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Monkeypox virus
Species of double-stranded DNA virus / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The monkeypox virus (MPV, MPXV, or hMPXV),[1][lower-alpha 1] is a species of double-stranded DNA virus that causes mpox disease in humans and other mammals. The monkeypox virus is a zoonotic virus belonging to the orthopoxvirus genus, making it closely related to the variola, cowpox, and vaccinia viruses. MPV is oval-shaped with a lipoprotein outer membrane. The genome is approximately 190 kb.
Monkeypox virus | |
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Colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox virus particles (teal) found within an infected cell (brown), cultured in the laboratory. | |
Virus classification ![]() | |
(unranked): | Virus |
Realm: | Varidnaviria |
Kingdom: | Bamfordvirae |
Phylum: | Nucleocytoviricota |
Class: | Pokkesviricetes |
Order: | Chitovirales |
Family: | Poxviridae |
Genus: | Orthopoxvirus |
Species: | Monkeypox virus |
Clades | |
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Synonyms | |
MPV, MPXV, hMPXV, [ongoing consideration about changing the virus's name] |
The smallpox and monkeypox viruses are both orthopoxviruses, and the smallpox vaccine is effective against mpox if given within 3–5 years before contracting the disease.[3] Symptoms of mpox in humans include a rash that forms blisters and then crusts over, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.[4] The virus is transmissible between animals and humans by direct contact to the lesions or bodily fluids.[5] The virus was given the name monkeypox virus after being isolated from monkeys, but most of the carriers of this virus are small mammals.[4]
The virus is endemic in Central Africa, where infections in humans are relatively frequent.[4][6] Though there are many natural hosts for the monkeypox virus, the exact reservoirs and how the virus is circulated in nature needs to be studied further.[7]