Epidemiologic and Ecologic Investigations of Monkeypox, Likouala Department, Republic of the Congo, 2017

Overview

Journal Emerg Infect Dis

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2019 Jan 23

PMID 30666937

Citations 53

Authors

Reena H Doshi

Sarah Anne J Guagliardo

Jeffrey B Doty

Angelie Dzabatou Babeaux

Audrey Matheny

Jillybeth Burgado

Michael B Townsend

Clint N Morgan

Panayampalli Subbian Satheshkumar

Nestor Ndakala

Therese Kanjingankolo

Lambert Kitembo

Jean Malekani

Lems Kalemba

Elisabeth Pukuta

Tobi Nkaya

Fabien Kangoula

Cynthia Moses

Andrea M McCollum

Mary G Reynolds

Jean-Vivien Mombouli

Yoshinori Nakazawa

Brett W Petersen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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.

Citing Articles

[Oral manifestations of monkeypox (MPX). A literature review].

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Risk factors associated with human Mpox infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ugwu C, Bragazzi N, Wu J, Kong J, Asgary A, Orbinski J BMJ Glob Health. 2025; 10(2).

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Mpox virus infection in women and outbreak sex disparities: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

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Monkeypox: A Comprehensive Review of Virology, Epidemiology, Transmission, Diagnosis, Prevention, Treatment, and Artificial Intelligence Applications.

Rahmani E, Bayat Z, Farrokhi M, Karimian S, Zahedpasha R, Sabzehie H Arch Acad Emerg Med. 2024; 12(1):e70.

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Discordant performance of mpox serological assays.

Hunt J, Jones J, Gebo K, Hansoti B, Traut C, Hamill M J Virol Methods. 2024; 329:115004.

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