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Animal poxviruses transmitted from cat to man: current event with lethal end
C P Czerny1, A M Eis-Hübinger, A Mayr
1Institute of Medical Microbiology, Infectious- and Epidemic Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich.
Summary
An 18-year-old immunosuppressed man contracted a novel orthopox virus (OPV) from a cat. This rare feline-to-human transmission resulted in a severe, generalized poxvirus disease, leading to a fatal outcome.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Dermatology
Background:
- An 18-year-old male with severe eczema and asthma, who was immunosuppressed, presented with a severe poxvirus infection.
- The patient had no history of smallpox vaccination, increasing susceptibility to novel viral pathogens.
Observation:
- The patient developed a generalized, confluent poxvirus exanthema with hemorrhagic pustules and central necrosis, clinically resembling "variola pustulosa haemorrhagica."
- Epidemiological, virological, and serological investigations confirmed a cat-to-human transmission of the orthopox virus (OPV).
Findings:
- The isolated OPV was differentiated from variola, vaccinia, and monkeypox viruses, classifying it within the "cowpox-like virus" group.
- Experimental reproduction of the hemorrhagic pox lesions with central necrosis was achieved on rabbit skin and chorioallantois membranes.
- The patient succumbed to a lung embolism during intensive medical treatment for the disseminated poxvirus infection.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for zoonotic transmission of OPVs from felines to immunocompromised humans, leading to severe disease.
- The findings underscore the importance of identifying and characterizing novel OPVs for understanding their environmental significance and public health risks.
- Further research into cowpox-like viruses is crucial for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against emerging zoonotic viral infections.