SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE RESERVOIR HOSTS OF COWPOX VIRUS IN BRITISH WILDLIFE

The reservoir host of cowpox virus in Western Europe is not known, but epidemiological evidence from human and feline infections indicates t hat the virus is probably endemic in small wild rodents. Therefore, se rum and tissue samples were collected from a variety of wild British m ammals and some birds, and tested for evidence of Orthopoxvirus infect ion. Antibody reacting with cowpox virus was detected in 9/44 (20%) ba nk voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), 8/24 (33%) field voles (Microtus a grestis), 17/86 (20%) wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and 1/44 house m ice (Mus musculus), but in no other animal species tested. Although vi rus was not isolated from any animal, this serological survey, togethe r with other evidence, suggests that bank and field voles and wood mic e are the main reservoir hosts of cowpox virus in Great Britain.