Pseudocowpox (aka paravaccinia virus)

Test code: S0220 - Ultrasensitive detection of pseudocowpox virus by real time PCR

Pseudocowpox virus is a parapoxvirus also known as "paravaccinia." It belongs to the family Poxviridae. The virus is widespread worldwide and is related to the viruses that cause contagious ecthyma and bovine papular stomatitis. The parapoxviruses differ morphologically from vaccinia virus and other poxviruses. They have a limited host range and cannot be propagated in fertile eggs; they will grow in some cell cultures, although relatively poorly.

Pseudocowpox virus causes a viral skin disease that results in mild sores on the teats and udders of cattle. At the beginning stage of infection, cows will develop small red papules on the teats or udder. These may be followed rapidly by scabbing or by small vesicles. Pustules may develop before scabs form. Scabs may be abundant but can be removed without causing pain. Granulation occurs beneath the scabs, resulting in a raised lesion that heals from the center and leaves a characteristic horseshoe or circular ring of small scabs. Some lesions persist for several months, giving the affected teats a rough feel and appearance, and more scabs may form. This virus can also infect humans and the condition is commonly referred to as “milker’s nodule."

Because this virus is very similar to other parapoxviruses in term of antigenicity and growth characteristics, identification is usually confirmed by molecular detection via PCR, which is rapid, sensitive and specific (Zhao et al., 2013).

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Help identify pseudocowpox virus carriers
• Help ensure that herds and populations are free of pseudocowpox
• Early prevention of spread of the virus among animals
• Minimize human exposure to the virus
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from animals

References:
Zhao, H., Wilkins, K., Damon, I.K. and Li, Y. (2013) Specific qPCR assays for the detection of orf virus, pseudocowpox virus and bovine papular stomatitis virus. J. Virol. Methods. 194:229-234.

Specimen requirements: 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube, or lesion swab, or scab.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected