title: Monkeypox zoonotic associations: insights from laboratory evaluation of animals associated with the multi-state US outbreak.
abstract: At the onset of the 2003 US monkeypox outbreak, virologic data were unavailable regarding which animal species were involved with virus importation and/or subsequent transmission to humans and whether there was a risk for establishment of zoonotic monkeypox in North America. Similarly, it was unclear which specimens would be best for virus testing. Monkeypox DNA was detected in at least 33 animals, and virus was cultured from 22. Virus-positive animals included three African species associated with the importation event (giant pouched rats, Cricetomys spp.; rope squirrels, Funisciuris sp.; and dormice, Graphiuris sp.). Virologic evidence from North American prairie dogs (Cynomys sp.) was concordant with their suspected roles as vectors for human monkeypox. Multiple tissues were found suitable for DNA detection and/or virus isolation. These data extend the potential host range for monkeypox virus infection and supports concern regarding the potential for establishment in novel reservoir species and ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hutson
authors.forename: Kemba N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Darin S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Victoria A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Whitni
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spurlock
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kazmierczak
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miser
authors.forename: Faye E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Sorhage
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Mary G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Braden
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Karem
authors.forename: Inger K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Damon
authors.forename: Russell L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Regnery
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006364:Hedgehogs / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D008988:Herpestidae / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D045908:Mpox, Monkeypox / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008993:Monkeypox virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D048309:Monodelphis / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D011821:Raccoons / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D012377:Rodentia / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral