Monkeypox virus (MPV) is a double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to
the Poxviridae family with variola virus. The symptoms of infection are similar
to those of smallpox, such as fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, cough and
extreme pain all over the body. Commonly known as "monkey smallpox",
it is a Dangerous virus that can be spread through direct contact with a
patient or infected animal, or through a patient's bodily fluids. The monkeypox
virus was first discovered in monkeys from Africa in a laboratory in
Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1958, and the world's first human case of monkeypox was
reported in the Congo in 1970. A total of two virus strains have been found,
the West African strain is less virulent; the other Congo Basin strain is more
virulent and almost lethal. Judging from the prevalence of monkeypox in humans,
the pathogenicity and infectivity of monkeypox are weaker than those of
smallpox, but monkeypox is susceptible to many different animals and has a wide
distribution range, which is easy to cause epidemics.
The methodologies of detecting the monkeypox virus are serology,
isolation of pathogen and PCR test. The PCR test is much better in detecting
virus for the difficulty in differentiating similar viruses by serology and
longer time will be taken by isolation of pathogen.
The real time PCR test represents a significant addition to the battery
of tests for the detection of various orthopoxviruses. In light of the recent
monkeypox virus transmissions, early detection of the virus is crucial.
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