Frequency of involvement of pox virions in lesions of bovine dermatophilosis

By combined electron microscopical and serological methods the rate of involvement of pox virions within lesions of bovine natural dermatophilosis was determined. Scabby lesions of 40 (77%) out of a total of 52 cases were positive for the virions, while sera of all infected animals which reacted positively for pox viral antibodies (LSD) was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in comparison to those of healthy-appearing animals. The virions in all cases had a uniform oval to cylindrical morphology with a mean measurement of 110 X 280 nm. A synergistic interplay involving the initiation of the scabby lesions by the virions and their subsequent trapping within keratin deposits, followed by their release through the keratolytic activity of Dermatophilus congolensis appear to have obtained in cases.