Specimens from a vesicular lesion caused by molluscum contagiosum virus produced a cytopathic effect in cell culture that mimicked that produced by herpes simplex virus.

Infection with molluscum contagiosum virus, a poxvirus, normally has a typical clinical presentation; therefore, laboratory confirmation is infrequently sought and the virus is rarely isolated in culture. As reported herein, viral culture of specimens from atypical lesions may produce an abortive infection in limited cell lines and a cytopathic effect suggestive of herpes simplex virus.