1. Specimen Orthopoxvirus Parapoxvirus Yatapoxvirus Molluscipoxvirus Specimen type collection method PCR6 Culture EM8 IHC9,10 Serology11 PCR12 EM8 IHC9,10 PCR13 EM8 PCR EM8 Lesion material Fresh or frozen Swab 5 Lesion material [dry or in media ] [vesicle / pustule Formalin fixed skin, scab / crust, etc.] Paraffin block Fixed slide(s) Container Lesion fluid Swab [vesicle / pustule [dry or in media5] fluid, etc.] Touch prep slide Blood EDTA2 EDTA tube 7 Spun or aliquoted Serum before shipment Spun or aliquoted Plasma before shipment CSF3,4 Sterile 1. The detection of poxviruses by electron microscopy (EM) and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) is performed by the Infectious Disease Pathology Branch of the CDC. 2. EDTA — Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. 3. CSF — Cerebrospinal fluid. 4. In order to accurately interpret test results generated from CSF specimens, paired serum must also be submitted. 5. If media is used to store and transport specimens a minimal amount should be used to ensure as little dilution of DNA as possible. 6. Orthopoxvirus generic real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays will amplify DNA from numerous species of virus within the Orthopoxvirus genus. Species-specific real-time PCR assays are available for selective detection of DNA from variola virus, vaccinia virus, monkeypox virus, and cowpox virus. 7. Blood is not ideal for the detection of orthopoxviruses by PCR as the period of viremia has often passed before sampling occurs. 8. EM can reveal the presence of a poxvirus in clinical specimens or from virus culture, but this technique cannot differentiate between virus species within the same genus.
    [Show full text]
  • Diagnosis and Treatment of Orf
    Vet Times The website for the veterinary profession https://www.vettimes.co.uk Diagnosis and treatment of orf Author : Graham Duncanson Categories : Farm animal, Vets Date : March 3, 2008 When I used to do a meat inspection for an hour each week, I came across a case of orf in one of the slaughtermen. The lesion was on the back of his hand. The GP thought it was an abscess and lanced the pustule. I was certain it was orf and got some pus into a viral transport medium. The Veterinary Investigation Centre in Norwich confirmed the case as orf and it took weeks to heal. I have always taken the zoonotic aspects of this disease very seriously ever since. When I got a pustule on my finger from my own sheep, I took potentiated sulphonamides by mouth and it healed within three weeks. I always advise clients to wear rubber gloves when dealing with the disease. I also advise any affected people to go to their GP, but not to let the doctor lance the lesion. Virus Orf, which should be called contagious pustular dermatitis, is not a pox virus but a Parapoxvirus. It is allied to viral diseases in cattle, pseudocowpox (caused by the most common virus found on the bovine udder) and bovine papular stomatitis (the oral form of pseudocowpox occurring in young cattle). Both these cattle viruses are self-limiting, rarely causing problems. Sheeppox, which is a Capripoxvirus, is not found in the UK or western Europe. However, it seems to have spread from the Middle East to Hungary.
    [Show full text]