Orthopoxvirus infection among wildlife in Zambia

• DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.070219-0
• Publication Date: 2014-10-16T03:46:52Z
• Authors: Yasuko Orba; Michihito Sasaki; Hiroki Yamaguchi; Akihiro Ishii; Yuka Thomas; Hirohito Ogawa; Bernard M. Hang’ombe; Aaron S. Mweene; Shigeru Morikawa; Masayuki Saijo; Hirofumi Sawa
• Keywords: Monkeypox; Zoonosis; Orthopoxvirus

Human monkeypox is a viral zoonosis caused by virus, an orthopoxvirus (OPXV). The majority of human cases have been reported in moist forested regions West and Central Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). In this study we investigated zoonotic OPXV infection among wild animals Zambia, which shares border with DRC, to assess geographical distribution OPXV. We screened for antibodies sera from non-human primates (NHPs), rodents shrews ELISA, performed real-time PCR detect DNA spleen samples. Serological analysis indicated that 38 259 (14.7 %) rodents, 14 42 (33.3 4 188 (2.1 NHPs had against could not be detected spleens any tested. Our results living rural habitation areas Zambia infected