Cowpox

Test code: S0219 - Ultrasensitive detection of cowpox virus by real time PCR

Cowpox virus is a DNA virus belonging to the family of orthopox viruses, which also includes vaccinia virus, variola virus (which causes smallpox), and at least six other species.

Cowpox virus is distributed mainly in Europe and in adjacent parts of the former Soviet Union. Despite its name, the reservoir hosts of cowpox virus are rodents. This virus can occasionally spread to cats, cows, humans, and zoo animals, including big cats and elephants. Transmission to humans in the past occurred via contact with the infected teats of milking cows. However, infection is currently seen more often among domestic cats, from which it can be transmitted to humans.

When cows are infected with the virus, there is usually an incubation period of 3-7 days. During this period of time, cows may be mildly febrile and papules appear on the teats and udder. Vesicles will form and rupture readily, leaving raw, ulcerated areas that form scabs. Lesions usually heal within 1 month. Milkers may develop fever and lesions on the hands, arms, or face. Occasionally, cowpox in people can cause generalized disease, and fatalities have been recorded.

Cowpox virus is very similar to vaccinia virus. Although both viruses can be readily grown in culture, differentiating the two viruses via culture-based testing is not easy. However, molecular detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is rapid, specific and highly sensitive (Gavrilova et al., 2010), and can be used to specifically identify the virus.

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Identify ASF virus carriers
• Help ensure that herds and animal populations are free of ASF
• Early prevention of spread of the virus among animals
• Minimize human exposure to the virus
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from animals

References:
Gavrilova, E.V., Shcherbakov, D.N., Maksyutov, R.A., Shchelkunov, S.N. (2010) Development of real-time PCR assay for specific detection of cowpox virus. J. Clin. Virol. 49:37-40.

Specimen requirements: 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube, or lesion swab, or scab.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected