{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:25:56Z","timestamp":1760059556304,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,21]],"date-time":"2025-06-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750464000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Accra Veterinary Laboratory, Ghana"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Viruses"],"abstract":"<jats:p>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.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/v17070875","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,24]],"date-time":"2025-06-24T10:44:41Z","timestamp":1750761881000},"page":"875","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["First Molecular Characterization of Sheep Pox Viruses in Northern Ghana, 2023"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7092-7237","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Theophilus","family":"Odoom","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Accra Veterinary Laboratory, Veterinary Service Directorate, Accra LG-25, Ghana"},{"name":"School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG139, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6126-6994","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Richard Kwamena","family":"Abbiw","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, MR36+W5R, Accra LG-25, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-5410-3728","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"David Livingstone Mawuko","family":"Blavo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Service Department, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Navrongo P.O. Box 25, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0829-5774","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sherry Ama Mawuko","family":"Johnson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG139, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Patrick","family":"Ababio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Accra Veterinary Laboratory, Veterinary Service Directorate, Accra LG-25, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7071-1025","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Spencer","family":"Dugbartey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Service Department, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Navrongo P.O. Box 25, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5983-2088","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Irene K.","family":"Meki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO\/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A1400 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9090-8471","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tirumala B. K.","family":"Settypalli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO\/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A1400 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2776-169X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"William G.","family":"Dundon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO\/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A1400 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1899-7614","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Charles E.","family":"Lamien","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO\/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A1400 Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146085","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gene.2021.146085","article-title":"The complete genome sequence of Indian sheeppox vaccine virus and comparative analysis with other capripoxviruses","volume":"810","author":"Kumar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Gene"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"001849","DOI":"10.1099\/jgv.0.001849","article-title":"ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Poxviridae 2023","volume":"104","author":"McInnes","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Gen. Virol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.15547\/bjvm.984","article-title":"Molecular characterisation of lumpy skin disease virus and sheeppox virus based on P32 gene","volume":"20","author":"Rashid","year":"2017","journal-title":"Bulg. J. Vet. 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