Fatal Cowpox Virus Infection in an Aborted Foal.
Abstract: The article describes the isolation of a cowpox virus (CPXV) isolate originating from a horse. The skin of a foal, aborted in the third trimester, displayed numerous cutaneous papules. The histological examination showed A-type inclusion bodies within the lesion, typical for CPXV infections. This suspicion was confirmed by real-time PCR where various organs were analyzed. From skin samples, virus isolation was successfully performed. Afterwards, the whole genome of this new isolate "CPXV Amadeus" was sequenced by next-generation technology. Phylogenetic analysis clearly showed that "CPXV Amadeus" belongs to the "CPXV-like 1" clade. To our opinion, the study provides important additional information on rare accidental CPXV infections. From the natural hosts, the voles, species such as rats, cats, or different zoo animals are occasionally infected, but until now only two horse cases are described. In addition, there are new insights toward congenital CPXV infections.
Publication Date: 2016-05-09 PubMed ID: 27159333DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1932Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research is about the discovery of a cowpox virus strain, named “CPXV Amadeus”, in an aborted foal, which enhances our understanding of rare accidental cowpox infections in animals other than the natural host, voles.
Findings on the Foal and Initial Diagnosis
- The foal that was focused on in the study had shown numerous cutaneous papules on its skin when it was aborted in its third trimester.
- A histological examination allowed researchers to discover A-type inclusion bodies within these lesions which are typical of cowpox virus (CPXV) infections.
Confirmation and Virus Isolation
- Scientists confirmed their suspicion of a CPXV infection through real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, during which they analysed various organs of the foal.
- From skin samples taken from the foal, they were able to successfully isolate the virus.
Genome Sequencing and Phylogenetic Analysis
- To obtain more detailed information on the virus, scientists then sequenced the whole genome of the isolate, which they named “CPXV Amadeus”, using next-generation technology.
- Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the sequenced genome which clearly indicated that “CPXV Amadeus” belongs to the “CPXV-like 1” clade.
Implication and Impact of the Study
- This study provides crucial additional data on the infrequent accidental CPXV infections that occur in animals, including those species other than the natural hosts, voles, such as rats, cats or various zoo animals.
- This is particularly significant as, up until now, only two horse cases have been described in literature.
- The research also produces new insights into congenital CPXV infections.
Cite This Article
APA
Franke A, Kershaw O, Jenckel M, König L, Beer M, Hoffmann B, Hoffmann D.
(2016).
Fatal Cowpox Virus Infection in an Aborted Foal.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 16(6), 431-433.
https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2015.1932 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1 Institute of Diagnostic Virology , Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany .
- 2 Department of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin, Germany .
- 1 Institute of Diagnostic Virology , Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany .
- 2 Department of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin, Germany .
- 1 Institute of Diagnostic Virology , Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany .
- 1 Institute of Diagnostic Virology , Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany .
- 1 Institute of Diagnostic Virology , Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany .
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary
- Animals
- Cowpox / pathology
- Cowpox / veterinary
- Cowpox / virology
- Cowpox virus / genetics
- Cowpox virus / isolation & purification
- Fatal Outcome
- Fetus / virology
- Genome, Viral
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Phylogeny
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Bruneau RC, Tazi L, Rothenburg S. Cowpox Viruses: A Zoo Full of Viral Diversity and Lurking Threats. Biomolecules 2023 Feb 8;13(2).
- MacNeill AL. Comparative Pathology of Zoonotic Orthopoxviruses. Pathogens 2022 Aug 9;11(8).
- Rosone F, Sala MG, Cardeti G, Rombolà P, Cittadini M, Carnio A, Giordani R, Scicluna MT. Sero-Epidemiological Survey of Orthopoxvirus in Stray Cats and in Different Domestic, Wild and Exotic Animal Species of Central Italy. Viruses 2021 Oct 19;13(10).
- Silva NIO, de Oliveira JS, Kroon EG, Trindade GS, Drumond BP. Here, There, and Everywhere: The Wide Host Range and Geographic Distribution of Zoonotic Orthopoxviruses. Viruses 2020 Dec 30;13(1).
- Ehmann R, Brandes K, Antwerpen M, Walter M, V Schlippenbach K, Stegmaier E, Essbauer S, Bugert J, Teifke JP, Meyer H. Molecular and genomic characterization of a novel equine molluscum contagiosum-like virus. J Gen Virol 2021 Mar;102(3).
- Prkno A, Hoffmann D, Goerigk D, Kaiser M, van Maanen ACF, Jeske K, Jenckel M, Pfaff F, Vahlenkamp TW, Beer M, Ulrich RG, Starke A, Pfeffer M. Epidemiological Investigations of Four Cowpox Virus Outbreaks in Alpaca Herds, Germany. Viruses 2017 Nov 18;9(11).
- Franke A, Pfaff F, Jenckel M, Hoffmann B, Höper D, Antwerpen M, Meyer H, Beer M, Hoffmann D. Classification of Cowpox Viruses into Several Distinct Clades and Identification of a Novel Lineage. Viruses 2017 Jun 10;9(6).
- Mauldin MR, Antwerpen M, Emerson GL, Li Y, Zoeller G, Carroll DS, Meyer H. Cowpox virus: What's in a Name?. Viruses 2017 May 9;9(5).
- Yang CH, Song AL, Qiu Y, Ge XY. Cross-species transmission and host range genes in poxviruses. Virol Sin 2024 Apr;39(2):177-193.
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