Catpox virus: a novel member of Orthopoxvirus genus?

• Sergey V. Borisevich
• Tatyana E. Sizikova
• Vitaliy N. Lebedev

Abstract

The biological and genetically characteristics of novel orthopoxvirus, the agent of catpox, are viewed in this review. The histological study showed, that novel virus induced skin lesion, characterized by leukocyte infiltration and eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions.

The phylogenetic analysis of 9 genes showed that this novel orthopoxvirus was more closely related to ectromelia virus, distantly related to cowpox virus, and belong to same cluster of orthopoxvirus as Abatino strain, that was recently isolated from rhesus macaque in Italia. It is presumed that cats are occasionally hosts, the main natural reservoirs of virus are rodents. It is necessary to conduct of deeply study of zoonotic potential of novel orthopoxvirus.

Keywords: orthopoxviruses; cowpox virus; ectromelia virus; polymerase chain reaction; phylogenetic analysis

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