Circulation of vaccinia virus in southern and south-eastern wildlife, Brazil

Transbound Emerg Dis. 2020 Sep;67(5):1781-1785. doi: 10.1111/tbed.13537. Epub 2020 Mar 21.

Abstract

We evaluated 345 wild animals from southern and south-eastern Brazil to understand their role in vaccinia virus (VACV) transmission cycle. VACV DNA was detected in rodents, marsupials, chiroptera and cingulate, expanding the knowledge of VACV host range in wildlife that could potentially act as source of infection in rural and urban areas.

Keywords: VACV epidemiology; ecological maintenance; molecular detection; vaccinia virus; wildlife.