Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e43881. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043881. Epub 2012 Aug 28.
Volepox virus (VPXV) was first isolated in 1985 from a hind foot scab of an otherwise healthy California vole (Microtus californicus). Subsequent surveys in San Mateo County, CA, revealed serological evidence suggesting that VPXV is endemic to this area, and a second viral isolate from a Pinyon mouse (Peromyscus truei) was collected in 1988. Since then, few studies have been conducted regarding the ecology, pathology, and pathogenicity of VPXV, and its prevalence and role as a potential zoonotic agent remain unknown. To increase our understanding of VPXV disease progression, we challenged 24 California mice (Peromyscus californicus) intranasally with 1.6 × 10(3) PFU of purified VPXV. By day five post infection (pi) we observed decreased activity level, conjunctivitis, ruffled hair, skin lesions, facial edema, and crusty noses. A mortality rate of 54% was noted by day eight pi. In addition, internal organ necrosis and hemorrhages were observed during necropsy of deceased or euthanized animals. Viral loads in tissues (brain, gonad, kidney, liver, lung, spleen, submandibular lymph node, and adrenal gland), bodily secretions (saliva, and tears), and excretions (urine, and/or feces) were evaluated and compared using real time-PCR and tissue culture. Viral loads measured as high as 2 × 10(9) PFU/mL in some organs. Our results suggest that VPXV can cause extreme morbidity and mortality within rodent populations sympatric with the known VPXV reservoirs.
田鼠痘病毒（VPXV）于 1985 年首次从加利福尼亚田鼠（Microtus californicus）的后脚痂中分离出来。随后在加利福尼亚州圣马特奥县进行的调查显示，血清学证据表明 VPXV 在该地区流行，1988 年从一只刺柏鼠（Peromyscus truei）中分离出第二种病毒。此后，很少有研究针对 VPXV 的生态学、病理学和致病性进行研究，其流行情况及其作为潜在人畜共患病原体的作用仍然未知。为了增进我们对 VPXV 疾病进展的了解，我们通过鼻腔向 24 只加利福尼亚鼠（Peromyscus californicus）挑战 1.6×103 PFU 纯化的 VPXV。在感染后第 5 天，我们观察到活动水平下降、结膜炎、毛发蓬乱、皮肤损伤、面部水肿和结痂的鼻子。在感染后第 8 天，死亡率为 54%。此外，在对死亡或安乐死动物进行尸检时观察到内脏器官坏死和出血。通过实时 PCR 和组织培养评估和比较了组织（脑、性腺、肾、肝、肺、脾、颌下淋巴结和肾上腺）、体液分泌物（唾液和眼泪）和排泄物（尿液和/或粪便）中的病毒载量。在一些器官中测量的病毒载量高达 2×109 PFU/mL。我们的结果表明，VPXV 可在与已知 VPXV 宿主共存的啮齿动物种群中引起极高的发病率和死亡率。
