Why is Contagious Ecthyma in goats so prevalent in the winter?
Contagious ecthyma in goats is an infectious, contagious, viral zoonotic dermatological disease that affects the lips of young kids. Apart from goats, sheep can also get infection, but the disease is more common in young goats. This disease is more prevalent in winter. Due to zoonotic prevalence, humans can also get the infection. This article will explain, in an easy way, what is contagious ecthyma, its causes, clinical signs, treatment, and preventive protocols. Let’s get started.
What is Contagious Ecthyma?
Table of Contents
A viral infectious dermatitis of goats and sheep in which the most common clinical finding is the development of lesions on the mucocutaneous junction of the lips.
Other Names: Sore Mouth, Orf, Pustular Dermatitis
Cause of Contagious Ecthyma
The cause of contagious ecthyma is Parapoxvirus (a genus of the family Poxviridae). This virus is closely related to Pseuddopox and bovine popular stomatitis.
Some Characteristics of Poxviridae
- Double-stranded DNA viruses
- Relatively large and ovoid in structure
- Resistant to inactivation
Clinical Signs of Contagious Ecthyma in Goats
The most obvious clinical sign of contagious ecthyma in goats & sheep is the development of lesions on the mucocutaneous junction of the lips. The lesions can also spread to the buccal cavity and around the incisor teeth. Some secondary lesions are also reported on the coronary band of hooves. These types of lesions are known as secondary lesions. It’s important to note here, the lesions on the hooves provoke the growth of a bacteria (Dermatophilus congolensis) that causes strawberry foot rot. Nursing doe or ewes can also acquire the lesions on their teats if the kid or lamb is infected with contagious ecthyma.
Contagious ecthyma lasts around 1-4 weeks and after that scab drops off and the tissues heal without the formation of any scars. If the lesions are on hooves, then lameness can occur. Similarly, lesions on the teats can be the risk factor for getting mastitis.
How to Diagnose Contagious Ecthyma in Goats & Sheeps?
The diagnosis of every disease revolves around three parameters. A history, clinical signs, and then further lab confirmation (bacterial/virus culture and identification). If a goat or sheep having lesions on the mucocutaneous junction of lips is presented during the winter months, then contagious ecthyma should be the tentative diagnosis of a veterinarian.
Further confirmation can be done by laboratory tests because there are some diseases that have similar signs.
So, contagious ecthyma must be differentiated from the following diseases.
Differential Diagnosis of Contagious Ecthyma
2- Vesicular Stomatitis (Hint: Sheep & Goats are resistant)
3- Blue tongue
Treatment of Contagious Ecthyma in Goats & Sheep
There is no specific treatment for contagious ecthyma in goats & sheep, but various parenteral and topical antibiotics can help to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Some treatment options are listed below (veterinarian’s choice can vary)
- Give any broad-spectrum antibiotic like penicillin, oxytetracycline, etc.
- If fever is present, then NSAIDs can help to control fever like flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen, meloxicam, etc.
- Apply some sort of ointment to the lesions like Polyfax, etc
Treat Contagious Ecthyma in Goats and Sheep without Medicine
How to Prevent Contagious Ecthyma?
In order to prevent goats and sheep from getting contagious pustular dermatitis, it’s necessary to properly vaccinate the animals. Autogenous vaccination can be done in infected goats and sheep how? See here. And such animals should be segregated from unprotected stock until the scabs have fallen off.
Appropriate age for vaccination
Lambs should get their shots at around one month old. A second vaccination two to three months later is advised for the best benefits. Lambs who are not immune should receive a vaccination 1-2 months before entering infected feedlots.
Due to the zoonotic nature, veterinarians, and farm keepers can acquire the infection, so it’s advisable to use disposable gloves while handling the animals.
Conclusion
Contagious Ecthyma in goats is a contagious dermatological disease in which pustular lesions develop around the lips. There is no specific treatment available, but supportive therapy can help to combat the infection. Vaccination, segregation, and biosecurity measures are the preventive protocols of pustular dermatitis.
References:
Merck Veterinary Manual. Overview of Contagious Ecthyma. Available here
Underwood, W. J., Blauwiekel, R., Delano, M. L., Gillesby, R., Mischler, S. A., & Schoell, A. (2015). Biology and Diseases of Ruminants (Sheep, Goats, and Cattle). Laboratory Animal Medicine (Third Edition), 623-694. Available here
Lawan, Z., Bala, J. A., Bukar, A. M., Balakrishnan, K. N., Mangga, H. K., Abdullah, F. F. J., Noordin, M. M., & Mohd-Azmi, M. L. (2021). Contagious ecthyma: how serious is the disease worldwide?. Animal health research reviews, 22(1), 40–55. Avialable here