Sheep and goat rearing in India is regarded as a hereditary occupation of the rural poor. Sheep and goat pox are severe diseases which can cause high mortalities and production losses in susceptible animals, but the full extent of economic losses in India is difficult to estimate since recording systems are poor and epidemiological data limited. Australia has never had an outbreak of sheep and goat pox, however, there is a need for Australia to develop and validate virus detection and serological tests for surveillance purposes. This small project aims to define the status and economic impact of sheep and goat pox in the state of Maharashtra, to develop and evaluate laboratory tests for sheep and goat pox viruses, and to collect and characterise Indian isolates of sheep and goat pox viruses as a basis for future vaccine development projects.