Location and Spread of Orf Virus Antigen in Infected Ovine Skin.

Abstract- Studies of the distribution of orf antigen in ovine skin following scarification and infection indicate that the virus does not immediately replicate in the damaged epithelium; antigen first appears immediately under the stratum corneum at the centre of a newly-formed epidermis which develops to cover the wound. It now seems likely that the virus initially infects the cells of the stratum basale at the margins of the wound and is transferred to the daughter cells which traverse across the exposed dermis to form the basis of the new epidermis. Replication appears to begin during differentiation of the new epidermis at a stage which has still to be identified.

The Pathological Changes and Polymorphonuclear and Mast Cell Responses in the Skin of Specific Pathogen-free Lambs Following Primary and Secondary Challenge with Orf Virus.

Abstract- The primary and secondary responses in the skin of specific pathogen free (SPF) lambs to scarification and orf virus infection were studied and the temporal changes in numbers of dermal polymorphonuclear and mast cells were examined. The clinical and histopathological changes after primary infection were similar to those previously described after secondary infection although there was a more severe reaction and an increased timescale. It is concluded that relevant data on the cellular processes involved in the host response to orf virus can be obtained from previously infected animals.

The Polymorphonuclear and Mast Cell Responses in Ovine Skin Infected with Orf Virus.

Abstract- Histological examination and quantification of some of the cell types during the first 120h of orf virus infection of scarified skin indicated that the main polymorphonuclear cell involved during early viral replication is the neutrophil, although the accumulation of this cell type also occurred in response to the initial trauma. Orf virus infection had no appreciable influence on the relatively low eosinophil population in the dermis but induced a basophil response which followed the appearance of viral antigen in the epidermis and was greatest at the periphery of the lesion. The number of cutaneous mast cells was not significantly affected by scarification and infection.