Orthopoxvirus DNA in Eurasian Lynx, Sweden

Tryland, M.; Okeke, M. I.; af Segerstad, C.H.; Morner, T.; Traavik, T.; Ryser-Degiorgis, Marie-Pierre (2011). Orthopoxvirus DNA in Eurasian Lynx, Sweden. Emerging infectious diseases, 17(4), pp. 626-632. Atlanta, Ga.: U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 10.3201/eid1704.091899

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Cowpox virus, which has been used to protect humans against smallpox but may cause severe disease in immunocompromised persons, has reemerged in humans, domestic cats, and other animal species in Europe. Orthopoxvirus (OPV) DNA was detected in tissues (lung, kidney, spleen) in 24 (9%) of 263 free-ranging Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) from Sweden. Thymidine kinase gene amplicon sequences (339 bp) from 21 lynx were all identical to those from cowpox virus isolated from a person in Norway and phylogenetically closer to monkeypox virus than to vaccinia virus and isolates from 2 persons with cowpox virus in Sweden. Prevalence was higher among animals from regions with dense, rather than rural, human populations. Lynx are probably exposed to OPV through predation on small mammal reservoir species. We conclude that OPV is widely distributed in Sweden and may represent a threat to humans. Further studies are needed to verify whether this lynx OPV is cowpox virus.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Center for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI)

UniBE Contributor:

Ryser, Marie Pierre

Subjects:

600 Technology > 630 Agriculture

ISSN:

1080-6040

Publisher:

U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:31

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:10

Publisher DOI:

10.3201/eid1704.091899

Web of Science ID:

000288975300008

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.12087

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/12087 (FactScience: 218366)

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