[Data from a serological survey of the population of the Republic of Congo for the presence of antibodies to orthopoxviruses. II. The species identification of the antibodies by using a solid-phase variant of immunoenzyme method].

To differentiate antibodies to monkeypox and vaccinia viruses, the solid-phase ELISA with preliminary adsorption of sera with vaccinia virus was used. The identification of antibodies in 99 serum samples obtained in the Republic of Congo from children without vaccination scars was carried out by means of this assay. No antibodies to monkeypox virus were revealed. In 62% of cases the presence of antibodies was due to vaccinia virus. In the sera of 32% of children under examination antibodies differing from those to vaccinia and monkeypox viruses were revealed. To find out the origin of these antibodies, further seroepidemiological studies are necessary.