Cowpox: reservoir hosts and geographic range.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Wildlife Epidemiology
• Zoonotic Diseases

Background:

• Reservoir hosts for cowpox virus are widely believed to be wild rodents, but definitive evidence is scarce across its geographic distribution.
• Understanding the primary animal reservoirs is crucial for predicting and controlling cowpox virus transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To definitively identify the main wildlife reservoir hosts of cowpox virus in Great Britain.
• To investigate the ecological factors influencing cowpox virus circulation and transmission patterns.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a combination of serological assays and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques.
• Conducted field studies to collect samples from wild rodent populations in Great Britain.

Main Results:

• Conclusively identified bank voles, wood mice, and short-tailed field voles as the primary reservoir hosts in Great Britain.
• Evidence suggests wood mice may require other rodent species for sustained cowpox virus maintenance.
• Observed seasonal fluctuations in wild rodent infections, correlating with human and domestic cat cases.

Conclusions:

• Bank voles, wood mice, and short-tailed field voles are confirmed as key cowpox virus reservoirs in Great Britain.
• The absence of voles in Ireland may explain the lack of cowpox virus presence there.
• Seasonal dynamics of infection in rodent hosts are critical for understanding cowpox virus epidemiology in accidental hosts.