Orthopoxvirus Infections: Epidemiology, Clinical Picture, and Diagnostics (Scientific Review)

Lack of immunity among the population against pathogenic orthopoxviruses and an increased number of these infections human cases testify to the need of development of the rapid high-sensitive methods for species-specific orthopoxvirus diagnostics. The review presents current epidemiological situation on human orthopoxvirus infections. Addressed are clinical aspects of the disease, caused by small pox virus (SPV), Monkeypox virus, cowpox virus, and vaccinia virus. Represented is a historical survey of the conventional methods for diagnostics of these particular viruses. Reconsidered are the benefits of researches into the sphere of state-of-the-art molecular-diagnostic techniques taking into view both genus-specific and species-specific detection of agents, causing orthopoxvirus infections in humans. Demonstrated is the urgency of new-generation typing in view of occurrence of a novel SPV-like virus emerged as a result of natural evolution of existing zoonotic orthopoxviruses or SPV application as a biological terroristic agent.

вирус натуральной оспы, вирус оспы обезьян, вирус оспы коров, вирус осповакцины, мультиплексный ПЦР, ПЦР в реальном времени, видоспецифичная детекция, small pox virus, Monkeypox virus, cowpox virus, vaccinia virus, multiplex PCR, real-time PCR, species-specific detection

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