1Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CCID/CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA;
2Atlanta Research & Education Foundation.
3Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the International Conference of Indian Virological Society on “Emerging and Re-emerging viral Diseases of the Tropics and Subtropics” at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, December 11–14, 2007.
Naturally occurring infections with Orthopoxvirus have been recognized in Brazil during the past 10 years. Infections typically occur as a zoonosis transferred from affected dairy cows to their handlers. Outbreaks have caused notable economic losses to the rural community in the region. Often, the entire herd, all dairy workers, and the owners from a single farm have been infected. Vaccinia virus (VACV) has been consistently isolated in association with the outbreak,s which have had substantial impact on local economies and public health. Retrospective epidemiological data revealed that 100% of the patients develop classical poxvirus infection symptoms after direct contact with symptomatic cows. The origins of Brazilian vaccinia viruses (BVV) are unclear but previous analyses have shown that at least two distinct clades of BVV exist. The natural host of VACV remains unknown but the virus clearly persists today in Brazil. Serological analysis of wild mammals captured in wildlife preservation areas with little human presence indicated a high prevalence of animals with anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) declared global smallpox eradicated in 1980, concerns over emergent poxvirus infections have increased. Considering that poxviruses affecting humans are largely zoonotic, the emergence of VACV in Brazil represents a very important model to study the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and molecular characteristics of these viruses. This understanding could also provide insights to establish ways to prevent and control poxvirus infections.
The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been formally disseminated by CDC/NCID and should not be construed to represent any agency or policy. Dr. Trindade is a contractor with AREF/VA.
