Gross Pathological Survey of Ovine Pox Lesions in Sheep in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria

Sheep pox caused by Sheep Pox Virus (SPPV), a member of the Capripoxvirus genus, is a serious and notifiable disease of small ruminants causing considerable mortality and production losses in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. This survey investigated the gross pathological manifestations of sheep pox during a field outbreak in selected local government areas of Bauchi State in 2023. Clinically affected sheep showing characteristic skin eruptions, nasal discharge, lacrimation, and generalised weakness were examined on-farm and at the Bauchi State Animal Health Centre. Forty-five sheep with confirmed sheep pox based on clinical and epidemiological criteria were subjected to thorough clinical and post-mortem examination. Gross findings in deceased animals included generalised papular to vesicular eruptions involving the skin of the head, axilla, groin, perineum, and inner thighs, progression to macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and scabs. Internal lesions included multifocal grey-white nodules in the lungs, abomasal pock lesions, and haemorrhagic tracheitis. The study documented a case fatality rate of 35.6 percent, predominantly affecting lambs under three months. These findings align with contemporary documentation of sheep pox pathology in the Sahel Belt of West Africa. Emergency vaccination, movement restrictions, and community animal health education are recommended as immediate outbreak response measures. Keywords: sheep pox, capripoxvirus, gross pathology, Bauchi, outbreak