PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR STUDIES ON SPONTANEOUS GOAT POX DISEASE IN KARNATAKA
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Date
2021-06
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KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR
Abstract
The present study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of goat pox in
Karnataka, India. A total of 177 scab and skin biopsy samples were collected from eight
field outbreaks of goat pox from different parts of Karnataka and four cases from the
abattoir. PCR for P32 gene of goat pox was carried out on scab/ skin biopsy samples to
confirm the disease. In the goat pox field cases, clinical signs, hemato-biochemical
alterations, gross pathology, histopathology, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were
carried out and an attempt was made to study the involvement of internal organs and
systemic spread of infection in goat pox by PCR for various visceral organs. The
occurrence of goat pox by PCR in goats in field outbreaks was 36.16% and 1-2 years
aged goats were affected most. Females were more affected than males. Clinical signs
observed in goats with pox were pyrexia, coughing and painful pock lesions on the body
leading to debilitation. A significant increase in the TLC values and a significant decrease
in the TEC, Hb and HCT were observed in affected goats. There was no significant
change in any of the biochemical parameters. Grossly, goat pox lesions were observed on
the muzzle, lips, nostrils, cheek, eyelids, ears, head and neck. The lesions were also found
on the inner aspect of thigh, tail base, perineum, vulval lips, udder, teats, inguinal region
and scrotum and included papule, vesicle, nodule, scabs and ulcers. Microscopically the
scabs showed hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, acanthosis and degeneration of epithelial
cells with intracytoplasmic inclusions. Gross changes were mild in visceral organs except
lungs with presence of multiple nodular pock lesions surrounded by thick fibrous
connective tissue. Microscopically, hyperplasia of type II pneumocytes and bronchiolar
epithelium and presence of intracytoplasmic inclusions were characteristic in lungs. The
PCR for P32 gene showed positivity in lungs, liver, kidney, intestine, heart along with
scab and biopsy samples indicating systemic spread of the virus. Sequencing and
phylogenetic analysis confirmed the presence of goat pox and homology with other goat
pox virus isolates from other outbreaks.