Isolation and molecular characterization of indigenous goatpox virus

Abstract

Goat populations that are contributing to the greater extent to the economy of poor and marginal farmers of India are being threatened by a major devastating disease like Goatpox. The review of literature revealed meagre information on Goatpox and prophylactic vaccines to contain the disease. Hence, a modest attempt has been made to study on Goatpox with regards to epidemiology, isolation, characterization, diagnosis of viral agent and development of candidate vaccine strain. newlineThe seroepidemiological investigations revealed 72 per cent animals were positive for Goatpox. The animals co-habitated with Goatpox affected goats were uninfected. The disease was observed throughout Andhra Pradesh irrespective of breed, age and sex with casefatality rate of 13.3 per cent. newline newline