title: [Human infections caused by vaccinia-like poxviruses in Brazil].
abstract: Since 1999, human infection caused by Orthopoxvirus has been observed in at least eight Brazilian states, with the presence of vesicles that evolve to pustules and crusts, especially on the hands, arms and face, after contact with cows showing comparable lesions on the udder. In addition to the skin lesions, there have been descriptions of patients with axillary ganglionic reactions that are sometimes painful, along with fever, headache, fatigue, dehydration, anorexia, sudoresis, arthralgia and muscle pain. The condition evolves over a three to four-week period. Vulvar lesions and transmission within families have also been described. Molecular studies have shown that the poxviruses identified are genetically related to vaccinia virus samples that were used in vaccination campaigns in the past. Clinical specimens from 80 human infections were studied in the laboratory, and orthopoxvirus infections were confirmed in 68 cases. The lesions observed in these patients are presented and the implications of this zoonosis in Brazil are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Morfologia e Morfogênese Viral, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ. hermann@ioc.focruz.br
authors.forename: Hermann G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Schatzmayr
authors.forename: Renata Vitória Campos
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Márcia Cristina Rosa
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Débora Ferreira
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Valéria Holmo
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: Manuel Enderson Vieira
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Luis Armando Calvão
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brust
authors.forename: Ortrud Monika
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Barth
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure