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Institute of Diagnostic Virology (IVD)

National Reference Laboratory for Mpox (formerly monkeypox)

Information of the FLI on the current Situation

Mpox (formerly monkeypox)
FAQ Monkeypox, Version May 24, 2022

Mpox is caused by the agent monkeypox virus (MPXV), which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus of the family Poxviridae. Animal infections occur mainly in West and Central Africa. Rodents are thought to be the reservoir for the virus. They may or may not become symptomatic. The disease was originally called monkeypox because monkeys, like humans, develop typical skin lesions after infection.

Human infections have been on the rise since 2022. To prevent transmission from infected people to domestic animals, contact with domestic and wild animals (especially rodents) should be avoided as far as possible.

  • Primary contact for federal and state authorities for questions of orthopox virus diagnosis in animals
  • Virus isolation, PCR and serological tests
  • Development, standardization and improvement of diagnostic methods for orthopox virus
  • Virus isolation in cell culture
  • Genome detection with diverse PCR methods
  • Strain characterization by PCR and sequencing
  • Immunofluorescence techniques for orthopox virus antibody detection
  • Orthopox strains (especially cowpox)
  • Orthopox DNA
  • Bovine cowpox antisera
  • Optimization of orthopox virus genome detection and characterization by PCR and sequencing
  • Studies on orthopox virus antibody prevalence in livestock
  • Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1398/2003 der Kommission vom 5. August 2003 zur Änderung von Anhang A der Richtlinie 92/65/EWG des Rates zwecks Aufnahme des kleinen Bienenstockkäfers (Aethina tumida), der Tropilaelapsmilbe (Tropilaelaps spp.), der Ebola und der Affenpocken in Verbindung mit VO Anzeigepflichtige Tierseuchen und Tierimpfstoff-VO