Isolation and molecular characterization of Orf virus from natural outbreaks in goats of Assam.

Outbreaks of contagious ecthyma (caused by a Parapox virus) in goats were investigated in 6 districts of Assam, a north eastern state of India. Diagnosis of the disease was carried out employing both standard virological as well as molecular methods. Four representative isolates from different places were selected for phylogenetic analysis.