Comparison of thymidine kinase and A-type inclusion protein gene sequences from Norwegian and Swedish cowpox virus isolates

Molecular investigation and cultivation of camelpox virus in Iran

Camelpox virus (genus Orthopoxvirus, family Poxviridae) is the etiologic agent of camel pox. The clinical manifestations of this virus range from inapparent infection to mild, moderate and, less commonly, severe systemic infection and death. Following an outbreak of camelpox, samples that were collected from camel flocks suspected to have camelpox in Qom Province in central Iran and Khash city, Sistan and Baluchestan Province and South Khorasan Province in eastern Iran were sent to Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute in Mashhad. DNA extraction was performed primarily by the phenol-chloroform method, and PCR was carried out using a Bioneer kit. Using the primer pair 5'-AAT-ACA-AGG-AGG-ATC-T-3' and 5'-CTT-AAC-TTT-TTC-TTT-CTC-3', the gene sequence encoding the A-type inclusion protein (ATIP) was amplified. The size of the PCR product, specific for camelpox virus, was 881 bp. The PCR product was purified, and to confirm its sequence, it was sent to the reference laboratory. The sequence was subjected to a BLAST search and then phylogenetically analyzed using CLC software. The results showed that all samples were nearly 100 % identical to each other and to strains CMS and M-96. These isolates also had 99 % and 95 % similarity to the CP-1 strain and isolate FIN/T2000, respectively. In Vero cell culture, inoculation with this virus caused a cytopathic effect (CPE), which appeared 2-5 days post-inoculation. Characteristic CPE showing foci of rounded cells, ballooning, giant-cell formation and syncytia with degenerative changes appeared.

A case of facial cellulitis and necrotizing lymphadenitis due to cowpox virus infection

We describe a patient with facial cellulitis/erysipelas due to cowpox virus inoculation in the respiratory epithelium of the nose. A cytopathic agent was isolated in cell culture, and the diagnosis of cowpox was confirmed by electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. The most likely source of infection was exposure to the family cats. In addition to the severe edematous cellulitis of the face, the clinical course was dominated by several areas of subcutaneous, necrotizing lymphadenitis, from one of which a huge abscess formed that had to be incised. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment was provided to prevent development of dermal necrosis. The healing process in the numerous areas of lymphadenitis was markedly protracted, and 1 persisting node (which yielded positive results on polymerase chain reaction) had to be excised 2 years after onset of disease. This is the first reported case of inoculation of cowpox virus in the respiratory mucosa of the nose. It resulted in a clinical course totally different than that for inoculation in the skin. We also present a short review of findings on orthopoxvirus infection that focuses on the chain of transmission.

Inhibitory efficacy of cyclosal-nucleoside monophosphates of aciclovir and brivudin on DNA synthesis of orthopoxvi ruses

Previous studies have shown that cycloSaligenyl-monophosphate (cycloSal-MP) derivatives of aciclovir (ACV), penciclovir (PCV) and brivudin (BVDU) can act as inhibitors of vaccinia virus and cowpox virus replication in vitro. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inhibatory efficacy on DNA synthesis in vaccinia and cowpox viruses of several cycloSal-pro-nucleotides of ACV and BVDU, which have proven activity against pox viruses. Viral DNA was quantified in treated and non-treated virus-infected cells by semi-quantitative PCR on the basis of the haemagglutinin protein gene of orthopoxviruses. As result, an inhibitory efficacy on vaccinia and cowpox virus DNA replication could be demonstrated for 3-methyl-cycloSal-ACVMP, 5-H-cycloSal-ACVMP, 6-chloro-7-ECM-cycloSal-3'-OH-BVDUMP, and 6-chloro-7-methyl-cycloSal-3'-OH-BVDUMP. At concentrations of 32-128 mg/ml, 3-methyl-cyc/oSal-ACVMP and 6-chloro-7-ECM-cycloSal-3'OH-BVDUMP inhibited synthesis of viral DNA to a similar extent as the well-known inhibitors of pox viruses, cidofovir and 5-iodo-dUrd (deoxyuridine). When concentrations of 128 mg/ml were administered, both test substances diminished the amount of viral genome copies by > or =4 log10 corresponding to > or =99.99% reduction. In conclusion, selected cycloSal-pro-nucleotide derivatives of ACV and BVDU can inhibit orthopoxviral DNA synthesis. The high inhibitory efficacy on both replication of viral DNA and infectious viral particles in cell cultures makes these compounds promising candidates for in vivo experiments.