Parapoxvirus infections of Reindeer and Musk Ox associated with unusual human infections

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Abstract
This report concerns 5 cases of human infection resulting in lesions morphologically similar to human orf. Parapoxvirus infections in reindeer was the probable source of infection in 4 cases. The 5th case involved musk ox. Two of the cases involving reindeer are particularly interesting as transmission of infection occurred indirectly. Viral particles were not seen by EM of human tissues, due probably to the late stage of the illness at the time of examination. EM of negatively stained suspensions prepared from biopsy material collected from reindeer calves at the outbreak of the illness and of post-mortem material from the musk ox revealed characteristic Parapoxvirus particles. In 1 patient the infection was accompanied by fever, lymphadenopathy and nausea, which cleared following a few days of treatment with doxycycline chloride. Four cases were curetted after 4, 6, 12 and 20 wk and healed without scarring whereas the 5th patient was by request left alone. This resulted in localized dark pigmentation following completion of the healing process after 26 wk.

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