"JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t" (jawzx2)
04/18/2020 at 15:15 • Filed to: Sheeplopnik, Farmlopnik
2
8|
"JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t" (jawzx2)
04/18/2020 at 15:15 • Filed to: Sheeplopnik, Farmlopnik | 2
| 8 |
One of the most common diseases in sheep is a herpes virus infection called Orf. Much like human oral herpes it is massively prevalent in the general population, and as sheep don’t practice disease hygiene like humans, if one sheep in your flock has it, they all will soon.
Common appearance of an Orf lesion on human skin. My skin :|
Just like human oral herpes it is generally not a big deal. Only immunocompromised individuals really have anything to fear from it, and something else worse is likely to do them in before Orf gets a chance. The most serious common issue is that ewes can get sores on their teats that will make them hurt enough that they wont let their lambs nurse... We then have to intervene and milk them, both to feed their lambs, and to prevent mastitis.
Another view of the offending infection.
Being a herpes virus family disease, Orf is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans. Typically there is a breakout of active Orf sores a few weeks after lambs are born, as stressed, infected adults get breakouts. J ust like cold sores in humans are a result of the normally repressed herpes virus taking advantage of an immune system that is busy elsewhere to spread itself, nursing ewes are sleep deprived, and dedicating lots of metabolic effort to milk production, and the virus is opportunistic. This also assures that new lambs will get it (it is not spread to the lamb until after it comes in contact with the virus outside the womb ) We take caution to avoid Orfy sheep, and I, in particular, ALWAYS wear gloves when interacting with she sheep in Orf season. As humans are not Orf’s preferred host, it usually only infects broken skin.
This year Mrs. BoostAddict caught it, probably from a hay splinter. And it seems my glove wearing has not saved me either :/ I pinched my finger and got a blood blister while handling a sheep feeder, I thought I cleaned it well enough, and wore a bandaid with antibiotic creme over it... But about a week later it become obvious that Orf found a foothold :P
Treating it with Acyclovir, which is an anti-viral commonly prescribed for genital herpes treatment in humans... And other than keeping it clean and covered so it doesn’t spread, that’ s about all I can do. Mrs. BoostAddict's cleared up in about three weeks, hopefully mine does too.
PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
04/18/2020 at 15:40 |
|
I wonder how well LN2 works at killing the virus like a wart?
|
JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
04/18/2020 at 15:46 |
|
Mrs. BoostAddict's doctor actually hit her's with a cryo-treatment, as she was in the office to have it diagnosed, and they had the equipment on hand. I also hit mine with an over the counter wart freeze device, but it's sort of unclear (and there is surprisingly little medical research, given that shepherds have been getting Orf from sheep for centuries) if that has any benefit. It probably doesn't hurt.
facw
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
04/18/2020 at 15:53 |
|
Gross...
But hey grossness happens:
My wrist in January. The bandaid is covering another one that had already bur st. Got a pair of good scars now...
|
JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> facw
04/18/2020 at 15:56 |
|
Ew. Those look unsavory. H ere on the farm we have avery high average grossness quo tient.
DipodomysDeserti
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
04/18/2020 at 19:31 |
|
There’s the whole folklore around milkmaids and herpes viruses. Legend has it milkmaids were known for being so beautiful, because they were inoculated from smallpox by getting cowpox. the legend goes that’s what gave Edward Jenner the idea for vaccines.
LastFirstMI is my name
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
04/18/2020 at 19:46 |
|
Good news- it’s probably not anthrax.
Bad news- it’s a pox virus, which acyclovir doesn’t help with.
Good news- acyclovir is probably the safest prescription medicine on the planet, so no harm done.
Better news- there is an Orf vaccine for sheep and goats, curious to hear what farmers think about it (I grew up in cattle country, and the few lambs we had always ended up as coyote bait)
A goat for your time:
|
JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> LastFirstMI is my name
04/18/2020 at 20:54 |
|
We’re actually having our vet look into the vaccine, apparently there may be different regional strains, and a vaccine for the south west and north west may not work in the north east? That’ s still unclear... Its apparently still pretty new.
|
LastFirstMI is my name
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
04/18/2020 at 22:38 |
|
Confirms my belief that we’ve landed a few sucker punches on infectious diseases, but may not win the war. I am happy I can stump students with my new knowledge of Orf- made my day, thanks!