Human cowpox infection in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In the last few years, outbreaks of an apparently specific dermatosis occurred during the months of late summer and early autumn in our locality. Our aim in this study was to reveal the underlying etiology of this dermatosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with the disease were studied clinically, epidemiologically, histopathologically, and ultrastructurally. RESULTS: The results of all methods suggest that the dermatosis is most probably a human cowpox infection. Electron microscopy showed unenveloped cowpox virons. CONCLUSIONS: This apparently specific dermatosis is due to human cowpox infection. Future investigations will be needed to better define this important zoonosis frequently passed by cats to humans and carried by rodents.