Quokkapox virus

Quokkapox virus (QPV), also known as quokka poxvirus, marsupial papillomavirus, or marsupialpox virus, is a dsDNA virus that causes quokkapox. It is unclear whether this virus is its own species or a member of another species. It primarily infects the quokka, which is one of only four macropodid marsupials to get pox lesions. The lesions can mainly be seen on the tail, and can be up to 5 cm in diameter. The biological behavior of this virus has yet to be identified; these lesions seem to be species-specific. The papilloma- like lesion in humans showcase many differences from the marsupial papillomata.

Because the quokka host primarily lives on isolated islands in Western Australia, the range of the virus is limited as well. It was first described in 1972 from samples taken on Rottnest Island.