Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jun 2006)

Cowpox Virus Transmission from Rats to Monkeys, the Netherlands

  • Byron E.E. Martina,
  • Gerard van Doornum,
  • Gerry M. Dorrestein,
  • Hubert G.M. Niesters,
  • Koert J. Stittelaar,
  • Marno A.B.I. Wolters,
  • Hester G.H. van Bolhuis,
  • Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1206.051513
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 6
pp. 1005 – 1007

Abstract

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We report an outbreak of cowpox virus among monkeys at a sanctuary for exotic animals. Serologic analysis and polymerase chain reaction were performed on blood and swab samples from different rodent species trapped at the sanctuary during the outbreak. Sequence comparison and serologic results showed that brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) transmitted the virus to monkeys.

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