In vitro isolation and characterization of a calicivirus causing a vesicular disease of the hands and feet.
We report that a calicivirus of oceanic origin, San Miguel sea lion virus serotype 5 (SMSV-5), is a human pathogen. This biotype was isolated originally from blisters on the flippers of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and replicates readily in primate and human cell lines. It infects a phylogenetically diverse array of hosts (poikilotherms to primates) and induces type-specific neutralizing antibodies in exposed humans. Group antibody against a pooled antigen of SMSV-5 and two other serotypes was also observed in 18% of 300 blood donors from a population in the northwestern United States. The human calicivirus isolate designated SMSV-5 Homosapien-1 (SMSV-5 Hom-1) was recovered from a laboratory worker with systemic illness, including vesicular lesions on all four extremities. We believe this newly described human disease represents a paradigmatic shift in calicivirus disease recognition.
Smith
A W
AW
College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory for Calicivirus Studies, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331, USA.
Berry
E S
ES
Skilling
D E
DE
Barlough
J E
JE
Poet
S E
SE
Berke
T
T
Mead
J
J
Matson
D O
DO
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006225:Hand / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D046048:Seals, Earless
D004279:DNA, Viral