A Case Report of Orf Disease in a Greek Island: Diagnostic Tests or Interventions are not Necessary with Scientific Explanation

The Orf disease, also known as contagious ecthyma, is a zoonotic infection caused by a
dermatotropic parapoxvirus that commonly infects small ruminants such as sheep and goats. It is
transmitted to humans through contact with an infected animal or fomites. Human infection typically is
associated with occupational animal contact. We resently treated a healthy 41-year-old woman who
presented a hangnail lesion on the middle finger of her right hand. The lesion was hard cauliflowerlike
mass, granulomatous and painful. Surgical debridement and biopsy were performed for further
investigation. The Orf disease is usually self-limiting and resolves in 6 – 10 weeks, but complications
may occur. The diagnosis may be confirmed by electron microscopy, conventional histopathology or
by isolation of the virus by PCR. Early clinical recognition and knowledge of this benign viral condition
are vital to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention.