Sealpox virus | |
---|---|
Virus classification | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Varidnaviria |
Kingdom: | Bamfordvirae |
Phylum: | Nucleocytoviricota |
Class: | Pokkesviricetes |
Order: | Chitovirales |
Family: | Poxviridae |
Genus: | Parapoxvirus |
Species: | |
Virus: | Sealpox virus
|
Sealpox | |
---|---|
Specialty | Dermatology |
Sealpox is a cutaneous (skin) condition caused by a Parapoxvirus, usually affecting seal handlers who have been bitten by infected harbor or grey seals.[1]: 394 First identified in 1969,[2] it wasn't unequivocally proven to be transmissible to humans until 2005,[3] though such transmission had been reported at least as early as 1987.[4] It causes lesions that closely resemble those caused by orf.[3] As many as 2% of seals in marine mammal rehabilitation facilities in North America may have it.[5]
Abstract: An epizootic of cutaneous nodules occurred in three species of pinnipeds at the California Marine Mammal Center during the summer of 1986.