First Molecular Characterization of Sheep Pox Viruses in Northern Ghana, 2023

Theophilus Odoom; Richard Kwamena Abbiw; David Livingstone Mawuko Blavo; Sherry Ama Mawuko Johnson; Patrick Ababio; Spencer Dugbartey; Irene K. Meki; Tirumala B.K. Settypalli; William G. Dundon; Charles E. Lamien

doi:10.3390/v17070875

First Molecular Characterization of Sheep Pox Viruses in Northern Ghana, 2023

Theophilus Odoom, Richard Kwamena Abbiw, David Livingstone Mawuko Blavo, Sherry Ama Mawuko Johnson, Patrick Ababio, Spencer Dugbartey, Irene K. Meki, Tirumala B.K. Settypalli, William G. Dundon, Charles E. Lamien

Department of Veterinary Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Sheep pox (SP) is a contagious viral disease affecting sheep, characterized by fever, respiratory distress, hypogalactia, and skin lesions. In response to a series of outbreaks of pox-like lesions with morbidity (75%) and mortality (37%) rates among sheep in the Upper East Region of Ghana, nasal samples were obtained from affected sheep for diagnosis and characterization. The DNA extracted from these samples was tested using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Positive samples were subjected to further analysis for poxvirus marker genes using conventional PCR. Positive amplicons were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was conducted. The characterization and comparison of RPO30, GPCR, EEV glycoprotein, and B22R genes with other isolates demonstrated a close genetic relationship with sheep poxviruses (SPVs) identified in other African and Asian countries. This study represents the first comprehensive characterization of SPV in Ghana, and the data generated will be of significant interest to national and regional veterinary authorities.

Original language	English
Article number	875
Journal	Viruses
Volume	17
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/v17070875
Publication status	Published - Jul 2025

Keywords

Ghana
outbreak
phylogenetic analysis
samples
sheep pox virus

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3390/v17070875

Cite this

@article{6dd5458dd7bb4c50954164578668287e,

title = "First Molecular Characterization of Sheep Pox Viruses in Northern Ghana, 2023",

abstract = "Sheep pox (SP) is a contagious viral disease affecting sheep, characterized by fever, respiratory distress, hypogalactia, and skin lesions. In response to a series of outbreaks of pox-like lesions with morbidity (75\%) and mortality (37\%) rates among sheep in the Upper East Region of Ghana, nasal samples were obtained from affected sheep for diagnosis and characterization. The DNA extracted from these samples was tested using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Positive samples were subjected to further analysis for poxvirus marker genes using conventional PCR. Positive amplicons were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was conducted. The characterization and comparison of RPO30, GPCR, EEV glycoprotein, and B22R genes with other isolates demonstrated a close genetic relationship with sheep poxviruses (SPVs) identified in other African and Asian countries. This study represents the first comprehensive characterization of SPV in Ghana, and the data generated will be of significant interest to national and regional veterinary authorities.",

keywords = "Ghana, outbreak, phylogenetic analysis, samples, sheep pox virus",

author = "Theophilus Odoom and Abbiw, \{Richard Kwamena\} and Blavo, \{David Livingstone Mawuko\} and Johnson, \{Sherry Ama Mawuko\} and Patrick Ababio and Spencer Dugbartey and Meki, \{Irene K.\} and Settypalli, \{Tirumala B.K.\} and Dundon, \{William G.\} and Lamien, \{Charles E.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 by the authors.",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

doi = "10.3390/v17070875",

language = "English",

volume = "17",

journal = "Viruses",

issn = "1999-4915",

publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",

number = "7",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - First Molecular Characterization of Sheep Pox Viruses in Northern Ghana, 2023

AU - Odoom, Theophilus

AU - Abbiw, Richard Kwamena

AU - Blavo, David Livingstone Mawuko

AU - Johnson, Sherry Ama Mawuko

AU - Ababio, Patrick

AU - Dugbartey, Spencer

AU - Meki, Irene K.

AU - Settypalli, Tirumala B.K.

AU - Dundon, William G.

AU - Lamien, Charles E.

PY - 2025/7

Y1 - 2025/7

N2 - Sheep pox (SP) is a contagious viral disease affecting sheep, characterized by fever, respiratory distress, hypogalactia, and skin lesions. In response to a series of outbreaks of pox-like lesions with morbidity (75%) and mortality (37%) rates among sheep in the Upper East Region of Ghana, nasal samples were obtained from affected sheep for diagnosis and characterization. The DNA extracted from these samples was tested using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Positive samples were subjected to further analysis for poxvirus marker genes using conventional PCR. Positive amplicons were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was conducted. The characterization and comparison of RPO30, GPCR, EEV glycoprotein, and B22R genes with other isolates demonstrated a close genetic relationship with sheep poxviruses (SPVs) identified in other African and Asian countries. This study represents the first comprehensive characterization of SPV in Ghana, and the data generated will be of significant interest to national and regional veterinary authorities.

AB - Sheep pox (SP) is a contagious viral disease affecting sheep, characterized by fever, respiratory distress, hypogalactia, and skin lesions. In response to a series of outbreaks of pox-like lesions with morbidity (75%) and mortality (37%) rates among sheep in the Upper East Region of Ghana, nasal samples were obtained from affected sheep for diagnosis and characterization. The DNA extracted from these samples was tested using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Positive samples were subjected to further analysis for poxvirus marker genes using conventional PCR. Positive amplicons were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was conducted. The characterization and comparison of RPO30, GPCR, EEV glycoprotein, and B22R genes with other isolates demonstrated a close genetic relationship with sheep poxviruses (SPVs) identified in other African and Asian countries. This study represents the first comprehensive characterization of SPV in Ghana, and the data generated will be of significant interest to national and regional veterinary authorities.

KW - Ghana

KW - outbreak

KW - phylogenetic analysis

KW - samples

KW - sheep pox virus

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011873671

U2 - 10.3390/v17070875

DO - 10.3390/v17070875

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105011873671

SN - 1999-4915

VL - 17

JO - Viruses

JF - Viruses

IS - 7

M1 - 875

ER -

First Molecular Characterization of Sheep Pox Viruses in Northern Ghana, 2023

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this