Immune Response, Gene sequence to Contagious Ecthyma Virus (Orfv) Infected Lambs in Diyala Governorate, Iraq

Contagious ecyhyma Known (Orf, contagious pustular dermatitis, sore mouth, scabby mouth) a disease spreads easily and brought by the epitheliotropic. It’s endemic around the world and has a serious economic impact. This study aimed to understand the immune response mechanisms of the lambs to defense against Contagious ecthyma virus and molecular detection of the virus with the determining the sequence and mutant of the viral genome to 91 lambs (41 has clinical signs of Orfv and 50 control do not have clinical sign of Orfv) for the period extended from September 2022 to April 2023. Blood samples were collected from all above groups to apply for detection the level of IgM, IgG, IL-10, and IFN-γ of Orfv by ELISA test. Positive Orfv IgM was 75.6% infected lamb and 72% none infected, and positive Orfv IgG was 90.2% infected lamb and 88% none infected. The result was showed the level of IL-10 a significant increasing, in all Lambs positive IgM and IgG compared with control group. IFN-γ level showed non significant differences between all Lambs positive IgM and IgG compared with control group. Molecular detection of Orfv result was confirmed the positivity of all samples positive Orfv IgM. And the sequencing of the Orfv DNA showed a mutant in the some Allel compared with References strain registered at NCBI. Concluded: high prevalence of Orfv among lambs and happened mutants to the viral genome increased the virus’s virulence by affecting the immune response