Phylogenetic Analysis of ORF Virus from Goats in Tanzania: Short Communication

Abstract

ORF virus is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the genus Parapoxvirus (PPV) in the family poxviridae. ORF virus is the causative agent of contagious pustular dermatitis which is a zoonotic and neglected disease of humans and small ruminants. It causes severe exanthematous dermatitis that afflicts domestic and small wild ruminants. Cases of ORFV infections in goats in Tanzania have been reported for many years. The basis of reporting ORFV cases were mainly on clinical signs with no confirmatory tests (Ministry of Livestock Development reports-Tanzania). In this study, a case of proliferative dermatitis in goats was confirmed using PCR. A physical examination of the animal was carried out and tissue scrapings were collected for molecular analysis in the laboratory. The presence of ORFV in tissue scrapings from the lips was tested by GIF/IL-2gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the GIF/IL-2 gene. The results of this study indicated that the disease was caused by infection with a virus which is closely and genetically related to several ORF virus found in the data base. This is the first report to provide phylogenetic information about the ORF virus in Tanzania, which will be useful in prospective public health studies.