Emerging Infectious Diseases (Feb 2019)

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

  • 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,
  • Lem’s Kalemba,
  • Elisabeth Pukuta,
  • Tobi N’kaya,
  • Fabien Kangoula,
  • Cynthia Moses,
  • Andrea M. McCollum,
  • Mary G. Reynolds,
  • Jean-Vivien Mombouli,
  • Yoshinori Nakazawa,
  • Brett W. Petersen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2502.181222
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 2
pp. 281 – 289

Abstract

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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.

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