Cowpox/catpox infection - two case reports

In patients with painful, possibly hemorrhagic vesicles or black crusts, es pecially on hands/fingers or face/neck with typical history (contact to cow s or feral/cats) the possibility of a cowpox/catpox infection has to be con sidered. The clinical diagnosis can be confirmed with the electron microsco py; cytoplasmic inclusions may be detected histologically. Further useful d iagnostic tools are the identification of the cowpox/catpox virus by PCR or in cell culture as well as serological tests to detect virus specific anti bodies. We report the development of typical skin lesions of a cowpox/catpo x infection in two female patients who had contact with cows or cats. Recen t diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are also discussed.