[Necrotic skin lesions caused by pet rats in two teenagers].

We report 2 observations in young girls who, after exposure to domestic rats from the same pet shop, presented with inflammatory and necrotic skin wounds in the neck and face. Since lesions did not improve with antibiotic therapy, surgical excision of necrosis healed the wounds, with a 2nd intervention necessary in 1 patient. All bacteriological investigations appeared to be negative; finally, electron microscopy of excised subepidermal tissue and PCR characterization provided the diagnosis of cowpox virus (CPXV) infection. CPXV is part of the Orthopox virus genus, like variola virus, and is generally transmitted to humans by infected cats or rodents. CPXV infection should be kept in mind when macular, vesicular, or necrotic cutaneous wounds do not improve with antibiotics.

Mancaux J ，Vervel C ，Bachour N ，Domart Y ，Emond JP ... -  《-》

The Munich outbreak of cutaneous cowpox infection: transmission by infected pet rats.

Vogel S ，Sárdy M ，Glos K ，Korting HC ，Ruzicka T ，Wollenberg A ... -  《-》

Severe ear chondritis due to cowpox virus transmitted by a pet rat.

We describe a case of cowpox virus infection leading to severe acute inflammation and chondritis of the outer ear, complicated by local necrosis and facial cellulitis. Secondary lesions occurred on a finger and the abdomen. Apart from scarring, outcome was favorable after repeated surgical excision of necrotic tissue.

Elsendoorn A ，Agius G ，Le Moal G ，Aajaji F ，Favier AL ，Wierzbicka-Hainault E ，Béraud G ，Flusin O ，Crance JM ，Roblot F ... -  《-》

Localized cowpox infection in a 5-month-old Rottweiler.

Cowpox virus (CPXV) infections are a sporadic cause of localized or disseminated skin disease in domestic animals and humans in Europe. Rodents are considered the primary reservoir host for CPXV. Cats can become infected by close contact with rodents and are the most important source of human infections. Recently, public awareness has also been drawn to CPXV infections by an outbreak of rat to human infections in central Europe. In dogs, CPXV infections are rare. Here we report a case of a 5-month-old Rottweiler with a focal nodule on the muzzle. The lesion was fully excised, and recovery was uneventful. The preliminary diagnosis of a CPXV infection was established by the characteristic inclusion bodies on histopathological examination. The diagnosis was confirmed by electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequencing of the PCR product led to a 231 bp sequence of the orthopoxvirus HA gene that was identical to a CPXV strain previously isolated from a cat. This is the third documented case of a canine CPXV infection.

von Bomhard W ，Mauldin EA ，Breuer W ，Pfleghaar S ，Nitsche A ... -  《-》

[Human cowpox/catpox infection. A potentially unrecognized disease].

Steinborn A ，Essbauer S ，Marsch WCh 《-》