Frequent detection of monkeypox virus DNA in saliva, semen, and other clinical samples

The monkeypox (MPX) virus is a zoonotic pathogen and the most frequent orthopox virus infection in humans

A MPX outbreak has expanded worldwide since May 2022

Researchers in the study tested 147 clinical samples collected at different time points from 12 patients by real-time PCR. They aimed to characterize viral shedding to better understand the possible role of different bodily fluids in disease transmission and investigated the presence of MPX virus DNA in saliva, rectal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, semen, urine and faecal samples, from 12 MPX patients in Barcelona, Spain

At the time of diagnosis, DNA was detected in swabs of skin lesions in all 12 cases. MPX DNA was detected in saliva from all cases, sometimes with high viral loads. Other samples were frequently positive: rectal swab (11/12 cases), nasopharyngeal swab (10/12 cases), semen (7/9 cases), urine (9/12 cases) and faeces (8/12 cases).These results improve knowledge on virus shedding and the possible role of bodily fluids in disease transmission

MPX virus transmission dynamics, similarly to other newly emerging viral infections, may need to be addressed under multidisciplinary approaches. Recent data contribute to an improved understanding of alikely complex transmission puzzle and underline other immediate areas for research such as the infectivity of bodily fluids, the frequency of secondary and asymptomatic cases or the impact of social and behavioural factors affecting viral transmission. these results may be valuable as well for diagnostic testing algorithms and public health interventions

Reference: https://www.eurosurveillance.org