Animalpox (monkeys): causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Animalpox is a group of zoonotic infectious diseases caused by viruses of the Poxviridae family and characterized by fever and vesiculose-pustular rash. These include: smallpox monkeypox, cowpox, diseases caused by the vaccine virus and its subspecies - the smallpox virus, as well as pseudocarp pox (paravacine) and smallpox of Tana. The causative agent of pseudocorrhoids is referred to the genus Parapoxvinis, smallpox Tana - to the genus Yatapoxvirus, the rest - to the genus Orthopoxvirus. Smallpox monkeys clinically resemble natural smallpox and represent the greatest danger, since it is capable of being transmitted from person to person, and the causative agent is very similar genetically to the smallpox virus. Other pox virus infections are manifested by single vesicular-pustular elements and regional lymphadenitis.

Monkey pox (English monkeypox, Latin variola vimus) is an acute zoonotic natural focal viral infectious disease, common in tropical forests and savannah of the equatorial zone of Central and West Africa and characterized by intoxication, fever and vesicular-pustular rash.

ICD-10 code

B04. Infections caused by the monkeypox virus.

Epidemiology of monkeypox

The source and reservoir of the pathogen are diseased primates of 12 species (cercopithecas, colobus, gibbons, gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, etc.) and tropical proteins. The duration of the virus isolation period is unknown. A person becomes infected from sick animals by contact (through conjunctiva and damaged skin) and by airborne or air-dust path (aerosol infection mechanism). The natural susceptibility of people is unknown. A sick person can be a source of an infectious agent.

The first outbreaks of smallpox monkeys were recorded in 1958 with an interval of four months at the State Institute of Sera in Copenhagen in Javanese macaque, imported from Singapore. Later, outbreaks were observed in 78 laboratories of different countries working with monkeys. At the end of August 1970 in the Equatorial province of the former republic of Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo), the first case of smallpox monkeys in a 9-month-old boy was recorded. In1970-2003 years. There were about 950 cases of smallpox monkeypox people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire. Liberia. Sierra Leone. In 2003, it was detected in 37 people in the United States. More than 95% of all cases are diagnosed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Over 450 cases of smallpox monkeys in humans in this country were recorded in 1996-1997. In two districts of the province of East Kasai, while in 73% of cases the transmission of infection from person to person was proved. The most affected contingent is children aged 4-10 years. Seasonality - summer.

When detecting patients with smallpox monkeys or suspicious for this disease, the same anti-epidemic and preventive measures are carried out, as in case of smallpox, including vaccination with a smallpox vaccine.

In tropical areas of Central and West Africa, endemic for smallpox monkeys, routine vaccination of the population is recommended.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]

What causes smallpox monkeys?

Monkeypox is caused by the virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus of the family Poxvuidae. According to its morphological and antigenic properties, it is close to the virus of smallpox, but differs from it in its basic biological properties:

• on the chorion allantoic membrane of chick embryos at a temperature of 34.5-35.0 ° C, the virus multiplies with the formation of small pockmarks with central hemorrhage and single large white pockmarks: the limiting development temperature is 39.0 ° C;
• has a pronounced haemagglutinating activity;
• does not have a cytopathic effect and does not cause the phenomenon of haemadsorption in cells of the transplanted kidney line of a pig embryo. Resistance to the effects of environmental factors is the same as that of the causative agent of smallpox.

The pathogenesis of smallpox monkeys

Phases of the pathogenesis of smallpox monkeys are the same as in smallpox, but with the development of more pronounced inflammatory changes in the lymph nodes.

Symptoms of smallpox monkeys

The incubation period of smallpox monkeys lasts from the 7th to the 21st day.

The main feature that distinguishes smallpox from smallpox is the development of lymphadenitis in 86% of patients. It occurs in the prodromal period at the same time, there are symptoms of smallpox monkeys: temperature rise to 38.0-39.5 ° C, headache, myalgia and arthralgia. Lymphadenitis can be bilateral or unilateral and, depending on the entrance gate of the infection, develops in the submaxillary, cervical, axillary or inguinal lymph nodes. With the emergence of exanthema, 64% of patients develop generalized lymphadenopathy. With the aerosol mechanism of infection, patients notice pain in the throat and cough. Periods of rashes, suppuration and convalescence in clinical manifestations practically do not differ from smallpox, but usually they are easier and faster (for 2-4 weeks). According to the classification of Rao, monkeypox in humans passes in the usual form in a discrete variant in 58% of cases of disease, in semisimple and draining - in 32 and 10% of cases, respectively. It is possible to develop smallpox purpura (one case in a child), a discrete version of varioloid, smallpox without rash, smallpox without temperature and inapparant form.

Complications of smallpox monkeys

Monkeypox is most often complicated by bacterial infections: bronchopneumonia, keratitis, diarrhea, phlegmon, abscesses and others.

[7], [8],

Mortality

Mortality in smallpox monkeys averaged 3.3-9.8% (depending on the age of the diseased). In the age group over 10 years of age, no deaths have been recorded.

Diagnosis of smallpox monkeys

The diagnosis of smallpox monkeys corresponds to that of a smallpox.

[9], [10], [11]

Treatment of smallpox monkeys

Bed rest (lasts until the crusts fall off). Diet - mechanically and chemically sparing (table number 4). Treatment of smallpox monkeys is the same as with smallpox.

Clinical examination

Not regulated.

[12], [13], [14], [15]

Prediction of smallpox monkeys

Monkeypox has a different prognosis, which depends on the clinical form and age.