Clinicopathological Features of Contagious Ecthyma-Like Lesions in a Dog

Background: Contagious ecthyma or orf is a poxviral disease of goat and sheep, with incidental infection appearing in humans, cows, camels, and many wild ruminants, and very rarely in dogs. Case description: In the present paper was described gross morphology and histopathology of contagious ecthyma in a dog with a large ulcerated cutaneous mass in the neck (under the collar) which was managed by local surgery. Clinical findings: The mass was solitary, soft, well circumscribed and grey to brown color. Cut surfaces of the mass contained discrete, round without any lobulation and liquefied foci in the centers. Histologically, there were vacuolar degeneration of keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum, marked epidermal proliferation associated with deep epidermal pegs and dermal papilla, and accumulation of scale-crust with ortho- and parakeratotic hyperkeratosis. Dermal lesions included superficial edema, marked capillary dilation, and an influx of neutrophils, followed by a marked accumulation of lymphocytes. It is guessed that the dog was fed with infected carcass. Clinical relevance: As regards the virus has zoonotic potential, it should be given more attention.