Sore Mouth in Sheep and Goats - UAEX

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OF AGRICULTURE

RESEARCH

& EXTENSION

University of Arkansas System

Agriculture and Natural Resources
FSA3156

Livestock Health Series

Sore Mouth in Sheep and Goats
Chelsey Kimbrough, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Heidi Ward - DVM, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and
Veterinarian

Introduction

Signs and Symptoms

Contagious ecthyma, commonly
known as sore mouth or orf, is a highly
contagious virus commonly seen in
young lambs, kids and nursing dams.
Some strains are more severe than
others but typically run their course
within four weeks. Sore mouth is
zoonotic meaning it can be transmitted to humans. A scab-like lesion on
lambs and kids can be seen on the lips,
around the mouth, nostrils, and eyes.
Furthermore, lesions can be present
on nursing dams on their teats, udders, legs and sometimes vulvas. When
dried scabs fall off, the virus can still
be active within the scab and has the
ability to survive up to a year becoming a source for later infections.

Tiny red nodules around the lips
are the frst signs of sore mouth. The
nodules develop into blisters and then
form a thick, brown scab. If the scab
is removed, red wart-like tissue will
be seen. If the scab is not removed, it
will naturally fall off. The process may
take as long as four weeks. If severely
infected, animals often stop eating due
to pain from the lesions.

Photo 2. Sore mouth presenting in the lip corner of a
goat. Source: Susan Schoenian

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Photo 1. Lesions present on an ear. Source: Susan
Schoenian

Photo 3. Orf lesions on a lamb's nose and lips.
Source: Susan Schoenian

University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating

Infected lambs and kids can transmit the virus to
their dams. Due to the subsequent painful teat and/or
udder lesions, dams often do not allow the lamb or kid
to nurse. Furthermore, the infected dams are at risk
of developing mastitis due to a secondary bacterial infection. Lambs and kids may need to be supplemented
to ensure their nutritional needs are being met. Sore
mouth can mimic other vesicular type diseases such
as vesicular stomatitis or foot and mouth disease. If
several animals are affected in the herd or fock, it is
recommended a veterinarian confrm the disease.

Treatment and Prevention
Affected animals should be isolated to prevent
sore mouth spreading through the fock or herd.
Although there is no treatment for the viral infection,
the lesions can be treated with iodine or chlorhexidine
to prevent secondary bacterial infection. It is important to wear gloves when treating sore mouth as it can
be transmitted to humans. If a person suspects they
have been exposed, he or she should seek medical
attention. Once scabs have fallen off, sheep and goats
should be monitored until wounds completely heal to
ensure secondary bacterial infections do not occur.
Vaccines are available for sheep and goats and
may be appropriate in focks or herds having severe
and frequent outbreaks. Vaccines are usually only
recommended for use on farms where the disease has
occurred. Typically, only healthy animals should be
vaccinated, but research studies have shown that in
outbreaks of sore mouth, vaccination may shorten the
course of disease.

The
vaccine is
a live virus
vaccine which
requires extra
precautions.
Gloves should
be worn when
handling the
vaccine. The
scab that falls
off from the
vaccine injection site on the
animal contains a viable
virus which
Photo 4. Lesions present on a teat. Source: Susan
Schoenian
can introduce
sore mouth into your fock or herd. Once the vaccine
has been used on your operation, it may be necessary
to vaccinate yearly to prevent further outbreaks. It is
important to consult with a veterinarian to make a
thorough decision on a sore mouth vaccination protocol.
Good biosecurity practices should be followed to
help with prevention of sore mouth, especially when
introducing new animals into the fock or herd or if
animals are used for exhibition.

Printed by University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Printing Services.

DR. CHELSEY KIMBROUGH is an associate professor - animal
science, located in Little Rock. DR. HEIDI WARD is an assistant
professor - veterinarian, located at the University of Arkansas in
Fayetteville. Both are with the Department of Animal Science of
the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

FSA3156-PD-01-21N

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May
8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of
Arkansas. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services
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