Serologic evidence of human orthopoxvirus infections in Sierra Leone

Details

• Alternative Title:
  BMC Res Notes
• Personal Author:
  MacNeil, Adam ; Abel, Jason ; Reynolds, Mary G ; Lash, RR ; Fonnie, Richard ; Kanneh, Lansana D ; Robert, Willie ; Lungay, Victor K ; Goba, Augustine ; Moses, Lina M ; Damon, Inger K ; Karem, Kevin ; Bausch, Daniel G
• Description:
  Background
  
  Orthopoxviruses, including variola virus, vaccinia virus, and monkeypox virus, have previously been documented in humans in West Africa, however, no cases of human orthopoxvirus infection have been reported in the region since 1986. We conducted a serosurvey to determine whether human exposure to orthopoxviruses continues to occur in eastern Sierra Leone.
  
  Findings
  
  To examine evidence of exposure to orthopoxviruses in the Kenema District of Sierra Leone, we collected and tested sera from 1596 persons by IgG ELISA and a subset of 313 by IgM capture ELISA. Eleven persons born after the cessation of smallpox vaccination had high orthopoxvirus-specific IgG values, and an additional 6 persons had positive IgM responses. No geographic clustering was noted.
  
  Conclusions
  
  These data suggest that orthopoxviruses continue to circulate in Sierra Leone. Studies aimed at obtaining orthopoxvirus isolates and/or genetic sequences from rodents and symptomatic humans in the area are indicated.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Short Report
• Source:
  BMC Res Notes. 2011; 4:465.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  4
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:2d9b19f9aab5f03c7fcdaea0fae13914875b7568286836f70c7265fb23ee44f2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/3673/cdc_3673_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 549.18 KB ]