GOAT POX: ************ Variola caprina (goat pox) is a contagious viral disease

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GOAT POX:
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Variola caprina (goat pox) is a contagious viral disease caused by Goatpox virus, a pox virus that affects goats. The virus usually spreads via the respiratory system, and sometimes spreads through abraded skin. It is most likely to occur in crowded stock. Sources of the virus include cutaneous lesions, saliva, nasal secretions and faeces. There are two types of the disease: the papulo-vesicular form and the nodular form (stone pox). The incubation period is usually 8–13 days, but it may be as short as four days.
It is thought the same virus spreads sheep pox, to which European sheep breeds are highly susceptible. The virus may be present in dried scabs for up to six months.

In endemic areas the morbidity rate is 70–90% and the mortality rate is 5–10%. The mortality rate may reach nearly 100% in imported animals. Resistant animals may show only a mild form of the disease, which may be missed as only a few lesions are present, usually around the ears or the tail.

       CLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The severity of disease can vary and strongly depends on the virulence of the virus, the age of the animals and the natural resistance. The disease usually begins with fever and loss of appetite after an incubation period of 12 days to a maximum of 21 days. After the first symptoms, the animals can develop nodules or pox. Nodules start as red spots, especially in areas where there is no wool or hair. These red spots develop into nodules or lumps, pustules and finally into thick crusts, which can later peel off. The animals also often have eye and udder infections. Finally, the lungs can also be affected.

Initial rapid onset of fever, salivation, nasal discharge and conjunctivitis

•••Eruption of skin lesions after a few days. These lesions first develop into vesicles, pustules and then hairy and dark-colored scabs. They may take up to 6 weeks to heal. Scabs are often found in hair-free or wool-free areas such as the udders, perineum, inguinal area, scrotum, muzzle, eyelids and axillae.

••°Appearance on udders and teats of small, red spotty areas which may form scabs. The orifices of the teats may become infected and cause mastitis.

•••Sensitivity in affected skin

•••Internal lesions in the lungs causing respiratory distress

•••Depression

•••Polypnoea

•••Oedema of eyelids, photophobia, Rhinitis and lacrimation

•••Development of nodules in the lungs causing bronchopneumonia

••Anorexia

       PAPULO-VESICULAR FORM

** Papules become a white-grey colour, desiccate and form crusts that are easy to remove.

** Papules are 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter and are hard to the touch. The papules become depressed, gray and necrotic, and may be surrounded by an area of hyperemia.

** Rarely, papules may transform into large, fluid-filled vesicles. After the vesicles rupture, a thick crust covers the lesions

    NODULAR FORM

** Papules give rise to nodules involving all the layers of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue.
** Necrosis and sloughing of the nodules leaves a hairless scar.

        SECONDARY PROBLEMS

** Septicaemia
** Abortion (rare)
** Infections
**  Fly strike
** Digestive localization

       PREVENTION AND CONTROL
To prevent is better than to cure, but preventive vaccination against sheep pox and goat pox is not applied due to financial considerations. To prevent an outbreak in Europe, animals are banned from infected regions or checked extensively prior release in the country. During an outbreak of SGP, vaccination is carried out to prevent onward spread of the disease.

      TREATMENT

Treatment. There is no treatment for SGP, but vaccines are available to control sheep and goat pox in endemic areas. For further information, view our SGP product development work.
vaccines are available to control sheep and goat pox in endemic areas.
••give oxytetracycline 20%and ivermectin  for secondary infection