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Khouna A, Bazouti S, Zerrouki N, Omahsan L, Zizi N, Dikhaye S. Multiforme erythema complicating an orf. Our Dermatol Online. 2019;10(1):68-70.

 

 
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Multiforme erythema complicating an orf

Afaf Khouna1, Sabah Bazouti1, Nassiba Zerrouki1, Loubab Omahsan1, Nada Zizi1,2, Siham Dikhaye1,2

1Department of Dermatology, Mohammed VI University Hospital of Oujda, Medical School of Oujda, Mohammed First University of Oujda, Oujda, Morocco, 2Department of Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Public Health Laboratory, Medical School of Oujda, Mohammed First University of Oujda, Oujda, Morocco

Corresponding author: Dr. Afaf Khouna, E-mail: afaf.khouna@gmail.com

Submission: 09.06.2018; Acceptance: 27.07.2018

DOI: 10.7241/ourd.20191.18

ABSTRACT

Orf, also known as ecthyma contagiosum, is a spontaneously zoonotic epitheliotropic skin infection caused by a parapox virus. The disease develops in sheep and goats. The virus can also infect humans who come into contact with active lesions, or with their products. Erythema multiforme is considered to be a rare complication of Orf’s disease. We report the case of a young Moroccan woman, who presented an Orf complicated of multiforme erythema, appeared 8 days after the Feast of Sacrifice, having well heal under symptomatic treatment. Orf is capable of causing epidemics after the Sacrifice Feast in Muslim countries, therefore information on the disease as well as the precautions to be taken, should be provided to groups at risk.

Key words: Orf, Multiforme erythema, Virus sacrifice, Feast animals

INTRODUCTION

Orf, also known as contagiosum ecthyma, is a spontaneously zoonotic epitheliotropic skin infection caused by a parapox virus of the group of DNA viruses. The name of the disease is an Irish word for sheep disease. It develops in sheep and goats generally in spring and summer [1]. Orf virus is usually transmitted through the breaks and abrasions on the skin. Farmers, butchers, sheep shearers and veterinarians are prone to diseas [2]. Multiforme Erythema is often associated with Herpes simplex virus infection or Mycoplasma pneumoniae [3]. It rarely complicates Orf’s disease [4]. We report the case of a young Moroccan woman with multiforme erythema generated by an Orf, appeared few days after the Sacrifice Feast which has well heal under symptomatic treatment.

CASE REPORT

She was a 31-year-old woman, of Moroccan origin, without significant pathological history, who was presented to the emergency department, for acral cutaneous lesions, appeared 8 days after a skin break with a knife used during the Feast of Sacrifice. The patient did not report any recent herpes infection or recent pulmonary symptomatology.

She was stable, apyretic (37.2°). Clinical check has found multiple pseudocockades and some cockades lesions, with 3 concentric areas: an peripheral erythematous disc, a paly middle disc and a central zone sometimes vesicular and sometimes crustal, affecting both hands and feet (Fig. 1). We had also noted the presence of a rounded nodule, purplish- red, well-defined, 1.5 cm long axis, with hard consistency, painful on palpation, on the 2nd phalanx of the 3rd finger of the left hand (Fig. 2).

Figure 1: Clinical image showing feet’spseudocockades.
Figure 2: Clinical image of Orf nodule in the left hand.

The biological assessment revealed an inflammatory syndrome with a slight hyperleucocytosis dominant by PNN, and a CRP at 32g/l. Local care and symptomatic analgesic treatment were prescribed for the patient. The evolution of the cas has been marked by the patient recovering with a total disappearance of the lesions after about twenty days.

DISCUSSION

Orf is not an endemic disease, but it may cause epidemics after the Sacrifice Feast in Muslim countries [1]. It is more common among butchers (24.4%) before the Sacrifice Feast, and among those who slaughter animals (40.5%) after. With a male predominance (30.4%) before the Feast, and femininepredominance (32.7%) after that. The results were consistent in several countries, notably Turkey and Tunisia [5].

The incubation period goes from 3 to 10 days, with single or multiple lesions affecting mainly hands and the face [6]. For humans, the Orf goes through six clinical stages, each lasting nearly a week. The disease begins with the appearance of an erythematous papule that turn to be a nodule ” of target ” type, red in the center and white in the borders, surrounded by a red ring, then the lesion regresses leaving place for a thick crust that develops on the lesion before it disappears without a trace [1]. The diagnosis is clinical, but in some cases the virus isolation, tissue culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be useful, however they still be expensive and not common [6]. In our patient, the appearance of lesions during the Feast of Sacrifice, after contact with a sheep, as well as the typical clinical and evolutionary aspect of the lesion, was sufficient to retain the diagnosis.

Lesions might be complicated by lymphangitis or secondary bacterial infection, but systemic complications such as multiforme erythema and generalized lymphadenopathy are rare [6]. Multiforme Erythema is an acute eruptive syndrome characterized by the acral lesion in the roundel. It is most often associated with Herpes simplex virus infection or Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection [3]. The association of an Orf and an multiforme erythema has rarely been described in the literature. This complication is related to an immune response caused by contagiosum ecthyma [4]. In our case it was a minor multiforme erythema complicating an Orf, having evolved well under symptomatic treatment.

In general, conservative therapy and local antiseptic are recommended to prevent bacterial infection, but cryotherapy or topical cidofovir cream can be used for large lesions. Low-dose of systemic steroids and antihistamines are useful in the treatment of multiforme erythema [6].

CONCLUSION

Orf is a zoonotic viral infection, able of causing epidemics after the Sacrifice Feast in Muslim countries [1].

Therefore, care should be taken when coming into contact with sheep or goats with ecthyma, through the use of gloves and the disinfection of contaminated areas. We believe that more information about the disease, including vaccination and treatment of affected animals should be provided to groups at-risk, such as breeders, as well as to the general population, especially during Sacrifice days [1].

CONSENT

The examination of the patient wasconductedaccording to the Declaration of Helsinki principles.

REFERENCES

1. Saçar H, Uyar B. Investigation of the complications and incidences of orf disease during and after the Feast of the Sacrifice period. Dermatol Sinica. 2015;33:191-5.

2. Tamer F, Yuksel ME. The spectacular presentation of orf disease. Our Dermatol Online. 2018;9:152-3.

3. Saada D, Velasco S, Vabres P, Guillet G. Érythème polymorphe majeur et infection àChlamydia pneumonia E. Ann Dermatol Vénéréol. 2006;133:1001-4.

4. Larquey M, MahéE. Echtyma contagiosum compliquèd’érythéme polymorphe:àpropos d’un case. Arch Pédiatr. 2016;23:1184-90.

5. Khaled A, Robbana F, Hammami H, Kharfi M, El Fekih N, Fazaa B, et al. Orf of the han. Tunis Med. 2009;87:352-3.

6. Biazar T, Shokri M. Erythema Multiforme as a Result of Orf Disease;a Case Report. Emerg (Tehran). 2016;3:163–5.

Notes

Source of Support: Nil

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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