title: Further Assessment of Monkeypox Virus Infection in Gambian Pouched Rats (Cricetomys gambianus) Using In Vivo Bioluminescent Imaging.
abstract: Monkeypox is a zoonosis clinically similar to smallpox in humans. Recent evidence has shown a potential risk of increased incidence in central Africa. Despite attempts to isolate the virus from wild rodents and other small mammals, no reservoir host has been identified. In 2003, Monkeypox virus (MPXV) was accidentally introduced into the U.S. via the pet trade and was associated with the Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus). Therefore, we investigated the potential reservoir competence of the Gambian pouched rat for MPXV by utilizing a combination of in vivo and in vitro methods. We inoculated three animals by the intradermal route and three animals by the intranasal route, with one mock-infected control for each route. Bioluminescent imaging (BLI) was used to track replicating virus in infected animals and virological assays (e.g. real time PCR, cell culture) were used to determine viral load in blood, urine, ocular, nasal, oral, and rectal swabs. Intradermal inoculation resulted in clinical signs of monkeypox infection in two of three animals. One severely ill animal was euthanized and the other affected animal recovered. In contrast, intranasal inoculation resulted in subclinical infection in all three animals. All animals, regardless of apparent or inapparent infection, shed virus in oral and nasal secretions. Additionally, BLI identified viral replication in the skin without grossly visible lesions. These results suggest that Gambian pouched rats may play an important role in transmission of the virus to humans, as they are hunted for consumption and it is possible for MPXV-infected pouched rats to shed infectious virus without displaying overt clinical signs.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey-National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Falendysz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiological Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America.
authors.forename: Juan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lopera
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiological Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America.
authors.forename: Faye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lorenzsonn
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Zoonotic and Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Johanna S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Salzer
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Zoonotic and Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hutson
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Zoonotic and Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doty
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Zoonotic and Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gallardo-Romero
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Zoonotic and Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Darin S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiological Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey-National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America.
authors.forename: Tonie E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Rocke
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000821:virology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D045908:Mpox, Monkeypox / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D008993:Monkeypox virus / Q000254:growth & development*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000821:virology*; D014776:Virus Cultivation; D017201:Virus Shedding; D051598:Whole Body Imaging