Rat-to-human transmission of Cowpox infection.
We isolated Cowpox virus (CPXV) from the ulcerative eyelid lesions of a 14-year-old girl, who had cared for a clinically ill wild rat that later died. CPXV isolated from the rat (Rattus norvegicus) showed complete homology with the girl's virus. Our case is the first proven rat-to-human transmission of cowpox.
Wolfs
Tom F W
TF
Wihelmina Children's Hospital/University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands. t.wolfs@wkz.azu.nl
Wagenaar
Jaap A
JA
Niesters
Hubert G M
HG
Osterhaus
Albert D M E
AD
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D015605:Cowpox / Q000635:transmission*; D015608:Cowpox virus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats