出典:Wikipedia
出典:『Wikipedia』 (2011/04/01 23:56 UTC 版)
Monkeypox virus is the virus that causes the disease monkeypox in both humans and animals. It was first identified in 1958 as a pathogen of crab-eating macaque monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) being used as laboratory animals. The crab-eating macaque is often used for neurological experiments. Monkeypox virus is an Orthopoxvirus, a genus of the family Poxviridae that contains other viral species that target mammals. The virus is mainly found in tropical rainforest regions of central and West Africa.