The sample used by researchers from the Belgian Institute of Tropical Medicine and the University of Antwerp for the analysis of the virus genome monkey pox showed the existence of travel stories in Portugal, especially in Lisbon. The Belgian genome study was posted on an open discussion forum Friday for the analysis and interpretation of the epidemiology and molecular evolution of the virus.
The Belgian researchers used the case of a 30-year-old man as a sample and present the “almost complete” genome of the virus. monkey poxalso known as virus monkey pox (VMPX). During the location, the authors mention that the man had made a trip to the Portuguese capital. According to the forum post, the patient presented to the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp on the 13th with “perianal papules (solid lesions that appear on the skin less than one centimeter)” and “inguinal lymphadenopathy bilateral”. [gânglios linfáticos com tamanho, número ou consistência anormal] painful, one centimeter”.
“Your partner has since developed similar symptoms. Initial investigations of a sample taken from the lesions were negative for the virus. herpes simplex and Treponema pallidum [conjunto de bactérias que causam doenças como sífilis, bejel, pinta e bouba]“, describe the authors.
After international alerts on the number of case in Europewho are already 80, the reanalysis of the sample proved positive for VMPX.
“We were able to reconstruct 98.9% of the genome. Preliminary phylogenetic analysis clearly shows that the resulting genome belongs to the West African subgroup of VMPX and is most closely related to the recently published genome from the outbreak in Portugal, providing further evidence of substantial community spread in Europe.
On the same day, researchers from the Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (Insa) published in the same forum the preliminary version of the article on the sequencing of the monkeypox virus genome. In the publication, they realize that the sample used for analysis of the virus genome was taken on May 4, indicating that there have been cases in Portugal for more than two weeks.
In the document, signed by Insa researchers who will carry out further laboratory analyses, it is also confirmed that the first rapid phylogenetic analysis indicates that this virus belongs to the West African subgroup, similar to the Belgian genome. This will be less aggressive and less transmissible, information also confirmed by the DGS. The analysis also notes that the virus in the sample “is most closely related to viruses associated with the export of VPMX from Nigeria to various countries in 2018 and 2019, such as the UK, Israel and Singapore.”
The latest update from the Directorate General for Health, published on Friday, confirms the existence of 23 cases of this infection in Portugal.