Serologic Evidence for Novel Poxvirus in Endangered Red Colobus Monkeys, Western Uganda

Abstract

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot, and virus neutralization assays indicated that red colobus monkeys in Kibale National Park, western Uganda, had antibodies to a virus that was similar, but not identical, to known orthopoxviruses. The presence of a novel poxvirus in this endangered primate raises public health and conservation concerns.

Keywords

• Poxviridae
• Orthopoxvirus
• monkeypox
• tanapox
• Africa
• Uganda