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Zoonotic poxviruses are not well characterized in the Amazon region. We investigated poxvirus among domestic animals in Pará State from 2021–2024, in smallholder farming systems. We collected 440 specimens from 412 animals across rural municipalities and tested them using orthopoxvirus and parapoxvirus specific qPCR assays, plaque reduction neutralization tests, virus isolation, and whole-genome sequencing. Orthopoxvirus-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 12.2% of serum samples, predominantly in buffaloes. Vaccinia virus DNA was detected in five cattle scab specimens from Bom Jesus do Tocantins, and infectious virus was isolated from one specimen. Parapoxvirus DNA was detected in 19 specimens, including orf virus and pseudocowpox virus, and one goat specimen was positive for both viruses. Complete genome sequences were obtained for vaccinia virus, orf virus, and pseudocowpox virus, representing the first publicly available complete genomes of orf virus and pseudocowpox virus from Brazil and the first vaccinia virus genome from the Brazilian Amazon. These findings demonstrate contemporary multispecies circulation of zoonotic poxviruses in the Brazilian Amazon and highlight the need for integrated One Health surveillance.
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Dias et al. (2026) studied this question.
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