Dear Colleagues,

In the last 20 years, outbreaks of Bovine vaccinia (BV), a zoonosis caused by Vaccinia virus (VACV), have been reported in rural areas of South America, notably in Brazil. The disease is characterized by exanthematous lesions in the teats of dairy cows and the hands of milkers, resulting in economic losses to the dairy industry. VACV infection has also been reported in other domestic animals as well as in wild animals. Recent studies have shown the role of wildlife in the VACV transmission chain, where wild rodents act as reservoirs that facilitate VACV spread throughout rural areas. Similarly to BV outbreaks in South America, outbreaks of an exanthematic zoonosis associated with sporadic outbreaks in Asian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) herds have been described, mainly in India, associated with buffalopox virus infection, which is a VACV strain.

VACV has had an important role in human history owing to its highly effective use as an immunizing agent in the smallpox vaccination campaign, resulting in the global eradication of this deadly disease in 1980. Historically, VACV is the most comprehensively studied virus, however, its origin and natural hosts remain unknown. After the cessation of VACV vaccination, the human population susceptible to zoonotic orthopoxvirus infections has increased, and zoonotic orthopoxviruses have emerged worldwide, such as BV and Buffalopox infection in South America and India, respectively.

In Brazil, BV emerged in the late 1990s and is now endemic in most of the Brazilian territory. Much effort has been made to know more about this disease and its epidemiology, and interactions with the host and the environment, however, there are many gaps in the knowledge of this zoonosis, which has an important role in the context of “One Health”.

Therefore, we welcome researchers to submit research or review papers related to all aspects of VACV infection in different hosts, related to its epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prevention and control measures.

Prof. Dr. Maria Isabel Guedes
Prof. Dr. Giliane de Souza Trindade
Guest Editors

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• Vaccinia virus
• Poxvirus
• Bovine vaccinia
• Zoonosis
• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Pathogenesis
• Diagnosis
• Prevention and Control