Further characterization of raccoonpox virus

Abstract

A poxvirus isolated from the respiratory tract of raccoons in a forest and swamp area near Aberdeen, Maryland, was characterized by biological, serological, and biophysical methods. The virus was shown to be related to the vaccinia-variola subgroup by serological and biophysical methods, but measurably different from the other viruses of this group by biological methods. It causes flaccid paralysis in 1-day-old suckling mice and does not grow well on CAM after two or three passages.

Rabies virus antinucleoprotein antibody protects against rabies virus challenge in vivo and inhibits rabies virus replication in vitro

“…Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth (ERA) rabies virus was utilized as the in vitro challenge virus. RCN was plaque purified three times following isolation from upper respiratory tissues of two apparently healthy raccoons (1,30). Production of RCN recombinants expressing the rabies virus N protein or G protein has been described previously (10,11,29).…”

Replicating poxviruses for human cancer therapy

“…Raccoonpox virus (RCNV) is also a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus and is closely related to the vaccinia and cowpox viruses. RCNV was first reported in 1964 by Herman, and was isolated from a naturally occurring poxvirus from the respiratory tract of raccoons inhabiting an undeveloped forest and swamp area near Aberdeen, Maryland (Herman, 1964;Thomas et al, 1975). Recently, a modified version of the RCNV strain is in preclinical studies for its potential in treating various human cancers (Evgin et al, 2010).…”

Potential effect of prior raccoonpox virus infection in raccoons on vaccinia-based rabies immunization

“…Similar associations were noted for select carnivore species in Fennoscandia [ 4 ] and red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) in Germany [ 5 ]. In the U.S., endemic orthopoxvirus examples include volepox virus found in California voles ( Microtus californicus ; [ 6 ]), raccoonpox virus found in raccoons [ 7 , 8 ], and skunkpox virus found in a striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ; reviewed by [ 9 ]). Additional unrecognized orthopoxviruses may exist in the U.S. For raccoonpox and skunkpox viruses, it is unknown whether the species from which these viruses were obtained are the true reservoir species (e.g., these viruses, like many other orthopoxviruses, may be rodent-hosted), as little field work has been conducted on these viruses since their discovery.…”