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An outbreak of pox disease in Carnivora of the family Felidae occurred in the Moscow Zoo. Two forms of the disease were found: (1) fatal, fulminant pulmonary without skin lesions and (2) dermal with rash. The severity of the dermal form varied from subclinical to lethal. The pulmonary form was characterized by pneumonia and exudative pleuritis, and large concentrations of virus were observed in the lungs and exudate. In addition to Carnivora of the family Felidae, two giant anteaters had a severe form of the disease (dermal with hemorrhages) and died. The agent of the outbreak appeared to be very closely related to cowpox virus; however, pocks developed at a lower temperature than do those that result from infection with cowpox virus. Strains isolated from sick animals were identical to the virus previously isolated from an outbreak of pox among elephants and okapi. The most probable sources of infection were rats that were fed to some of the animals. During the outbreak, a female attendant at the zoo became infected.

Summary 2 pox outbreaks among white rats in a breeding colony are described. The infection occurred in 3 different forms: pulmonary, dermal and mixed. Apparently healthy animals appeared to be virus carriers. The virus isolated belonged to the genus Ortho- poxl'irus of Poxviridae family, and was very close to cowpox virus. It differed from reference strains of cowpox virus in having a lower ceiling temperature and a higher pathogenicity for white rats. Natural pox infection in rodents, except ectromt!lia in white mice, has not previously been reported. Furthermore, rats were considered to be one of the least susceptible of laboratory animals to the pox- viruses, although generalized infection with vaccinia virus could be induced experimentally in immuno- suppressed adult rats (Svet-Moldavskaya, 1968). This paper presents data on 2 pox outbreaks among a colony of white rats.

The clinical picture of a smallpox-like generalized infection in a gorilla which became sick on the 14th day fter its arrival at the Moscow Zoo is described. The causative agent of the disease was iso

The complete genetic map of the variola major virus strain India-1967 is built basing on the sequence data. The suggested map is compared with the maps of the sequenced genomic regions of Copenhagen and Western Reserve strains of vaccinia virus and Harvey strain of variola major virus. The principle differences revealed in the genomic organization of these viruses are discussed.