sheeppox

sheeppox

a highly contagious, generalized disease of sheep caused by a poxvirus in the genus Capripoxvirus and characterized by the presence of typical pox lesions on the unwoolled skin, especially under the tail. Most recover. A much more lethal, generalized disease that resembles smallpox in its pathogenicity occurs in lambs with many dying and showing lesions in the bowel and respiratory system. A number of isolates have distinctive geographic distribution, but are indistinguishable serologically. These include Kenya and Middle East strains.