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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

A. C. Crouch ,
D. Baxby ,
C. M. McCracken ,
R. M. Gaskell  and
M. Bennett
A. C. Crouch
Affiliation:
Departments of Medical Microbiology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
D. Baxby*
Affiliation:
Departments of Medical Microbiology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
C. M. McCracken
Affiliation:
Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
R. M. Gaskell
Affiliation:
Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
M. Bennett
Affiliation:
Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
*
* Author for correspondence.
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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.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 115 , Issue 1 , August 1995 , pp. 185 - 191
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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