Serological evidence for the reservoir hosts of cowpox virus in British wildlife

Abstract

The reservoir host of cowpox virus in Western Europe is not known, but epidemiological evidence from human and feline infections indicates that the virus is probably endemic in small wild rodents. Therefore, serum and tissue samples were collected from a variety of wild British mammals and some birds, and tested for evidence of Orthopoxvirus infection. Antibody reacting with cowpox virus was detected in 9/44 (20%) bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), 8/24 (33%) field voles (Microtus agrestis), 17/86 (20%) wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and 1/44 house mice (Mus musculus), but in no other animal species tested. Although virus was not isolated from any animal, this serological survey, together with other evidence, suggests that bank and field voles and wood mice are the main reservoir hosts of cowpox virus in Great Britain.

The Dynamics of Murid Gammaherpesvirus 4 Within Wild, Sympatric Populations of Bank Voles and Wood Mice

“…Sera were separated from blood samples and the presence of IgG antibody to MuHV-4 determined by immunofluorescence assay (IFA), essentially as described for cowpox antibody (Crouch et al, 1995) except using MHV-68-infected Vero cells as antigen. Briefly, Vero cell monolayers in 96-well plates were inoculated with 5-10 plaque-forming units of the MHV-68 strain of MuHV-4, fixed with ethanol after 48 hr incubation, and stored until needed at 4 C. Immunofluorescence assays were done by rehydrating the cells in PBS, and then serial incubations with serum (diluted 1:20 and 1:40) and anti-mouse fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), separated by washing in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), before viewing under UV illumination.…”

When good vaccines go wild: Feral Orthopoxvirus in developing countries and beyond

“…As described above, the possible reservoirs of cowpox are wild rodents and the infection in such hosts varies seasonally [98,[106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114]. This fact could explain the nature of the seasonal incidence of infection in accidental hosts, such as humans and domestic cats.…”

“…In initial reports, the characterization was made only by biological studies, with no molecular analysis. Later, using molecular approaches, the identification and characterization of the virus became more accurate [98,109,[111][112][113][114][115][116]. It is important to emphasize that in eczematous or immunosuppressed individuals, cowpox virus can cause a severe to fatal infection [95,[117][118][119].…”

COMPARATIVE SEROPREVALENCE OFLEPTOSPIRA INTERROGANSIN COLOMBIAN MAMMALS ALONG A CLIMATIC GRADIENT

“…However, direct evidence for the rodents as carriers is lacking for much of the virus's geographic range , Hazel SM, 2000.That wild rodents may be a natural reservoir of cowpox virus has been known for a long time (Marennikova, 1978(Marennikova, , 1984. Through a combination of serology and PCR, cowpox virus was detected in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), field voles ( Microtus agrestis), wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and one hou se mouse ( Mus musculus), but in no other wild animal species including some birds that were tested , Crouch, et al, 1995. In another serological survey, samples were tested from foxes and several other wild species.…”