[Properties of an orthopoxvirus strain isolated from camels in Niger]

The VD47 viral strain, isolated from camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Niger possesses camelpoxvirus morphology and characteristic properties: heat sensitive, ether resistant, chloroform and IDU sensitive, with ceiling-temperature 38.5 degrees C. It induces formation of syncytial and retracted cell foci with hemadsorption test positive. No pathogen for mice and very mildly for rabbits, this virus is neutralizable by anti-vaccine serum. The question of camelpoxvirus and camelparapoxvirus pathogenicity for human is discussed by the authors.