orf

A specific disease of sheep and goats, caused by the o. virus, family Poxviridae. This virus is transmissible to humans and characterized by vesiculation and ulceration of the infected site. SYN: contagious ecthyma, scabby mouth, soremouth. [O.E. orfcwealm, murrain, fr. o., cattle, + cwealm, destruction]

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open reading frame

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ORF abbr open reading frame

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n.

an infectious disease of sheep and goats caused by a parapoxvirus. Those bottle-feeding infected lambs may develop a painful nodule, 2-3 cm across, on the fingers or hands; it resolves spontaneously.

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open reading frame; see reading frame, under frame.