Cow Pox

Hosts

• Cows
• Cats
• Man

Pathogenesis

• On the cow, lesions develop on teats and udder
• On the cat, lesions are found on paws, head and lips, and vary in appearance:
  • Shallow, pus-filled, crate-like ulcers
  • Flat, red, glistening
• Cats can also be infected with a respiratory form
  • Proliferative and necrotic lesions, which can be seen in the mouth and lead to the upper respiratory tract
  • Invariably fatal
  • Transmitted by rodent reservoir
• Man can be infected by cows or cats
  • Pocks on forearm or face that can generalize in immunosuppression

Epidemiology

• Disease of management (cows)
• Transferred by contact

Differentials

• Pseudocowpox is a different poxvirus with mild and more common lesions
• Seen in cows and is also zoonotic

Control

• Proper hygiene, management