Severe Orf in Lambs: Clinical Description and Response to Treatment against Secondary Infection

In May 2014, severe disease affecting areas around the muzzle and the entire buccal mucosa was observed in two lambs from a flock of approximately 200 Highlander and Charolaise ewes. The lambs were ten weeks old. Clinical signs ofproliferative lesions around the mucocutanous junction of the mouth and the presence of scabs extending for 4 to 6 cm around the muzzlewere supportive of severe orf. No laboratory test was undertaken. It was therefore deemed necessary to offer treatment against secondary infection. Both lambs responded very well to a combination of 200mg/kg procaine penicillin and 250mg/kg body weight dihydrostreptomycin sulphateand 1,5 pentanedial in petroleum based soft emollient cream administered once daily for three consecutive days. The treatment regime showed that secondary infection during severe orf cases can be treated with penicillin-streptomycin and petroleum based soft emollient cream in order to reduce losses associated with the disease.