title: Lamb pays lip service: two cases of ecthyma contagiosum (orf).
abstract: Ecthyma contagiosum (orf) is caused by a parapox virus, which results in ulcerative stomatitis of mainly sheep and goats. The disease may be transmitted to humans through direct contact. Complications are rare in healthy individuals, who rarely report the disease. Two married, recreational sheep farmers, were bitten on their index fingers by an affected lamb. While the husband made an uneventful recovery after oral flucloxacillin, his wife was admitted to hospital with necrosis of her finger, cellulitis and lymphangitis requiring intravenous clindamycin. She subsequently developed a generalized maculo-papular rash, which was initially thought to be an adverse drug reaction, but, on hindsight, may have been erythema multiforme associated with orf. Orf is a common zoonosis, rarely reported in general practice. The disease is usually self-limiting and resolves in 6-8 weeks, but complications may occur. The diagnosis should be considered in at-risk occupational and religious groups.
authors.affiliation: Kingshill Medical Practice, 40 Manse Road, Forth ML11 8AJ, Scotland. carl.dewet@nes.scot.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Wet
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000821:virology*; D004474:Ecthyma, Contagious / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000821:virology*; D005436:Floxacillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D009923:Orf virus; D012756:Sheep; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005436:Floxacillin