HUMAN INFECTION WITH ECTHYMA CONTAGIOSUM, A VIRUS DISORDER OF SHEEP

Abstract

Ecthyma contagiosum, known also as sore mouth and by other names, is a virus infection of sheep and related animals that is worldwide in its distribution. It affects chiefly the lambs and is characterized by herpetic and later ulcerative crusted lesions of the mouth and occasionally of other areas. Because of the loss of weight during an attack and less so because of the mortality, the disorder is of immense economic importance in sheep grazing countries. Vaccination of animals with an attenuated virus has been successful in controlling the infection. Infection of human beings with this virus has been reported from most countries. In the American literature there is only one report, by Schoch.¹ A filtrable virus is the cause of ecthyma contagiosum, and Aynaud²was one of the first to work extensively with the disease. He proved it to be a virus disease transmissible only by inoculation