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Background: Outbreaks of contagious ecthyma (CE) are frequently reported in sheep and goat flocks in Nigeriawith severe clinical outcomes. CE is a debilitating and economically important disease primarily affecting sheep and goats caused by the Orf virus (ORFV). Despite field reports of CE in the country, there is no concise country-wide epidemiological data on the disease and limited genetic data of circulating Nigerian ORFV are available in the public domain.Aim: An epidemiological survey of CE and molecular characterization of ORFV circulating in Nigeria from 2014 to 2016.Method: Data were collected using designed questionnaires, administered to veterinarians and farmers in selected States of Nigeria. Samples were collected during passive surveillance for CE from 2014 to 2016 which were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The A32L and B2L genes of circulating ORFV were also characterized.Results: Analysis of the questionnaire showed that 69.54% (n = 82/118) of the farmers claimed to have experienced CE in their flocks with average morbidity and mortality rates of 25% and 15%, respectively. A total of 113 veterinarians participated in the study, with 69.9% (n = 79) familiar with CE and claimed CE causes morbidity rates of 25%–37% and mortality rates of 10%–15% in sheep and goats. Laboratory results revealed that ORFV was detected in 72% (18/25) of outbreak samples analyzed by real-time PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of A32L and B2L genes revealed that Nigerian ORFV sequences belong to clusters I and II and are similar to viruses from India, Ethiopia, and China.Conclusions: This study is the first nationwide epidemiological data on the status of CE in sheep and goats in Nigeria. It is also the first report of molecular characterization of two genes of ORFV circulating and causing outbreaks in small ruminants in the country. This study showed that CE is under-reported, widespread and of economic importance to sheep and goat farmers in Nigeria.

Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) induces diseases of economic and veterinary importance leading to significant economic losses to livestock owners such as leather depreciation and mortality when it progresses to neoplasms. BPV affects the spinosum and granulosum layers of the skin causing warts. There are many reportage of BPV infection in domestic animals such as cattle, birds and wild animals such as tapir, giraffe, antelope and zebras. It also causes equine sarcoids in horses and donkeys. Gross lesions seen are mainly benign papillomas which most times regress but occasionally persist and progress to malignancy of the urinary bladder and upper alimentary tract leading to Enzootic haematuria. Equine sarcoids could be of the occult, nodular or verrucous types. Due to the ability to BPV to cause cancers, haematuria and skin pathologies, diagnosis of this infection has attracted huge interests. Diagnostic techniques include clinical examination, histopathology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Southern blot, dot blot, reverse blot, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. All the aforementioned have been very helpful in the diagnosis of BPV. In conclusion, this review focused on the aetiology, viral structure pathogenicity, transmission, macroscopic and microscopic pathology, pathogenesis, immunology, gene products, prevention, treatment and control of this virus in affected animal species.