Sandvik T, Tryland M, Hansen H, Mehl R, Moens U, Olsvik O, Traavik T
Department of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, N-9005 Tromso, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromso, N-9037 Tromso, Norway.
J Clin Microbiol. 1998 Sep;36(9):2542-7. doi: 10.1128/JCM.36.9.2542-2547.1998.
Orthopoxviruses are being increasingly used as live recombinant vectors for vaccination against numerous infectious diseases in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. For risk assessments and surveillance, information about the occurrence, distribution and ecology of orthopoxviruses in western Europe is important but has mainly been based on serological investigations. We have examined kidneys, lungs, spleens, and livers of Norwegian small rodents and common shrews (Sorex araneus) for the presence of orthopoxvirus DNA sequences by PCR with primers complementary to the viral thymidine kinase (TK) gene. PCR amplicons were verified as orthopoxvirus specific by hybridization with a vaccinia virus TK-specific probe. A total of 347 animals (1,388 organs) from eight locations in different parts of Norway, collected at different times of the year during 1993 to 1995, were examined. Fifty-two animals (15%) from five locations, up to 1,600 km apart, carried orthopoxvirus DNA in one or more of their organs, most frequently in the lungs. These included 9 of 68 (13%) bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), 4 of 13 (31%) gray-sided voles (Clethrionomys rufocanus), 3 of 11 (27%) northern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys rutilus), 16 of 76 (21%) wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), and 20 of 157 (13%) common shrews. The previous isolation of cowpox virus from two clinical cases of infection (human and feline) at two of the locations investigated suggests that the viruses detected are cowpox and that some of the virus-carrying small mammalian species should be included among the cowpox virus natural reservoir hosts in Scandinavia and western Europe.
正痘病毒越来越多地被用作活重组载体，用于预防人类、家畜和野生动物的多种传染病。对于风险评估和监测而言，了解西欧正痘病毒的发生、分布和生态情况很重要，但主要是基于血清学调查。我们通过使用与病毒胸苷激酶（TK）基因互补的引物进行PCR，检测了挪威小型啮齿动物和普通鼩鼱（Sorex araneus）的肾脏、肺、脾脏和肝脏中是否存在正痘病毒DNA序列。通过与痘苗病毒TK特异性探针杂交，将PCR扩增产物确认为正痘病毒特异性。对1993年至1995年期间不同时间从挪威不同地区的八个地点收集的347只动物（1388个器官）进行了检查。来自五个地点、相距达1600公里的52只动物（15%）在其一个或多个器官中携带正痘病毒DNA，最常见于肺部。其中包括68只棕背鼠平（Clethrionomys glareolus）中的9只（13%）、13只灰侧田鼠（Clethrionomys rufocanus）中的4只（31%）、11只北方红背田鼠（Clethrionomys rutilus）中的3只（27%）、76只林姬鼠（Apodemus sylvaticus）中的16只（21%）以及157只普通鼩鼱中的20只（13%）。在其中两个调查地点，先前从两例感染临床病例（人类和猫科动物）中分离出牛痘病毒，这表明检测到的病毒是牛痘病毒，并且一些携带病毒的小型哺乳动物物种应被纳入斯堪的纳维亚和西欧牛痘病毒的天然宿主之中。
