| Autor: |
Raele DA; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71100 Foggia, Italy., Stoffolano Jr JG Jr; Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA., Vasco I; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71100 Foggia, Italy., Pennuzzi G; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71100 Foggia, Italy., Nardella La Porta MC; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71100 Foggia, Italy., Cafiero MA; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71100 Foggia, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
ORF virus (Poxviridae) is the causative agent of contagious ecthyma (soremouth), a disease primarily affecting sheep and goats worldwide, but also humans exposed to disease-ridden animals. Pathogens are shed with scabs, and infection mainly occurs by direct contact. Although the disease is relatively benign and self-limiting, the morbidity rate is high in livestock with subsequent significant financial and economic impact. The aim of the study was to experimentally investigate the potential for the housefly, Musca domestica , to act as a mechanical vector of the virus. Homogenate of crusted scabs from ORFV-positive sheep (Italy, Apulia) were used to infect laboratory-reared flies. Flies walking on viral mixture and flies inoculated on their wings were individually placed in Falcon tubes and the ORFV DNA was searched by PCR on tube walls; flies were fed on the same homogenized crusts and their crop and spots (vomit and feces) molecularly examined for ORF DNA at 2, 4, and 6 h. All of the flies (100%) used in the experiments were able to pick up and transmit the viral genome to contact surfaces; 60% were found ORF virus (DNA)-positive in both spots and crop. These results suggest that M. domestica could play a role as potential mechanical vector and/or reservoir in the epidemiology of the ORF virus infection. Thus, house fly management should be considered in the measures to control the disease in ovine-caprine farms. |
