Identification and phylogenetic analysis of an orf virus strain isolated in Anhui Province, East-central China, in 2018.

Orf, also called contagious ecthyma or contagious pustular dermatitis, is a significant zoonotic disease that primarily affects goat and sheep globally. Currently, the infection by orf virus (ORFV) has been observed in different host species worldwide, including China. Here, a suspected outbreak of orf infection in a goat farm in Anhui Province in 2018 was investigated. Through PCR, electron microscopy, and cell culture techniques, we confirmed that the outbreak was caused by ORFV. Consequently, the orf virus strain was named the AH/LA/2018 strain. The amplified and sequenced ORFV011 (B2L) and ORFV059 (F1L) genes were used to construct phylogenetic trees to elucidate the genetic characteristics of the ORFV and the molecular epidemiology of orf. The present study is the first systematic evolution analysis of the ORFV strain isolated in Anhui Province. The results of this study will be helpful to better understand the characteristics of ORFV, to help prevent and control the transmission of ORFV at an early stage in China. Keywords: Anhui Province; goat; orf virus; phylogenetic analysis.