Detection of vaccinia virus DNA, but not infectious virus, in the blood of smallpox vaccine recipients.
The authors of a recent study [Savona MR, Dela Cruz WP, Jones MS, Thornton JA, Xia D, Hadfield TL, et al. Detection of vaccinia DNA in the blood following smallpox vaccination. JAMA 2006; 295:1898-1900] suggested that the duration of deferral for blood donations by smallpox vaccinees should be extended, based on detection of vaccinia virus DNA in five blood samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the potential for viremia. We found that 4 of 202 blood specimens (from 3 of 27 smallpox vaccinees) were positive for vaccinia virus DNA by PCR; none were positive for virus by culture. Throat swabs were negative by PCR and culture. Thus, while some blood specimens contained vaccinia virus DNA, infectious virus was not detected. Current guidelines for deferral of blood donation in vaccinees seem appropriate.
Cohen
Jeffrey I
JI
Medical Virology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. jcohen@niaid.nih.gov
Hohman
Patricia
P
Preuss
Jeanne C
JC
Li
Li
L
Fischer
Steven H
SH
Fedorko
Daniel P
DP
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine