title: Orf in South Africa: endemic but neglected.
abstract: A survey amongst sheep and goat producers and veterinarians was undertaken to collect  epidemiological data on orf in South Africa. Previous epidemiological studies on the presence  of the disease in the country have not been documented and this report is the first descriptive  epidemiological study of orf in South Africa. A seven-month investigation, realised by direct  and indirect interviews and field observation, enabled us to outline incidence and risk factors  of this disease and to better understand how the local farmers in rural areas relate to it.  The results may contribute to better management of the disease in rural areas. By means of  molecular analyses the phylogenetic relationships between field isolates from different areas  have been identified. The findings gave a first important contribution to the general assessment  of the economic impact of orf virus infections and the extent of the risk to human health.
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, University of Bologna. alessand.scagliarini@unibo.it.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Scagliarini
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Piovesana
authors: Filippo
authors: F
authors: Turrini
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Savini
authors: Fortune
authors: F
authors: Sithole
authors: Cheryl M
authors: CM
authors: McCrindle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004474:Ecthyma, Contagious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D009923:Orf virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012756:Sheep; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses