Collection

Orf: characteristics and diagnosis

The symptoms and diagnosis of Orf.

Orf is a skin disease caused by a parapox virus that affects sheep and goats. Orf is characterised by pustular or scabby lesions around the mouth and nostrils of lambs. Infection is most common in young lambs and their ewes and older lambs in the late summer.

Orf is transmissible to humans through direct close contact with an infected animal. The disease appears as single or multiple lesions, usually on the fingers, hands or forearms.

Diagnosis and management

Data collection

Published 19 May 2014