Natural human infections with Vaccinia virus during bovine vaccinia outbreaks

Silva-Fernandes, André Tavares; Travassos, Carlos Eurico Pires Ferreira; Ferreira, Jaqueline Maria Siqueira; Abrahão, Jônatas Santos; Rocha, Eliseu Soares de Oliveira; Viana-Ferreira, Flávia; dos Santos, João Rodrigues; Bonjardim, Cláudio Antônio; Ferreira, Paulo César Peregrino; Kroon, Erna Geessien

doi:10.1016/j.jcv.2009.01.007

« Previous Next »Journal of Clinical Virology
Volume 44, Issue 4 , Pages 308-313, April 2009

Natural human infections with Vaccinia virus during bovine vaccinia outbreaks

André Tavares Silva-Fernandes
- Laboratório de Sanidade Animal, Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campus Campos dos Goytacazes, CEP: 28015-620, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Fax: +55 22 2726 1549.
- Fax: +55 31 3443 6482.
Carlos Eurico Pires Ferreira Travassos
- Laboratório de Sanidade Animal, Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campus Campos dos Goytacazes, CEP: 28015-620, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Fax: +55 22 2726 1549.
Jaqueline Maria Siqueira Ferreira
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Jônatas Santos Abrahão
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Fax: +55 31 3443 6482.
Eliseu Soares de Oliveira Rocha
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Fax: +55 31 3443 6482.
Flávia Viana-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Fax: +55 31 3443 6482.
João Rodrigues dos Santos
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Fax: +55 31 3443 6482.
Cláudio Antônio Bonjardim
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Fax: +55 31 3443 6482.
Paulo César Peregrino Ferreira
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Fax: +55 31 3443 6482.
Erna Geessien Kroon
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 31 3499 2755; fax: +55 31 3443 6482.

Received 12 July 2008; received in revised form 7 December 2008; accepted 14 January 2009. published online 26 February 2009.

Abstract

Background

Bovine vaccinia is an exanthematic disease caused by Vaccinia virus (VACV). This zoonosis has been associated with several cases of bovine infection, particularly in milk herds. Farmers, milkers and their close contacts developed lesions on the hands, forearms, legs and face accompanied by fever, headache, malaise, myalgia and axillary, inguinal and cervical lymphadenopathy. VACV infections have a significant public health impact due to their occupational character, high frequency of transmission and the improper medical treatment often applied.

Objectives

To study natural human infection by VACV and to analyze clinical and epidemiological aspects, emphasizing the patients’ immunological status.

Study design

Ninety-eight individuals from rural properties with bovine vaccinia (BV) outbreaks who were at risk due to contact were submitted to epidemiological and clinical studies. From these individuals, 54 sera were analyzed by serological and molecular procedures. This study was conducted in Rio de Janeiro State from September 2002 to October 2006.

Results

The clinical frequency of infection was 52.0%, with 57.4% ELISA and 43.0% PRNT-positive reactions. DNAemia was detected in 18.5% of the analyzed sera, and 50% of smallpox-vaccinated individuals developed symptoms.

Conclusions

This study confirms the high clinical frequency of human VACV infection, even among vaccinated individuals. The infection was related to detection of IgG- or IgM-specific antibodies that correlates in most of the cases with positive PRNT. The DNAemia suggests viremia during VACV natural infections. Our data indicate that patients vaccinated against smallpox may no longer be protected.

Keywords: Bovine vaccinia outbreaks, Vaccinia virus, Zoonosis, Poxvirus, Epidemiology