BACKGROUND: Ecthyma contagiosum (orf) is caused by an epitheliotropic parapox virus. It is a zoonosis usually transmitted to humans from affected sheep or goat through direct contact or contaminated fomites. METHODS: We report a 36-year-old patient with multiple skin lesions on his left hand, first observed 5 days before admission followed by red streaks on the forearm and an erythema on the upper arm 1 day prior to admission. The patient reported that he was working on a sheep farm. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination showed evidence of a viral infection. Subsequent transmission electron microscopy showed typical parapox virus particles, predominantly in the scaled-off layers of degenerated keratinocytes and monocytes. The results were verified and specified by two newly established polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and subsequent sequencing of the amplicons: one broadly reacting 'general parapox virus PCR', and one assay which allows--following sequencing--discrimination between individual orf virus strains. CONCLUSION: Despite the multiplicity of the lesions, there was a significant improvement after 2 weeks of treatment. Sequencing showed the uniqueness of this virus compared with previously published strains from other countries.
BACKGROUND: Ecthyma contagiosum (orf) is caused by an epitheliotropic parapox virus. It is a zoonosis usually transmitted to humans from affected sheep or goat through direct contact or contaminated fomites. METHODS: We report a 36-year-old patient with multiple skin lesions on his left hand, first observed 5 days before admission followed by red streaks on the forearm and an erythema on the upper arm 1 day prior to admission. The patient reported that he was working on a sheep farm. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination showed evidence of a viral infection. Subsequent transmission electron microscopy showed typical parapox virus particles, predominantly in the scaled-off layers of degenerated keratinocytes and monocytes. The results were verified and specified by two newly established polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and subsequent sequencing of the amplicons: one broadly reacting 'general parapox virus PCR', and one assay which allows--following sequencing--discrimination between individual orf virus strains. CONCLUSION: Despite the multiplicity of the lesions, there was a significant improvement after 2 weeks of treatment. Sequencing showed the uniqueness of this virus compared with previously published strains from other countries.
Authors: Wei Li; Zhangyong Ning; Wenbo Hao; Deguang Song; Feng Gao; Kui Zhao; Xiaoqing Liao; Ming Li; Daniel L Rock; Shuhong Luo Journal: BMC Vet Res Date: 2012-11-23 Impact factor: 2.741
Authors: Abdelmalik I Khalafalla; Ibrahim M El-Sabagh; Khalid A Al-Busada; Abdullah I Al-Mubarak; Yahia H Ali Journal: Virol J Date: 2015-08-12 Impact factor: 4.099