Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with cowpox virus infection possibly passed to human caretaker
By Herder, Vanessa et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2011·Department of Pathology, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Poxvirus infection in a cat with presumptive human transmission.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat developed severe skin problems, specifically necrotizing facial dermatitis, likely caused by a cowpox virus infection. This infection was confirmed through various tests and was serious enough to affect multiple organs, including the pancreas and liver. The cat's owner also showed signs of infection, indicating that the virus may have been transmitted from the cat to the human. Due to the potential for this virus to spread between animals and humans, it's important for pet owners to be aware of cowpox virus as a possible cause of skin issues in cats.
People also search for: cat skin problems · cowpox virus in cats · cat necrotizing dermatitis · zoonotic infections in pets
Abstract
The present report describes a case of generalized cowpox virus infection with necrotizing facial dermatitis in a cat and a likely transmission to an animal keeper. The viral aetiology was confirmed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, PCR, virus isolation, DNA sequencing and electron microscopy. Histopathological examination of the cat's skin revealed a severe, necrotizing dermatitis with ballooning degeneration and hyperplasia of epithelial cells with pathognomonic cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies. Additionally, at post-mortem examination, a systemic poxvirus infection was detected affecting pancreas, thymus, lymph node, liver and lung. The human patient's skin biopsy revealed an ulcerative dermatitis with epidermal hyperplasia and ballooning degeneration. Serological investigation displayed a high orthopoxvirus-specific antibody titre in the human patient. Environmental factors increase the natural reservoir host population for cowpox viruses, such as voles, which results in a higher risk of infection for cats and subsequently for humans. Due to this zoonotic potential, a cowpox virus infection must be considered as an aetiological differential in cases of necrotizing dermatitis in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21375609/