Human Cowpox Infection Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Nikki A Levin, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jul 22, 2011
 
 

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Nikki A Levin, MD, PhD  Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Nikki A Levin, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

James Fulton Jr, MD, PhD  Center for Cosmetic Dermatology; Consultant, Vivant Pharmaceuticals, LLC

James Fulton Jr, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Dermatology Foundation, International Society of Cosmetic and Laser Surgeons, and Skin Cancer Foundation

Disclosure: Vivant Pharmaceuticals Grant/research funds Consulting

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey Meffert, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

  1. Esposito, JJ, Fenner F. Poxviruses. In: Knipe D, Howley PM, Griffin DE, Lamb RA, Martin MA, Roizman B, Straus SE, eds. Fields Virology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001:Chapter 85.

  2. Burton JL. Of mice and milkmaids, cats and cowpox. Lancet. Jan 8 1994;343(8889):67. [Medline].

  3. Baxby D, Bennett M, Getty B. Human cowpox 1969-93: a review based on 54 cases. Br J Dermatol. Nov 1994;131(5):598-607. [Medline].

  4. Pelkonen PM, Tarvainen K, Hynninen A, et al. Cowpox with severe generalized eruption, Finland. Emerg Infect Dis. Nov 2003;9(11):1458-61. [Medline].

  5. Honlinger B, Huemer HP, Romani N, Czerny CP, Eisendle K, Hopfl R. Generalized cowpox infection probably transmitted from a rat. Br J Dermatol. Aug 2005;153(2):451-3. [Medline].

  6. Moss B, Shisler JL. Immunology 101 at poxvirus U: immune evasion genes. Semin Immunol. Feb 2001;13(1):59-66. [Medline].

  7. Dasgupta A, Hammarlund E, Slifka MK, Fruh K. Cowpox virus evades CTL recognition and inhibits the intracellular transport of MHC class I molecules. J Immunol. Feb 1 2007;178(3):1654-61. [Medline].

  8. Byun M, Wang X, Pak M, Hansen TH, Yokoyama WM. Cowpox virus exploits the endoplasmic reticulum retention pathway to inhibit MHC class I transport to the cell surface. Cell Host Microbe. Nov 15 2007;2(5):306-15. [Medline].

  9. Amer M, El-Gharib I, Rashed A, Farag F, Emara M. Human cowpox infection in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Int J Dermatol. Jan 2001;40(1):14-7. [Medline].

  10. Haase O, Moser A, Rose C, Kurth A, Zillikens D, Schmidt E. Generalized cowpox infection in a patient with Darier disease. Br J Dermatol. May 2011;164(5):1116-8. [Medline].

  11. Blackford S, Roberts DL, Thomas PD. Cowpox infection causing a generalized eruption in a patient with atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol. Nov 1993;129(5):628-9. [Medline].

  12. Stolz W, Gotz A, Thomas P, et al. Characteristic but unfamiliar--the cowpox infection, transmitted by a domestic cat. Dermatology. 1996;193(2):140-3. [Medline].

  13. Postma BH, Diepersloot RJ, Niessen GJ, Droog RP. Cowpox-virus-like infection associated with rat bite. Lancet. Mar 23 1991;337(8743):733-4. [Medline].

  14. Vestey JP, Yirrell DL, Aldridge RD. Cowpox/catpox infection. Br J Dermatol. Jan 1991;124(1):74-8. [Medline].

  15. Vestey JP, Yirrell DL, Norval M. What is human catpox/cowpox infection?. Int J Dermatol. Oct 1991;30(10):696-8. [Medline].

  16. Wolfs TF, Wagenaar JA, Niesters HG, Osterhaus AD. Rat-to-human transmission of Cowpox infection. Emerg Infect Dis. Dec 2002;8(12):1495-6. [Medline].

  17. Kurth A, Wibbelt G, Gerber HP, Petschaelis A, Pauli G, Nitsche A. Rat-to-elephant-to-human transmission of cowpox virus. Emerg Infect Dis. Apr 2008;14(4):670-1. [Medline].

  18. Lewis-Jones MS, Baxby D, Cefai C, Hart CA. Cowpox can mimic anthrax. Br J Dermatol. Nov 1993;129(5):625-7. [Medline].

  19. Rajan N, Carmichael AJ, McCarron BM. Human cowpox: presentation and investigation in an era of bioterrorism. J Infect. Oct 2005;51(3):e167-9. [Medline].

  20. Pahlitzsch R, Hammarin AL, Widell A. A case of facial cellulitis and necrotizing lymphadenitis due to cowpox virus infection. Clin Infect Dis. Sep 15 2006;43(6):737-42. [Medline].

  21. Schupp P, Pfeffer M, Meyer H, Burck G, Kolmel K, Neumann C. Cowpox virus in a 12-year-old boy: rapid identification by an orthopoxvirus-specific polymerase chain reaction. Br J Dermatol. Jul 2001;145(1):146-50. [Medline].

  22. Smee DF, Bailey KW, Sidwell RW. Comparative effects of cidofovir and cyclic HPMPC on lethal cowpox and vaccinia virus respiratory infections in mice. Chemotherapy. Jun 2003;49(3):126-31. [Medline].

  23. Quenelle DC, Collins DJ, Kern ER. Cutaneous infections of mice with vaccinia or cowpox viruses and efficacy of cidofovir. Antiviral Res. Jul 2004;63(1):33-40. [Medline].

  24. Kesson AM, Ferguson JK, Rawlinson WD, Cunningham AL. Progressive vaccinia treated with ribavirin and vaccinia immune globulin. Clin Infect Dis. Oct 1997;25(4):911-4. [Medline].

  25. Thornburg NJ, Ray CA, Collier ML, Liao HX, Pickup DJ, Johnston RE. Vaccination with Venezuelan equine encephalitis replicons encoding cowpox virus structural proteins protects mice from intranasal cowpox virus challenge. Virology. Jun 5 2007;362(2):441-52. [Medline].

  26. Lee WC, Manjaly G, Skinner DW, O'Neill PM. Cowpox infection of the nose. J Laryngol Otol. Aug 1996;110(8):782-4. [Medline].

 
Previous
Next
 
A 16-year-old boy with generalized cowpox. Courtesy of Dr. Reinhard Hoepfl, Innsbruck, Austria.
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.