Cases of Buffalopox, India’s latest emerging viral threat, underline the need to understand evolutionary biology

Cases of Buffalopox, India’s latest emerging viral threat, underline the need to understand evolutionary biology

Subject: Science & Technology

Section: Disease

Context: ‘Outbreaks of buffalopox that belongs to the same family of viruses as monkeypox in west India’

Content: Buffalopox is caused by Buffalopox virus (BPXV), it is a Poxviridae. The natural host is buffalo, they are known to infect the cows and humans too. These infects are sporadic and epidemic usually seen in domestic and commercial farm setting.

• Buffalopox was first described in India, later in other countries, and has become an emerging contagious viral zoonotic disease infecting milkers with high morbidity among affected domestic buffalo and cattle.
• BPXV is a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus and a close variant of the vaccinia virus (VACV).
• BPXV shares a most recent common ancestor of VACV Lister strain, which had been used for inoculating buffalo calves to produce a Smallpox vaccine.
• Over time, VACV evolved into BPXV by establishing itself in buffaloes to be increasingly pathogenic to this host and to make infections in cattle and humans.

Incubation period: The incubation period in animals is 2-4 days and 3-19 days in humans.

The signs and symptoms of Buffalopox: Usually the mild form of disease exists, it is very rare to find a severe form.

In mild form: – The febrile illness with vesicular lesions are localized usually in inguinal region hands, forearms, over the parotid and found in base or inner surface of ears and eyes. It is occasionally accompanied with lymphadenopathy& Severe Malaise.

In severe form: -The lesions are generalized and can result in high morbidity.

Investigations: The lesions samples are taken via swab test and electron microscopy. The PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) test is also done.

Treatment: Broad spectrum antibiotics along with antiseptic dressing on the affected lesions.

Prognosis of Buffalopox: Usually the mild form exists, rarely the severe form is seen. The prognosis is good.

Complications: The complication is Necrotic tissue formation usually occurs in few cases.

Differential diagnosis: – Cowpox disease

Management: -Wearing gloves while milking and handling is an effective management.-Treating the infected host also reduced chances of further sporadic or epidemic spread.