Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cowpox: a re-evaluation of the risks of human cowpox based on new epidemiological information

  • Conference paper
Viral Zoonoses and Food of Animal Origin

Summary

Human cowpox is a rare but relatively severe infection of interest because of its links with Edward Jenner and the introduction of smallpox vaccine and, more recently, because of re-evaluation of the epidemiology of the infection. This indicates that cowpox is not enzootic in cattle, relegates the cow to a minor role, and emphasizes the importance of feline cowpox as a source of human infection and of wildlife as virus reservoirs. The evidence available suggests that the virus is of low infectivity for humans and should not become an increasing problem despite the cessation of smallpox vaccination and increasing numbers of immunocompromised individuals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Baxby D (1975) Laboratory characteristics of British and Dutch strains of cowpox virus. Zentralbl Vet Med B22: 480–487

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baxby D (1977) Is cowpox misnamed? a review of ten human cases. Br Med J 1: 1379–1381

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Baxby D (1977) Poxvirus hosts and reservoirs. Arch Virol 55: 169–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Baxby D (1981) Jenner’s smallpox vaccine; the riddle of vaccinia virus and its origin. Heinemann, London

    Google Scholar 

  5. Baxby D (1993) Indications for smallpox vaccine; policies still differ. Vaccine 11: 395–396

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Baxby D (1996) Edward Jenner’s role in the introduction of smallpox vaccination. In: Plotkin S, Fantini B (eds) Vaccinia, vaccination, vaccinology: Jenner, Pasteur and their successors. Elsevier, Paris, pp 59–64

    Google Scholar 

  7. Baxby D, Ashton DG Jones DM, Thomsett LR (1982) An outbreak of cowpox in captive cheetahs; virological and epidemiological studies. J Hyg 89: 365–372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Baxby D, Bennett M (1994) Cowpox virus. In: Webster RG, Granoff A (eds) Encyclopedia of virology. Academic Press, Orlando, pp 261–267

    Google Scholar 

  9. Baxby D, Bennett M, Getty B (1994) Human cowpox; a review based on 54 cases, 1969–1993. Br J Dermatol 131: 598–607

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Baxby D, Ghaboosi B (1977) Laboratory characteristics of poxviruses isolated from captive elements in Germany. J. Gen Virol 37: 407–414

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Baxby D, Shackleton WB, Wheeler J, Turner A (1979) Comparisons of cowpox-like viruses isolated from European zoos. Arch Virol 61: 337–340

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Bennett M, Gaskell CJ, Baxby D, Gaskell RM, Kelly DF, Naidoo J (1990) Feline cowpox virus infection. J Small Anim Pract 31: 167–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bennett M, Gaske RM, Gaskell CJ, Baxby D, Kelly DF (1989) Studies on poxvirus infection in cats. Arch Virol 104: 19–33

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bennet M, Crouch A, Begon M, Duffy B, Feore S, Gaskell RM, Kelly DF, McCracken CM, Vicary L, Baxby D (1997) Cowpox in British voles and mice. J Comp Pathol 116: 35–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Blackford S, Roberts DL, Thomas PD (1993) Cowpox infection causing a generalized eruption in a patient with atopic dermatitis, Br J Dermatol 129: 625–627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Blood DC, Henderson JA (1974) Veterinary medicine, 4th ed. Balliere and Tyndall, London

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bomhard D, Plfeghaar S, Mahnel H (1992) Zur Epidemiologie, Klinik, Pathologie und Virologie der Katzenpocken-Infektion. Kleintierpraxis 37: 219–230

    Google Scholar 

  18. Broom JC (1947) Revaccination in adults. Lancet 1: 364–366

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Churcher PB, Lawton JH (1987) Predation by domestic cats in an English village. J Zool Lond 212: 439–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Cross RM (1961) Observations on the classification and interpretation of reactions to smallpox vaccination. Bull World Health Organ 25: 7–17

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Crouch AC, Baxby D, McCracken CM, Gaskell RM, Bennett M (1995) Serological evidence for the reservoir hosts of cowpox virus in British wildlife. Epidemiol Infect 115: 185–191

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Czerny C-P, Eis-Hübinger AM, Mayr A, Schneweiss KE, Pfeiff B (1991) Animal poxviruses transmitted from cat to man; current event with lethal end. J Vet Med B38: 421–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Downie AW (1939) A study of the lesions produced experimentally by cowpox virus. J Pathol Bacteriol 48: 361–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Esposito JJ, Baxby B, Black D, Dales S, Darai G, Dumbell KR, Granados RR, Joklik WK, McFaddeh G, Moss B, Moyer RW, Pickup DJ, Robinson AJ, Tripathy DN (1995) Poxviruses. In: Murphy FA, Fauquet CM, Bishop DHL, Ghabrial SA, Jarvis AW, Martelli GP, Mayo MA, Summers MD (eds) Virus Taxonomy. Classification and Nomenclature of Viruses. Sixth Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Springer, Wien New York, pp 79–91 (Arch Virol [Suppl] 10)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Fenner F, Henderson DA, Arita I, Jezek Z, Ladnyi ID (1988) Smallpox and its eradication. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  26. Fenner F, Wittek R, Dumbell KR (1989) The orthopoxviruses. Academic Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  27. Galasso GJ, Karzon DT, Katz SL, Krugman S, Neff J, Robbins FC (1977) Clinical and serologic study of four smallpox vaccines comparing variations of dose and route of administration. J Infect Dis 135: 131–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Gehring H, Mahnel H, Mayer H (1972) Elephantenpocken. Zentralbl Vet Med B19: 258–261

    Google Scholar 

  29. Gibbs EPJ, Johnson RH, Collings DH (1973) Cowpox in a diary herd in the United Kingdom. Vet Rec 92: 56–64

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Jenner E (1798) Inquiry into the causes and effects of the variolae vaccinae. Sampson Low, London

    Google Scholar 

  31. Jenner E (1799) Further observations on the variolae vaccinae. Sampson Low, London

    Google Scholar 

  32. Klingebiel T, Vallbracht A, Döller G, Steirhof YD, Gerth HJ, Glasshauser E, Herzau V (1988) A severe human cowpox infection in Germany. Pediatr Infect Dis 7: 883–885

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kubin GO, Kölbl O, Gerstl F (1975) Charakerisierung eines vom Elefanten isolierten Pockenvirusstammes. Wien Tierarztl Monatschr 62: 271–276

    Google Scholar 

  34. Lewis-Jones MS, Baxby D, Cefai C, Hart CA (1993) Cowpox can mimic anthrax. Br J Dermatol 129: 625–627

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Lvov SD, Gromashevskyi VL, Marennikova SS, Bogoyavlenskyi GV, Bajluk FN, Butenko AM, Guschina E, Shelukhina EM, Thukova OA, Morozova T (1988) Poxvirus isolation from Microtus oeconomus Pal 1776 in Colsky peninsula. Vop Virusol 1: 92–94 (Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Maenhout T, Declercq J, de Keuster T, Hoorens (1991) Drie gevallen van koepokken-infektie bij de kat in Belgie. Vlaams Diergeneeskd Tijdschr 60: 64–67

    Google Scholar 

  37. Mahnel H (1991) Katzenpocken in Deutschland Tierarztl Prax 19: 419–422

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Mahnel H, Holejsovsky J, Bartek P, Czerny C-P (1993) Kongenitale ‘Ektromelie’ bei Pelztieren durch Orthopoxvirus muris. Tierärztl Praxis 21: 469–472

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Marennikova SS (1979) Field and experimental studies of poxvirus infections in rodents. Bull World Health Organ 57: 461–464

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Marennikova SS, Maltseva NN, Korneeva VI, Garanina NM (1977) Outbreak of pox disease among Carnivora (Felidae) and Edentata. J Infect Dis 135: 358–366

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Marennikova SS, Shelukhina EM, Efremova EV (1984) New outlook on the biology of cowpox virus. Acta Virol 28: 437–444

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Miller WL, West GP (1970) Black’s veterinary dictionary, 9th ed. Black, London

    Google Scholar 

  43. Motley RJ, Holt PJA (1990) Cowpox presenting with sporotrichoid spread: a case report. Br J Dermatol 122; 705–708

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Munz E, Lickh S, Renner-Müller ICE (1992) Infektionen mit originärem Kuhpo-kenvirus und kuhpockenähnlichen Erregern bei Mensch und Tier: Eine Literaturübersicht. J Vet Med B39: 209–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Naidoo J, Baxby D, Bennett M, Gaskell RM, Gaskell CJ (1992) Characteristics of orthopoxviruses isolated from feline infections in Britain. Arch Virol 125: 261–272

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Nasemann T, Mayr A, Schaeg G, Kimmig W, Mahnel H (1987) Infektion eines Mädchens mit Kuhpockenvirus. Hautarzt 38: 414–418

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Novotny N, Fischer OW, Schilcher F, Schwendenwein I, Loupal G, Schorzmann T, Meyer J, Hermanns W (1994) Pockenvirusinfektionen bei Hauskatzen; klinische, pathohistologische, virologische und epizootiologische Untersuchungen. Wien Tierärztl Monatschr 8: 362–369

    Google Scholar 

  48. Pether JVS, Trevains PH, Harrison SRB, Baxby D, Bennett M (1986) Cowpox from cat to man. Lancet i: 38–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Pilaski J, Rösen A, Darai G (1986) Comparative analysis of the genomes of orthopoxviruses isolated from elephant, rhinoceros, and okapi by restriction enzymes. Arch Virol 88: 135–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Pilaski J, Rösen-Wolff A (1988) Poxvirus infection in zoo-kept mammals. In: Darai G (ed) Virus diseases in laboratory and captive animals. Martinus Nijhoff, Boston, pp 84–100

    Google Scholar 

  51. Postuma BH, Diepersloot RJA, Niessen GJC, Droog RP (1991) Cowpoxvirus-like infection associated with rat bite. Lancet i: 733–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Thomsett LR, Baxby D, Denham EM (1978) Cowpox in the domestic cat. Vet Rec 108: 567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Tsanava SA, Marennikova SS, Sakvarelidze LA, Shelukunia EM (1989) Isolation of cowpox virus from the red-tailed Libyan jird. Vop Virusol 1: 95–97 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  54. Tsanava SA, Sakvarelidze LA, Shelukhina EM (1989) Serologic survey of wild rodents in Georgia for antibodies to orthopoxviruses. Acta Virol 33: 91

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Willemse A, Egberink HF (1985) Transmission of cowpox infection from domestic cat to man. Lancet i: 1–515

    Google Scholar 

  56. Zhukova OA, Tsanava SA, Marennikova SS (1992) Experimental infection of domestic cats by cowpox virus. Acta Virol 36: 329–331

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Zwart P, Gispen R, Peters JC (1970) Cowpox in okapis Okapia johnstoni at Rotterdam zoo. Br Vet J 127: 20–24

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alder Hey Childrens’ Hospital and Department of Medical Microbiology, Liverpool University, Liverpool, UK

    Dr. D. Baxby

  2. Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Liverpool University, Liverpool, UK

    M. Bennett

  3. Department of Medical Microbiology, Liverpool University, L693GA, Liverpool, UK

    Dr. D. Baxby

Authors
  1. Dr. D. Baxby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Bennett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany

    Oskar-Rüger Kaaden , Claus-Peter Czerny  & Werner Eichhorn ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer-Verlag Wien

About this paper

Cite this paper

Baxby, D., Bennett, M. (1997). Cowpox: a re-evaluation of the risks of human cowpox based on new epidemiological information. In: Kaaden, OR., Czerny, CP., Eichhorn, W. (eds) Viral Zoonoses and Food of Animal Origin. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6534-8_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6534-8_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-83014-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-6534-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation