Histopathological study of goat pox in a natural outbreak

About fifteen goats were affected in a goat pox outbreak that occurred in the Institute's goat farm. After full clinical course of the disease, all the adult animals recovered while young ones succumbed to infection. Papular lesions on sparse hairy skin including udder and scrotum were invariably developed in all animals. Microscopically, epidermal thickening, hyperplasia, acanthosis, hydropic degeneration of prickle cell layer, microvesiculation and necrotizing vasculitis were observed. Characteristic large intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies were conspicuously noticed in dermal cells.