In vitro and in vivo> characterization of two camelpoxvirus isolates with decreased virulence

Abstract

Two camelpoxvirus (CPV) strains isolated from camels with generalized skin disease were serially passaged on Vero cells. Various phenotypic properties were investigated in vitro and in vivo and compared with those of the corresponding wildtype strains. In many aspects no differences were observed. However, in a mouse mode1 both passaged strains proved to be highly attenuated. In addition, both strains failed to replicate in a cell line derived from came1 skin cells. Comparison of physical maps established for enzymes Hindlll and Xhol revealed deletions accounting for a total of 22 kbp in one attenuated strain. In the second strain onlv minor alterations were noted.