Özet:
Human orf is a viral zoonotic infection caused by Parapoxvirus. The skin lesions of human orf can be misdiagnosed
as cutaneous anthrax leading to overtreatment and also fear. This study was conducted to analyze an outbreak which
led to deaths among kids and lambs in the same flock, and skin lesions in some persons who were living on the same
farm that were initially diagnosed as cutaneous anthrax by a practitioner. Eight patients with skin lesions and eleven
persons who had no skin lesion were considered as patients and control groups, respectively. The cultures obtained
from the lesions of all patients were negative for Bacillus anthracis. The diagnosis of skin lesions was done by clinical
findings, histopathological examination and PCR as human orf. To be under 20 years of age, direct contact with
the animals, and contact with flayed skin of sick animals were the risk factors for human orf (Odds Ratio 7.5; 95%
Confidence Interval 1.02-54.54, OR 12.25; 95% CI:1.3-100.9, OR 16.67; 95% CI:1.65-148.20, respectively). Orf should
be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions resembling anthrax. For control and prevention of orf,
transmission routes should be known; good hand hygiene and other personal protective measures have to be implemented.
