Ecthyma contagiosum

Last Updated: 2022-04-01

Author(s): Anzengruber F., Navarini A.

ICD11: -

1/3

  • Non-bullous impetigo
  • Bullous impetigo
  • Actinomycosis
  • Anthrax
  • Herpes simplex
  • Cowpox
  • Cat pox
  • Milking knot
  • Ecthyma contagiosum

Orf, sheep pox, vaccinoids, livestock pox.

A zoonosis caused by parapoxvirus ovis, a DNA-square virus, with low contagiosity.

  • Common disease among sheep farmers
  • Self-limiting, but frequent recurrences (an infectious immunity)

  • Incubation period: 3-11 days
  • Infection occurs via injured skin through direct contact with sheep, lambs and goats. Ecthyma contagiosum occurs mainly in spring.

  • Mostly on the extensor sides of the fingers (rarely on the face)
  • 1st week: maculopapular stage
  • 2nd week: cocard stage
  • 3rd week: exudation
  • 4th week: formation of a crust
  • 5th week: papillomatous transformation, then regression
  • Generalisation very rare. Incidental findings often regional lymphadenopathy

Anamnesis, clinic, dermatopathology, virus detection.

Vascular granulation tissue with epidermal ballooned cells and reticular degeneration.

Healing after approx. 5 weeks without scarring.

  1. Friederichs S, Krebs S, Blum H, et al. Comparative and retrospective molecular analysis of Parapoxvirus (PPV) isolates. Virus Res 2014;181:11-21.
  2. Bodilsen J, Leth S. [Orf parapoxvirus can infect humans after relevant exposure]. Ugeskr Laeger 2013;175:1121-2.
  3. Zhang K, Liu Y, Kong H, Shang Y, Liu X. Human infection with ORF virus from goats in China, 2012. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2014;14:365-7.
  4. de Vicq de Cumptich M, Snoeck R, Sass U, del Marmol V, Binet H. [Orf nodules and immunosuppression: a case report and review of therapeutics]. Rev Med Brux 2015;36:439-43.
  5. Frandsen J, Enslow M, Bowen AR. Orf parapoxvirus infection from a cat scratch. Dermatol Online J 2011;17:9.
  6. Turan E, Yesilova Y, Ucmak D. A case of orf (ecthyma contagiosum) with multiple lesions. J Pak Med Assoc 2013;63:786-7.
  7. Friebel TR, van der Werff JF. The orf virus: a case report. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2015;40:648-9.