cowpox virus

Epidemiology

• transmitted by contact with infected animals (cats)

Pathology

• causes skin disease, similar to but much milder than smallpox
• infection & recovery from cowpox confers immunity to smallpox

Clinical manifestations

• initially a pustule, evolving into a necrotic ulceration with a black eschar. 2 cm (case report)
• surrounding erythema
• regional lymphadenopathy

* images

Laboratory

• swab specimen for orthopoxvirus DNA

Management

• no specific treatment

Notes

• originally transmitted when dairymaids touched the udders of infected cows
• used to perform the first successful vaccination against smallpox

More general terms

• poxviridae