Outbreak of a Systemic Form of Camelpox in a Dromedary Herd (Camelus dromedarius) in the United Arab Emirates

Pockenvirusinfektionen in der Dermatologie: Poxvirus infections in dermatology - the neglected, the notable, and the notorious

Die Familie Poxviridae umfasst derzeit 22 Gattungen, die Wirbeltiere infizieren können. Humanpathogene Pockenviren gehören den Gattungen Ortho‐, Para‐, Mollusci‐ und Yatapoxvirus an. Bis zur Eradikation der Variola vera im Jahr 1979 waren die Pocken, im Volksmund auch Blattern genannt, eine schwerwiegende Gesundheitsbedrohung für die Bevölkerung. Noch heute sind Dermatologen mit zahlreichen Pockenvirusinfektionen konfrontiert, wie den Bauernhofpocken, die als Zoonosen nach Tierkontakten in ländlichen Gebieten oder nach Massenversammlungen auftreten können. In den Tropen können Erkrankungen durch Tanapox‐ oder Vaccinia‐Viren zu den Differenzialdiagnosen gehören. Dellwarzen sind weltweit verbreitet und werden in bestimmten Fällen als sexuell übertragbare Pockenvirusinfektion angesehen. In jüngster Zeit hatten sich Mpox (Affenpocken) zu einer gesundheitlichen Notlage von internationaler Tragweite entwickelt, die eine rasche Identifizierung und angemessene Behandlung durch Dermatologen und Infektiologen erfordert. Fortschritte und neue Erkenntnisse über Epidemiologie, Diagnose, klinische Manifestationen und Komplikationen sowie Behandlung und Prävention von Pockenvirusinfektionen erfordern ein hohes Maß an Fachwissen und interdisziplinärer Zusammenarbeit in den Bereichen Virologie, Infektiologie und Dermatologie. Dieser CME‐Artikel bietet einen aktualisierten systematischen Überblick, um praktizierende Dermatologen bei der Identifizierung, Differenzialdiagnose und Behandlung klinisch relevanter Pockenvirusinfektionen zu unterstützen.

Poxvirus infections in dermatology - the neglected, the notable, and the notorious

The family Poxviridae currently comprises 22 genera that infect vertebrates. Of these, members of the Ortho-, Para-, Mollusci- and Yatapoxvirus genera have been associated with human diseases of high clinical relevance in dermatology. Historically, smallpox had been a notorious health threat until it was declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1979. Today, dermatologists are confronted with a variety of poxviral infections, such as farmyard pox, which occurs as a zoonotic infection after contact with animals. In the tropics, tanapox or vaccinia may be in the differential diagnosis as neglected tropical dermatoses. Molluscum contagiosum virus infection accounts for significant disease burden worldwide and is classified as a sexually transmitted infection in certain scenarios. Recently, mpox (monkeypox) has emerged as a public health emergency of international concern, requiring rapid recognition and appropriate management by dermatologists and infectious disease specialists. Advances and new insights into the epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical manifestations and complications, treatment, and prevention of poxviral infections require a high level of expertise and interdisciplinary skills from healthcare professionals linking virology, infectious diseases, and dermatology. This CME article provides a systematic overview and update to assist the practicing dermatologist in the identification, differential diagnosis, and management of poxviral infections.

Potentially Zoonotic Viruses in Wild Rodents, United Arab Emirates, 2019—A Pilot Study

The majority of emerging viral infectious diseases in humans originate from wildlife reservoirs, such as rodents and bats. We investigated a possible reservoir, namely wild gerbils and mice trapped in a desert reserve within the emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In total, 52 gerbils and 1 jird (Gerbillinae), 10 house mice (Mus musculus), and 1 Arabian spiny mouse (Acomys dimidiatus) were sampled. Oro-pharyngeal swabs, fecal samples, attached ticks, and organ samples (where available) were screened by (RT-q)PCR for the following viruses: Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus, Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus, hantaviruses, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis mammarenavirus, Rustrela virus, poxviruses, flaviviruses, and herpesviruses. All of the samples were negative for all investigated viruses, except for herpesviruses: 19 gerbils (35.8%) and 7 house mice (70.0%) were positive. The resulting sequences were only partly identical to sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three novel betaherpesviruses and four novel gammaherpesviruses. Interestingly, species identification of the positive gerbils resulted in eight individuals clustering in a separate clade, most closely related to Dipodillus campestris, the North African gerbil, indicating either the expansion of the geographic range of this species, or the existence of a closely related, yet undiscovered species in the UAE. In conclusion, we could not find evidence of persistence or shedding of potentially zoonotic viruses in the investigated rodent cohorts of limited sample size.

Lassa fever - the road ahead

Lassa virus (LASV) is endemic in the rodent populations of Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other countries in West Africa. Spillover to humans occurs frequently and results in Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) associated with a high case fatality rate. Despite advances, fundamental gaps in knowledge of the immunology, epidemiology, ecology and pathogenesis of Lassa fever persist. More frequent outbreaks, the potential for further geographic expansion of Mastomys natalensis and other rodent reservoirs, the ease of procurement and possible use and weaponization of LASV, the frequent importation of LASV to North America and Europe, and the emergence of novel LASV strains in densely populated West Africa have driven new initiatives to develop countermeasures for LASV. Although promising candidates are being evaluated, as yet there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics for human use. This Review discusses the virology of LASV, the clinical course of Lassa fever and the progress towards developing medical countermeasures.

Camel viral diseases: Current diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive strategies

Many pathogenic viruses infect camels, generally regarded as especially hardy livestock because of their ability to thrive in harsh and arid conditions. Transmission of these viruses has been facilitated by the commercialization of camel milk and meat and their byproducts, and vaccines are needed to prevent viruses from spreading. There is a paucity of information on the effectiveness of viral immunizations in camels, even though numerous studies have looked into the topic. More research is needed to create effective vaccines and treatments for camels. Because Camels are carriers of coronavirus, capable of producing a powerful immune response to recurrent coronavirus infections. As a result, camels may be a suitable model for viral vaccine trials since vaccines are simple to create and can prevent viral infection transfer from animals to humans. In this review, we present available data on the diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative strategies for the following viral diseases in camels, most of which result in significant economic loss: camelpox, Rift Valley fever, peste des petits ruminants, bovine viral diarrhea, bluetongue, rotavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome, and COVID-19. Although suitable vaccines have been developed for controlling viral infections and perhaps interrupting the transmission of the virus from the affected animals to blood-feeding vectors, there is a paucity of information on the effectiveness of viral immunizations in camels and more research is needed. Recent therapeutic trials that include specific antivirals or supportive care have helped manage viral infections.

Comparative Pathology of Zoonotic Orthopoxviruses

This review provides a brief history of the impacts that a human-specific Orthopoxvirus (OPXV), Variola virus, had on mankind, recalls how critical vaccination was for the eradication of this disease, and discusses the consequences of discontinuing vaccination against OPXV. One of these consequences is the emergence of zoonotic OPXV diseases, including Monkeypox virus (MPXV). The focus of this manuscript is to compare pathology associated with zoonotic OPXV infection in veterinary species and in humans. Efficient recognition of poxvirus lesions and other, more subtle signs of disease in multiple species is critical to prevent further spread of poxvirus infections. Additionally included are a synopsis of the pathology observed in animal models of MPXV infection, the recent spread of MPXV among humans, and a discussion of the potential for this virus to persist in Europe and the Americas.

Detection and Isolation of Camelpox Virus in Wasit Province, Iraq

Camels are susceptible to a variety of infectious diseases, such as trypanosomiasis, anthrax, hemorrhagic septicemia, brucellosis, mange, and pox, which can also affect other farm animal species. Camelpox is one of the most infectious skin diseases, which is caused by the Camelpox virus (CPV), a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family. This study mainly aimed to detect and isolate CPV affecting camels in Wasit province, Iraq. Initially, the study focused principally on clinical manifestations of the disease in affected animals. Afterward, 110 skin samples were collected from infected animals under strict aseptic conditions. They were to be subjected to inoculation into the local embryonated chicken eggs to isolate the virus from the chicken embryo fibroblast cell culture. Finally, the isolates were confirmed using the molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Camelpox virus isolates appeared as several necrotic pock lesions on the Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) with cell clustering and sloughing or detachment from the monolayer. Molecular testing was conducted using the PCR assay by targeting the ATIP gene at 881bp. The findings demonstrated that all the investigated isolates were poxvirus positive. In addition, it was found that Camelpox disease is significantly endemic in Wasit province, Iraq. The visualization of the characteristic features of the virus also revealed it can easily adapt to replication in the CAM and cell culture.