Orf: Contagious pustular dermatitis

Orf is an occupational disease of the skin that is typically found in people who either raise sheep or goats or are involved with various products derived from such animals. It is also known as contagious pustular dermatitis, contagious ovine ecthyma and scabby mouth. An enzootic infection caused by a parapox-virus, orf is often misdiagnosed because clinicians are unaware of the condition or fail to take a complete history of occupational or animal exposure. We describe some of the salient clinical features that can heighten the awareness of diagnosticians faced with weeping eschar-type lesions.