IN-VITRO ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A CALICIVIRUS CAUSING A VESICULAR DISEASE OF THE HANDS AND FEET

We report that a calicivirus of oceanic origin, San Miguel sea lion vi rus serotype 5 (SMSV-5), is a human pathogen. This biotype was isolate d originally from blisters on the flippers of northern fur seals (Call orhinus ursinus) and replicates readily in primate and human cell line s. It infects a phylogenetically diverse array of hosts (poikilotherms to primates) and induces type-specific neutralizing antibodies in exp osed humans. Group antibody against a pooled antigen of SMSV-5 and two other serotypes was also observed in 18% of 300 blood donors from a p opulation in the northwestern United States. The human calicivirus iso late designated SMSV-5 Homosapien-1 (SMSV-5 Hom-1) was recovered from a laboratory worker with systemic illness, including vesicular lesions on all four extremities. We believe this newly described human diseas e represents a paradigmatic shift in calicivirus disease recognition.