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Monkeypox transmission and pathogenesis in prairie dogs
Jeannette Guarner1, Bill J Johnson, Christopher D Paddock
1Infectious Disease Pathology Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop G32, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. jguarner@cdc.gov
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|April 28, 2004
Summary
The first US human monkeypox outbreak was linked to prairie dogs. Monkeypox virus replicated in prairie dog lungs and tongues, suggesting respiratory and mucocutaneous transmission routes are key for this zoonotic disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Zoonotic Diseases
Background:
- The first reported cluster of human monkeypox cases in the United States occurred in May-June 2003.
- Most patients likely contracted the illness from infected prairie dogs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of prairie dogs in the 2003 US monkeypox outbreak.
- To identify transmission routes and pathological findings of monkeypox in prairie dogs.
Main Methods:
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect monkeypox virus in prairie dogs.
- Pathologic studies examined tissues for viral presence and damage.
- Immunohistochemical assays identified viral antigens.
- Virus isolation and electron microscopy confirmed active viral replication.
Main Results:
- Monkeypox virus was detected in two infected prairie dogs.
- Pathologic findings included necrotizing bronchopneumonia, conjunctivitis, and tongue ulceration.
- Abundant viral antigens were found in epithelial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts in the conjunctiva, tongue, and lungs.
- Active viral replication was confirmed in the lungs and tongue.
Conclusions:
- Respiratory and direct mucocutaneous exposures are likely important transmission routes for monkeypox virus from rodents to humans.
- Prairie dogs are susceptible to severe monkeypox infection, making them a valuable model for studying transmission, pathogenesis, and developing countermeasures.