RGD uses the Human Disease Ontology (DO, https://disease-ontology.org/) for disease curation across species. RGD automatically downloads each new release of the ontology on a monthly basis. Some additional terms which are required for RGD's curation purposes but are not currently covered in the official version of DO have been added. As corresponding terms are added to DO, these custom terms are retired and the DO terms substituted in existing annotations and subsequently used for curation.
A viral infectious disease that results in infection located in skin, has_material_basis_in Variola virus, which is transmitted by droplets from oral, nasal or pharyngeal mucosa, transmitted by contact with the body fluids, or transmitted by fomites. The infection results in formation of lesions, first on the face, hands and forearms and later on the trunk. (DO)