Cowpox virus infection in a child after contact with a domestic cat: a case report

Human cowpox represents a seldom diagnosed zoonosis but this diagnosis should be considered more frequently as the number of cases has increased in recent years. We describe a case of cowpox in an 11-yearold boy following regular direct daily contact with a domestic cat. The 11-year-old patient, an otherwise healthy boy, demonstrated skin ulceration located at his chin, with enlargement of regional lymph nodes and fever reaching 39°C. The diagnosis of cowpox was made on the basis of PCR involving DNA isolated from a scab covering the skin lesion. Application of PCR involving DNA isolated from the scab covering the lesion with parallel use of OPXV-specific (ORF F4L) and CPXV-specific (ORF B9R) oligonucleotide primer sequences is recommended for rapid laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis.