[Molluscum contagiosum virus types found in Japan].

Total DNAs obtained from Japanese patients with molluscum contagiosum (MC) were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis after digestion with Bam HI, Hind III or Cla I restriction enzymes, which revealed the presence of four different cleavage patterns of MC virus (MCV) DNAs. The comparison with previously reported MCV types clarified that two of them were identical with MCV-1 and -2, respectively. The other two isolates were considered as yet unrecognized types and named MCV-3 and -4, respectively.