Cowpox infection: not yet consigned to history

Two patients presented with hard black eschars covering granulating ulcers. The ulcers healed within 6 weeks to leave small scars. The diagnosis of cowpox was confirmed by serology in both cases and in addition by polymerase chain reaction in the first. The source of infection was likely to be a rodent in the first case whilst the second was more typical in being transmitted by a cat.