Zeitschrift für Tiergesundheit und Verhaltenswissenschaft

Review on Pathological Changes and Diagnosis Techniques of Contagious Ecthyma in Small Ruminant

Abstract

Samrawit Melkamu

Contagious ecthyma or alternatively called contagious pustular dermatitis is a viral disease of sheep and goat caused by contagious ecthyma virus. This disease is most commonly seen in small ruminants though camelids and rarely other ruminants can also be affected. The objective of this review is to give emphasis about pathological features (lesions) and diagnosis techniques of contagious ecthyma in sheep and goat. Contagious ecthyma is an acute, contagious, debilitating and economically important zoonotic viral skin disease that affecting sheep, goat and some other domesticated and wild ruminants. The disease initially presents itself as papules that progress to blisters or pustules before encrusting. They can spread around the outside and inside of the mouth, face, lips, ears, vulva, lets, scrotum, teats, and feet, usually in the interdigital region. Necropsy findings are scattered hemorrhagic papules, vesicles, pustules, and numerous multifocalto-coalescing proliferative and necrotizing scabs affecting haired skin at the mucocutaneous junctions (commissures) of the lips and affecting the oral papillae. A definitive diagnosis is based on viral isolation and an immunologic test. Histopathology is also helpful. Molecular identification and investigation several molecular diagnostic methods including polymerase chain reaction, serological tests such as agar gel precipitation test, agglutination test, complement fixation test. Since it is very economically important disease but it does not have effective diagnosis techniques further research should be conducted to develop its effective treatment.