Comparative studies on poxvirus strains isolated from camels.

Five poxvirus strains isolated from camels in Egypt, Iran and the U.S.S.R. were investigated. The morphology and size of the negatively stained virions of the investigated strains were identical. The strains produced minute white pock lesions localized mainly on the infected area of the chorioallantoic membrane, without generalization of lesions or death of embryos. The ceiling temperature and the haemagglutinating activity of the different strains were different. All the strains were apathogenic for rabbit skin and highly pathogenic for mice inoculated intracerebrally. Serologically, all the strains were related to vaccinia virus but with different degrees. The studied strains had the characteristics of members of the genus Orthopoxvirus.