Contagious ecthyma associated pathological changes in sheep and goats in Jammu & Kashmir, India

Contagious ecthyma is an acute contagious disease of small ruminants characterized by proliferative lesions on oral mucosa, commissures of lips and around the nostrils. This study reports investigation of disease and the associated pathological changes in sheep/goats(Total number of cases=207) in Jammu & Kashmir- India during November-2016 to May-2017. Scab samples from suspected cases were subjected to PCR targeting B2L gene of ORFV for confirmation. The results indicated anatomical-site predilection of the lesions in the order of oral commissures (69.08%) > lips (56.04%) > muzzle (50.72%) > nostrils (42.51%) > gums (31.40%) >coronary band (1.93%) > udder = tongue = hard palate (0.97%) > scrotum (0.48%). Gross and histopathological changes were recorded. Cauliflower-like proliferations in buccal cavity, liver congestion and pneumonic lesions in lungs were the major gross pathological changes observed during the study. Epithelial hyperplasia, ballooning degeneration, necrosis of epithelium and leucocytic infilteration were the notable histopathological changes observed. Complications like bronchopneumonia (N=13; 6.30%), gastroenteritis (N=6; 2.90%) and mastitis (N=1; 0.50%) in nursing mothers were observed. Death due to inanition because of wool ball (trichobezoar) lodgment was a significant post-mortem finding.