Uasin Gishu skin disease of horses in Kenya.

Abstract

Materials from 12 horses with a skin condition resembling "Uasin Gishu" skin disease were examined. Electron microscopic study revealed poxvirus from scab and biopsy preparations from 9 horses with typical skin lesions. Virus was also isolated in calf kidney cultures from all these specimens. Virus was not seen or isolated in tissue culture from 3 other horses with non-specific lesions, which were associated with Microsporum gypseum. It therefore seems that Uasin Gishu skin disease is caused by a poxvirus.