yasaman alirezaei,1Aryan.M.Yazdani,2Saman Hakimian,3,*
1. Yasaman Alirezaei B.S. student of Cellular and molecular biology Islamic Azad University Gorgan 2. Aryan.M.Yazdani B.S. student of Nutrition Islamic azad university, science and research branch, tehran 3. Saman Hakimian M.sc student of Pathogenic Microbes Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch
Introduction: Monkeypox is a rare smallpox-like disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is mostly found in African regions, but it has also been seen in other regions of the world. It causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and a rash that may take weeks to resolve.
Like the more well-known virus that causes smallpox, it is a member of a family called orthopoxviruses.
Poxviridae viruses isolated from various animals are large, enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses. The main hosts of smallpox viruses are rodents, rabbits and non-human primates, which can occasionally be transmitted to humans and facilitate human-to-human transmission.
The virus is surrounded by a dumbbell-shaped core with lateral bodies, slightly pleomorphic.
There are two distinct genetic clades for monkeypox virus: the Central African (Congo Basin) clade and the West African clade. Of the two genetic clades, historically, the Congo Basin clade has caused more severe disease and is thought to be more malignant. A higher degree of morbidity, mortality, human-to-human transmission, and viremia was associated with Congo Basin human monkeypox than the 2003 United States outbreak.
The clinical manifestations of monkeypox virus are similar to smallpox. Monkeypox is less lethal than smallpox, with a mortality rate of approximately 10%.
Methods: Monkeypox was discovered in 1958 when two smallpox-like outbreaks occurred in groups of monkeys used for research.
The first human case was observed in 1970 in a 9-month-old boy from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Monkeypox virus has several routes of transmission, all of which involve direct contact with infected animals or humans. The exact mode of transmission of monkeypox is still under investigation. Animal-to-human transmission is direct contact or exposure to infected animals and is usually due to body fluids such as saliva, breathing frequency, or can be secretions from skin or mucosal lesions. Although human-to-human transmission is less common than animal-to-human transmission, it usually involves respiratory droplets with prolonged face-to-face contact or contact with the waste matter of an infected person. Contaminated surfaces, such as sleeping in the same bed, living in the same house, or eating or drinking from the same utensils as an infected person, are considered risk factors for transmission of the virus among family members. Amid the ongoing epidemic of monkeypox, it has also been observed that the disease is more common in men who have sex with men. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is not yet known whether monkeypox is sexually transmitted, however, transmission can be attributed to close contact.
The initial symptoms of this disease include the following:
Fever.
shake
Headache.
Muscle pains
tiredness
Swollen lymph nodes.
Common and non-specific symptoms begin one to two weeks after a person is infected with the monkeypox virus. These symptoms include fever, lymphadenopathy, myalgia, etc., and due to the non-specific nature of these initial symptoms, the affected person may mistake this disease for a seasonal cold.
After a few days, a rash often develops. The rash starts as smooth, red bumps that can be painful. These bumps turn into blisters that are filled with pus. Eventually, the blisters will peel and fall off—the entire process can take two to four weeks. You may also develop sores in your mouth, vagina, or anus.
To diagnose monkeypox, a doctor takes a tissue sample from an open sore (lesion). It is then sent to a laboratory for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing (genetic fingerprinting). You may also need to give a blood sample to check for the monkeypox virus or the antibodies your immune system makes to defend against it.
Results: The current spread of MPX in non-endemic areas is a risk that shows that the spread of this virus in endemic areas has not been given much attention.
Conclusion: It should also be remembered that in an interconnected and globalized world, no region or country is immune to zoonotic pathogens such as MPXV, unless the virus is endemic. Global health response strategies should prioritize MPX outbreaks in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa.