Variola caprina

Spread

• Direct contact
• Indirect transmission by contaminated implements, vehicles or products such as litter or fodder
• Indirect transmission by insects.
• Contamination by inhalation, intradermal or subcutaneous inoculation, or by respiratory, transcutaneous and transmucosal routes

  Clinical signs

• 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
• Infections
• Fly strike
• Digestive localisation