Question:
A small stock farmer asked advice about her lambs with growths around their mouths.
Answer:
Scabby mouth (vuilbek in Afrikaans) or orf is a condition where a virus causes warts on the lips of lambs and kids. The infection is usually combined with a bacterial infection caused by the Dermatophilus bacteria. This is the same bacteria that cause lumpy wool infection and skin infections in cattle, goats and horses where the rainfall is high and animals are kraaled daily.
Orf transmits between lambs and it can also cause warts on the teats of the ewes. In some cases the warts form inside the lamb’s mouth. In rare cases the lesions also occur on the feet of the lambs – this is known as strawberry foot rot.
Antibiotics are not effective against orf virus.
The orf virus can also cause painful infections in humans, usually on the hands of sheep handlers. Gloves should be worn when working with cases of scabby mouth.
A vaccine against orf is available or it can be prepared by your vet. It contributes to healing and can prevent the spread if scabby mouth.
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Treatment
There is no vaccine for the Dermatophilus bacteria and it is necessary to treat the infection with a disinfectant such as Povidone Iodine spray.
A practical way of treating scabby mouth is to rub the crusts and warts with the coarse side of a kitchen sponge that has been dipped in povidone iodine (For example, Woundine from your vet, Oberdine from the coop, or Betadine from the chemist). If you don’t have a sponge, you can also use a mesh bag (like the bags oranges are sold in). You need to rub the scabs until it bleeds.
The lamb will then form antibodies against the orf virus and the povidone-iodine on the sponge will stop the Dermatophilus bacteria.
After rubbing the lips, you should spray some more povidone iodine on the lips, teats and feet.
99% of lambs and kids heal up after one treatment.
It is important that lambs and ewes are treated in the winter with vitamin A to help protect against skin infections such as scabby mouth, lumpy wool disease and strawberry foot rot.
Do you have a question for a veterinarian? WhatsApp us on 064 6017 465 or email us at online@africanfarming.com.
Dr Johan van Rooyen is a specialist veterinarian working from the Steynsburg Animal Hospital in the Eastern Cape. Wandile Khave is the herd health manager at the Steynsburg Animal Hospital.
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