Parapoxvirus Infections in the Country of Georgia: A Case Series

Abstract

Infections caused by viruses of the parapoxvirus (PPV) genus, including orf and pseudocowpox viruses, are frequently seen in both humans and animals in many regions of the world. These infections are often misdiagnosed or neglected because of the lack of clinician awareness, inadequate diagnostic capacity, and their relatively mild disease presentation, which may result in affected individuals not seeking medical attention. Although PPV infections should be routinely considered in patients with cutaneous lesions, especially in those who have occupational exposure to farm animals, they are often excluded from the differential diagnosis because they are not perceived as serious, resulting in underestimation of the burden of disease. Since 2014, significant enhancements to Georgia's epidemiologic and laboratory capacity have made PPV surveillance and detection possible. In this study, we present information on 27 confirmed cases of PPV infection reported to Georgia's national surveillance system from January 2016 through January 2017.

Figure 1.

Parapoxvirus cases by region.

Figure 2.

Black eschar 2 weeks after the onset on the left hand of a 44-year-old female with confirmed parapoxvirus infection. This figure appears in color at www.ajtmh.org.

Figure 3.

Lesion 3 weeks after the onset on the right hand of a 29-year-old female with confirmed parapoxvirus infection. This figure appears in color at www.ajtmh.org.