1. Epidemiologic and Ecologic Investigations of Monkeypox, Likouala Department, Republic of the Congo, 2017.
- Author
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Doshi RH, Guagliardo SAJ, Doty JB, Babeaux AD, Matheny A, Burgado J, Townsend MB, Morgan CN, Satheshkumar PS, Ndakala N, Kanjingankolo T, Kitembo L, Malekani J, Kalemba L, Pukuta E, N'kaya T, Kangoula F, Moses C, McCollum AM, Reynolds MG, Mombouli JV, Nakazawa Y, and Petersen BW
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Animals, Child, Child, Preschool, Congo epidemiology, Disease Outbreaks, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Mpox, Monkeypox diagnosis, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Public Health Surveillance, Sentinel Surveillance, Young Adult, Ecology, Mpox, Monkeypox epidemiology, Mpox, Monkeypox virology, Monkeypox virus genetics, Monkeypox virus immunology
- Abstract
Monkeypox, caused by a zoonotic orthopoxvirus, is endemic in Central and West Africa. Monkeypox has been sporadically reported in the Republic of the Congo. During March 22-April 5, 2017, we investigated 43 suspected human monkeypox cases. We interviewed suspected case-patients and collected dried blood strips and vesicular and crust specimens (active lesions), which we tested for orthopoxvirus antibodies by ELISA and monkeypox virus and varicella zoster virus DNA by PCR. An ecologic investigation was conducted around Manfouété, and specimens from 105 small mammals were tested for anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies or DNA. Among the suspected human cases, 22 met the confirmed, probable, and possible case definitions. Only 18 patients had available dried blood strips; 100% were IgG positive, and 88.9% (16/18) were IgM positive. Among animals, only specimens from Cricetomys giant pouched rats showed presence of orthopoxvirus antibodies, adding evidence to this species' involvement in the transmission and maintenance of monkeypox virus in nature.
- Published
- 2019
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