1/2. Perianal orf.The parapox viral infection orf is usually diagnosed without difficulty when the lesions have the characteristic morphology and there is an appropriate history of contact with sheep. Two cases of orf in a perineal location in young children are presented to illustrate modification of the physical signs by flexural occluded sites. Electron microscopy of scrapings from the lesions established the diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/2. Characterization of a cowpox-like orthopox virus which had caused a lethal infection in man.In August 1990 an orthopox virus (OPV) had been isolated from a severe case of a generalized infection with lethal outcome in an immunosuppressed 18-year-old man. In this communication we present a detailed characterization of the causative virus strain. Based on distinct epitope configurations detected by various monoclonal antibodies the isolate could be differentiated from other OPV species and was classified as a cowpox virus (CP). This classification was confirmed by a species-specific PCR assay and by establishing physical maps for the restriction enzymes HindIII and XhoI. Based on serological data of neutralization assays, blocking-ELISAs and Western blotting analysis evidence is provided that the infection had been acquired from a stray cat.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |