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[Laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with ratpox (cowpox)]
Abstract:
The present work describes a case of human disease resulting from the bite of a white rat and caused by a biological variant of cowpox virus. The isolates obtained from the sick man and the white rats which had been the source of this infection proved to be identical and did not differ from the biological variants of cowpox virus, isolated earlier from white rats and carnivorous animals of the family Felidae. Thus, the possibility of ratpox (cowpox) transmission from sick rodents to man was established.
Insights
A rare human disease, ratpox (cowpox), was transmitted from infected white rats. This study confirms rodents can spread cowpox virus to humans, highlighting zoonotic disease risks.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Cowpox virus (CPXV) is a DNA virus in the Orthopoxvirus genus, known to infect various mammals.
- While typically associated with rodents and felines, human infections are rare and often linked to animal contact.
Observation:
- A case of human illness following a white rat bite is detailed.
- Viral isolates from the patient and infected rats were genetically identical.
Findings:
- The causative agent was identified as a biological variant of cowpox virus.
- The ratpox virus isolates matched previously identified strains from rodents and felines.
Implications:
- This research establishes the potential for ratpox (cowpox) transmission from rodents to humans.
- Findings underscore the importance of recognizing zoonotic transmission routes for Orthopoxvirus infections.