Horse-pox

Horse pox is a benign disease characterized by the typical pox lesions on the lower limbs or around the muzzle and buccal mucosa. This is a rare disease, caused by a DNA virus of genus Orthopoxvirus belonging to the family Poxviridae.

Clinical signs: Typical pox lesions develop in leg form or buccal form. In the legs, nodules, vesicles, pustules, and scab develop in sequential manner on the back of pastern and cause pain and lameness. In the buccal form, similar lesions appear on lips and spread to entire mouth and sometimes to the pharynx, larynx, and nostril. There is painful stomatitis with salivation and anorexia. On account of the lesions in the mouth, conspicuous swellings develop in the regional lymph glands.